In short:
Sydney's cleanest beaches have been named, with one popular spot receiving a "poor" grade for a fifth year running.
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spot → name → year
Coogee Beach received the rating as one expert blamed its susceptibility to stormwater impacts.
Avalon, on Sydney's northern beaches, was named the cleanest in the city for 2026.
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Avalon → receive → 2026
Water quality at the state's beaches has improved slightly, but one of Sydney's most popular swimming spots has received a "poor" grade for the fifth year in a row.
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one → improve → row
Ninety seven per cent of the state's monitored ocean beaches received a rating of "good" or "very good" in this year's State of the Beaches report, up from 95 per cent in 2025.
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cent → monitor → 2025
Avalon was Sydney's cleanest beach, while on the Central Coast, Birdie Beach, Frazer Beach and Forresters Beach shared top honours.
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Beach → share → honours
One Mile Beach was the Hunter's highest-scoring swimming spot, while the Shoalhaven's cleanest was Warrain Beach.
Wollongong City Beach and Shellharbour Beach were the Illawarra's cleanest beaches in 2026.
However, the report also highlighted continued water quality issues at some swimming spots, including Coogee Beach, which received another "poor" rating.
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which → score → rating
It hasn't received a "good" rating since 2021.
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It → receive → 2021
Dr Meredith Campey, manager of the NSW government's Beachwatch program, said Coogee was "more susceptible to stormwater impact" than other beaches.
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Coogee → say → beaches
"In dry conditions, it's usually suitable for swimming,"Dr Campey said.
"But when it rains, it gets a lot of stormwater which comes through a large stormwater drain at the north end of the beach," she said.
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she → say → beach
Narrabeen Lagoon, Rose Bay Beach, Frenchmans Bay and Yarra Bay were among the 40 sites to receive "poor" grades.
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Lagoon → receive → grades
Foreshores Beach, Gymea Bay Baths and the Blue Mountain's Minnehaha Falls all received "very poor" grades.
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Beach → receive → grades
How were swimming spots graded?
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spots → grade → ?
Beachwatch did not assess every swimming spot, but graded 229 sites on a scale from "very good" to "very poor."
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Beachwatch → assess → poor
As well as ocean beaches, they included estuarine, lake, lagoon and freshwater sites.
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they → include → sites
The sites were given a sanitary inspection to assess the likelihood of faecal contamination.
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sites → give → contamination
Stormwater drains, sewage outflow points and swimmers themselves could all contribute that risk, Dr Campey said.
uncertain
Campey → contribute → risk
Regular water quality testing was also undertaken, measuring the levels of enterococci — a bacteria found in faeces.
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testing → undertake → faeces
Overall, 79 per cent of swimming spots received "good" or "very good" gradings, a slight improvement on last year's result of 76 per cent.
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cent → receive → cent
Dr Campey said many parts of the state received average to below-average rainfall during the 2026 reporting period, which had a positive effect on water quality results.
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which → say → results
"Rainfall is the major driver of pollution to recreational waters, because it generates stormwater runoff and also triggers discharges from the wastewater system," she said.
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she → generate → system
While the blue water and golden sand of Bondi Beach are internationally recognised, the report shows 'Pondi' — Penrith Beach — enjoys the same "good" grade as the famous landmark.
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Pondi → recognise → landmark
Mona Vale and Dee Why both improved their grades to "very good" in 2026.
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Vale → improve → 2026
Manly's Shelly Beach improved its performance, as did Double Bay's Murray Rose (Redleaf) Pool, which both moved from "poor" to "good".
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which → improve → good
North Avoca and MacMasters beaches were among several Central Coast swimming spots that received improved results in 2026.
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that → receive → 2026
On the north coast, Air Force Beach, Evans Head Main Beach and Shark Bay all ascended into the "very good" category.
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Beach → ascend → category
Water quality at Sydney's Maroubra Beach declined in the 2026 reporting period and it was downgraded from "very good" to "good".
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it → decline → good
Surf Beach at Kiama also went backwards, receiving a "poor" grading in this year's report.
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Beach → go → report
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the report was backed by "good science."
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report → say → science
"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," she said.
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she → provide → information
The Aporia
