downtown beaches

The best swimming beaches are Emily Bay, Middle Beach and Slaughter Bay.

Emily Bay

If you walk up to Flagstaff Hill you can see right along to the end of Emily Bay.  At the far end of Emily Bay is the Lone Pine, a very old tree which is a common landmark.

In the First Settlement Emily Bay was called Turtle Bay.  It was named by Lieutenant King in 1788 after he caught four turtles for food in the bay. 

 

 

Middle Beach

Middle Beach is an excellent place to start snorkelling.  If you swim out from the beach you can follow the reef around the headland into Emily Bay, past the Salt House.  There are beautiful coral gardens with lots of different fish in the protected waters.

 

Middle beach looking towards Slaughter Bay.

Slaughter Bay

No-one is sure how Slaughter Bay got its name.  It is a protected beach for swimming.  If you swim straight out to the reef wall you must watch out for strong currents as the water enters and leaves the bay.  The snorkelling along the reef wall is excellent.

It is not safe to swim around the pier.  Surfboard riders can often be seen on the break off Slaughter Bay.

The beaches from Flagstaff Hill

 

DEM BIICH DAUN’TAUN

D’bas biich fe naarwi iin es Emli Bieh, Medl Biich en Slorta Bieh.

 

Emli Bae

Ef yu work ap daa hil orn Flaegstaaf yu gwen el sii rait lorng daa en o’ Emli Bieh.  Ap aa faa en o’ Emli Bieh es Loen Pain, wan oel trii es kohman laenmaak.

 

Iin daa Fas Setelment dem bin yuus korl  Emli Bieh, Tertl Bieh.  Bin niem et bai Luutenant King iin 1788 aafta hi kech for tertl fe wetls iin aa bieh. 

 

 Medl Biich

Medl Biich es wan ekslent said fe snorkl.  Wen yu narwien yu el naawi wieh fram daa biich en el fohlo daa riif raun daa hedlaen iintu Emli Bieh, paas daa Solt Haus.  Gata byuutiful kohral gaaden lorngfe plenti deferent or fish iin dem protekted worta.

 

Medl Biich luken or Slorta Bieh

 

Wi kaa fua Slorta Bieh get daa niem.  Es wan protekted biich fe naarwi iin.  Ef yu naawi strait aut gen daa riif worl yu haewa luk aut fe strorng karents wieh dem worta kam iin en aut’ daa bieh.  Es guod said fe  snorkl lorng daa rii.

Enta sief an fe  naawi raun daa peya.  Samtaim el si dem serfbord raidas orn daa briek orf Slorta Bieh.

 

Dem biiches fram ao Flaegstaaf Hil