It is the northern half of the 1.8 km stretch of beach running from the base of Long Reef headland south to Dee Why Point. The beach is bracketed by an Aquatic Reserve, golf course,and a lagoon and wild life refuge.

The beach faces the south east and picks up any east to south east swell. This makes it one of Sydney's higher energy beaches. The waves average 1.6 m, being highest in the south and centre, decreasing north of the Long Reef surf club owing to some protection from the outer reefs (bomboras).

Between Long Reef Surf Club and Dee Why Point there are regularly 8 strong rips. The rips and their feeder currents usually detach the single sand bar from the beach. This can form a continuous trough of variable width and depth, but with all currents heading for one of the rips. So be careful!

Long Reef is a relatively popular summer beach offering some protection from the summer North Easters. In winter it is exposed and often blown out, but very popular with windsurfers and kite surfers.