Crane Beach

A wide beach below the cliffs on the south-east coast, known for its pale pink-tinged sand and rolling Atlantic surf. The free public entrance is at the end of a narrow road at the south end, with parking, then a short scramble over a few large rocks onto the sand. The steps and glass lift down from The Crane resort above are for hotel guests and day-pass holders; the pass is redeemable at the resort's bar and restaurants. Conditions change with the swell. A reef offshore takes some of the force out of the waves, and on gentle days it's a fine swim, but the surf can be powerful with an undertow, so it suits confident swimmers and body-boarders more than small children. Lifeguards are usually on duty in the middle of the day. Some people jump into the sea from the rocks along the cliff, which is not for weak swimmers. The name comes from a cargo crane that once stood on the clifftop.