Things to See & Do
At Cinema Point, the winding, cliff hanging section of the Great Ocean Road begins. Cinema Point is a 30 m high, grassy knoll, backed by the road and surrounded by sandstone rock platforms.
There are two small beaches here, one on either side. The eastern one is below the car park and viewing area immediately behind the knoll. It is 50 m long, faces east, is backed by road fill and the knoll, and is dominated by platforms and reefs.
On the western side of the point is the main beach, that occupies the deep gully carved by Grassy Creek. It consists of a veneer of sand over rock platforms.
Both beaches receive waves averaging about 1 m and have a surf zone entirely dominated by rocks and reefs.
Swimming
Be very careful if bathing here, as permanent rip currents drain out from both reefs, and rocks and reefs abound in the surf.
Surfing
The north side of Cinema Rocks is known as Hunters or Shark Alley. It has a moderate right hander during big swell.
Fishing
The extensive rock platforms at low tide provide good access to the rock gullies on either side of the point.
General
A favourite viewing site, with the beaches used by surfers and fishers, but unsuitable for safe bathing.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 15
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarentee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 5
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
The 5 km of coast between Urquhart Bluff and Table Rock at Fairhaven is dominated by 20 to 50 m high, eroding bluffs composed of poorly consolidated limestone, tuffs, clays and silts.
As they erode, they leave inter- and sub-tidal rock platforms and reefs. Running along the base of the bluffs are twelve small, exposed beaches, mostly dominated by the headlands, rocks and reefs.
The first five face south-east and extend from Urquhart Bluff south-west for 1 km. They can be reached at low tide around the rocks from Urquhart Bluff, or by climbing down some of the less steep bluffs. They are all exposed to waves averaging 1.3 m, but owing to the degree of protection or the presence of rocks and reefs, they have variable beaches and surf zones.
Urquhart Bluff South Beach (315) is 200 m long and has a wide, shallow surf zone with a permanent rip against the southern headland and reef.
Swimming
These are five hazardous beaches, owing to their relatively remote location and access ranging from difficult to dangerous. This is coupled with the presence of rocks, reefs and permanent rips.
Surfing
Moderate swells and a high tide produce right hand breaks over some of the reefs, most of which can be viewed from the top of Urquhart Bluff.
Fishing
Each of these beaches has good permanent rip holes and reef gutters. The biggest problem is access. Be very careful at high tide and in bigger seas, as the rocks and some of the beaches are awash.
General
Five beaches dominated by the bluffs, rocks and reefs.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Spaces: 10
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.