Long Reef

Long Reef features upthrust Triassic rocks from below the Hawkesbury sandstone, volcanic tuff with native copper, faulting, folding, a (Tertiary?) dolerite dyke that forced its way up through joints in the sedimentary rock, peat, laterite, a wave-cut platform, and a wide variety of marine life. This was not always so, with schools being the major cause of destruction in the area as children were encouraged to collect everything they could find. Now, people are rather more careful about their actions, and the life is returning.

The area is also popular with paragliders and radio-controlled plane enthusiasts, as there are nearly always updrafts along some part of the cliff.

In this picture, Long Reef is the headland running out to sea. Picture credit to Ian Derrin, a local real estate agent who often has properties with views like this for sale. In fact, he sold the property from which this photo was taken a while back.

Long Reef is the northern limit of Dee Why lagoon, which spreads out behind the sand dunes along Dee Why beach.