The beach runs in two distinct moods. North Mollymook, bookended by the rocky outcrop locals call Bogey Hole, draws the lap swimmers and toddler brigade—the sand firms up beautifully at low tide for long walks where you'll dodge only the occasional blue bottle. South Mollymook picks up the swell that wraps around the headland, and you'll find the serious board traffic there, especially when the nor'easter pushes in overnight.
“The beach offers both protected family swimming and serious surf breaks within a single two-kilometer stretch, rare versatility for the South Coast.”
Credit: FlickrWaves crashing on rocks, Ulladulla's south headland, AU
The golf club perched on the southern headland has anchored this strip since 1936, and the verandah there offers cold beer with unobstructed views of the lineup below. Between swims, you'll want the fish and chips from Hayden's—the batter stays crisp even in the sea breeze, and the portions justify the fifteen-minute wait. Bannisters pavilion brings the Bondi crowd down on long weekends, but the beach itself never feels crowded; there's always another fifty meters of sand if you need separation.
The rock platform at Bogey Hole traps schools of bream and flathead at high tide, and you'll see kids with hand lines most afternoons. The water stays swimmable year-round—wetsuits in July, boardshorts by October—and the patrolled zone shifts slightly with the season but never strays far from the surf club's orange flags.
