Brighton Le Sands beach

I have a confession to make. Before 2014 I had managed to go 30 years without ever venturing into the Shire. This confession tends to meet with more shock and disbelief than I would have expected which makes me think I must be missing out. It also means I don’t know about things like Wattamolla beach or how popular it is on New Years Day. We were invited to a picnic there and told to arrive by 9am. So obviously we left the house at 10.30am and made a detour to collect a friend in Kirribilli. Fools. Thanks to the trusty RMS road signs we didn’t have to drive the whole way to find out we wouldn’t be getting in, only as far as Kirrawee. So since we were in the area with a car full of beach gear we headed back to Brighton.
Brighton-​Le-​Sands is a great little beach. There is a shark net for wussy types and there is enough calm water that everyone doesn’t bunch up in the same 10 meters of beach.
There isn’t much shade so beach umbrella or tent is advised and if you’re ginger like me and covered up from head to toe you won’t look out of place among the burkinis.
Gazing across at the stunning view of DB Ports and the Caltex refinery, this bay does make me slightly nervous. A three eyed fish is a definite possibility and your kids could find something weird in the water. Pretty sure I saw a small kid using a piece of asbestos as a frisbee.
Overall though it’s a nice and relaxed beach with good eats (Hurricanes and the Ice Cream shop) right nearby.

I used to come here all the time as a child, for fishing and swimming, with my grandpa. Here and La Perouse. So it holds a fair bit of nostalgia for me. I haven’t been back in probably 20 years. Certainly not my first choice for a beach day by a long shot… why?
No waves & its right by the airport, so the horizon is rather industrial. Not my cup of tea. Pretty much every other beach in Sydney is more picturesque. I can see how it might be a good choice if you have kids or you aren’t a strong swimmer cause there is a netted in area and, like I said, no waves.
(I love big waves!)

Great place for plane spotting

Agree all round, a great beach. I can see glimpses of it looking out from the window of the plane as soon as it lands into Sydney from Melbourne. I have had some romantic moments here in the past. Buy some ice cream across the road and then head into the beach with each other on a Friday or Saturday night. Great at night and by day here. Now that I am no longer with this man, I hardly ever come here anymore. Great starting point for the Brighton Le Sands to Sandringham walk, and yes its dog friendly.
I have never personally gone in the water here. Another good vantage point come New Years Eve with good glimpses of the city fireworks, and families creating their own fireworks crackers. A great beach overall.

i think this is a great place to bring the dogs for a walk along the boardwalk, all the way down past Ramsgate to San Souci.
They get pretty tired by the time we get back.
Also some pretty friendly folk walk or ride along the boardwalk too.
Plenty of cafes to visit if you need a break too

Botany Bay just doesn’t have the allure of Port Jackson — it’s big and flat and surrounded by low-​lying suburbs and industry. I grew up in Melbourne, though, where Port Philip Bay is a similar expanse of calm ocean water. Bayside beaches have their own appeal.
Brighton Le Sands is the first beach you come to heading south of the city past the airport. Like Port Philip Bay in Melbourne, it is lined by a large and busy road, which has the disadvantage of being noisy, but means you can cruise along beside the beach for miles. The beach itself is wide and clean — probably renourished as sand was washed away with the development of the airport. Shark nets protect swimmers, and despite the industry the EPA is reassuring that the water quality is high.
A cycle track follows the coastline, flat and free from traffic. On the promenade, built-​in seats allow for sharing chips with the seagulls, soaking in the sun, or watching the jets land and take-​off from Kingsford-​Smith — it’s close enough for the engine roar to remind you of the excitement of your last departure.