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New study reveals NSW’s cleanest (and dirtiest) beaches

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
The 2026 State of the Beaches report shows NSW beach water quality has improved, except for a popular Sydney spot.

New South Wales is blessed with seemingly endless beautiful beaches, from city beaches with international fame to quiet sandy patches hidden inside national parks, and everything in between. But the 2026 State of the Beaches report undertaken by the NSW government to rank Sydney’s cleanest beaches (and therefore also its dirtiest) has made it clear that, even with beautiful beaches, you really can’t judge a book by its cover.

What is the State of the Beaches report?

dolphins swimming at avalon beach in sydney
Not all NSW beaches are created equal when it comes to cleanliness. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The State of the Beaches report provides a long-term assessment of how suitable 245 sites are for swimming across New South Wales – so that includes beaches and other swimming spots, like lagoons, estuaries and lakes. Water quality is monitored by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s Beachwatch Program, and with 16 partners under the Beachwatch Partnership Program. Each spot is graded as Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor or Very Poor.

“Good environmental decisions rely on good science," said Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe. “Through decades of consistent monitoring, Beachwatch provides the robust data needed to track water quality trends and give swimmers confidence in the information they use."

New South Wales’ cleanest beaches

two women looking over avalon beach in sydney
Avalon was ranked as Sydney’s cleanest beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Let’s start with the good news. Of all the beaches and swim spots surveyed around the state, 79 per cent of monitored swim sites and 97 per cent of monitored beaches were graded Good or Very Good, meaning they were suitable for swimming most or almost all of the time.

This was an overall three per cent improvement in performance from the previous year. So, phew, headed in the right direction. The improvement has been chalked up to continued average to below average rainfall conditions experienced across New South Wales, and improved microbial water quality (the presence of things like bacteria, viruses and protozoa) at many swim sites.

The report had particularly good news for Sydney’s ocean beaches, increasing from 87 per cent to 97 per cent with a Very Good or Good rating. Even Sydney Harbour improved from 78 per cent to 81 per cent. But Avalon Beach was dubbed the cleanest in the city.

A couple of hours away, Birdie Beach, Frazer Beach and Forresters Beach all took out top spots on the Central Coast. On the Hunter, One Mile Beach achieved the highest score. Illawarra’s cleanest beaches were named as Wollongong City Beach and Shellharbour Beach. And Warrain Beach is the winner for Shoalhaven.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Top 8 cleanest coastal beaches in NSW

Forresters Beach at sunset ont he central coast
Forresters Beach was ranked among the cleanest beaches. (Credit: Destination NSW)

To ease all of our collective minds, the report shared the state’s top eight cleanest ocean beaches:

  1. Avalon Beach, Sydney
  2. Birdie Beach, Central Coast
  3. Forresters Beach, Central Coast
  4. Frazer Beach, Central Coast
  5. One Mile Beach, Hunter
  6. Warrain Beach, Shoalhaven
  7. Shellharbour Beach, Illawarra
  8. Wollongong City Beach, Illawarra

New South Wales’ dirtiest beaches

coogee beach ranked 'poor' on 2026 State of the Beaches report
Despite how it looks, Coogee holds a dirty secret. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Many estuarine, lake, lagoon and freshwater swimming sites didn’t perform as well as ocean beaches. To be fair, this is apparently mostly due to being more susceptible to impacts from wet weather conditions. But still, I sure know where I won’t be swimming this summer.

Coogee Beach received a Poor grade. The Sydney beach hasn’t received a Good rating since 2021. This result has been attributed to the beach being more susceptible to stormwater impact.

“Coogee Beach takes longer to recover from pollution events, such as rainfall, with lower levels of flushing which can increase the time needed for pollution to disperse," a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) told Australian Traveller.

“Weekly monitoring has shown water quality was mostly suitable for swimming during dry weather conditions; however, elevated bacteria levels were recorded during wet weather and increased following rainfall," they continued. “As a result, water quality at this site may not always be suitable for swimming, and we recommend that potential visitors to the site refer to the Beachwatch water quality forecast for the latest swimming advice."

So after rain, maybe just stick to the very beautiful Coogee to Bondi coastal walk?

Elsewhere, Narrabeen Lagoon, Rose Bay Beach, Frenchmans Bay and Yarra Bay also received Poor grades.

And then three spots made it onto the Very Poor list: The Blue Mountains’ Minnehaha Falls, Foreshores Beach and Gymea Bay Baths, both in Sydney.

Feeling nervous? Find all monitored beaches in the State of the Beaches report on the Beachwatch website.

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.

    State of the Beaches report: NSW's cleanest (& dirtiest) revealed