Agnes Water Surf Life Saving Club was established in 1989 at the southern end of the beach and was moved to its present location 2km further up the beach in 1998. The name comes from the schooner Agnes which, in 1873, disappeared in heavy weather after taking shelter in Pancake Creek. The main beach is 5.5km long, running from Round Hill in the north down to Agnes Water. The beach is relatively straight and faces east-north-east. It is famous among surfers as being the most northerly beach on the east coast to regularly receive Tasman Sea swell which, when it arrives, provides some excellent surf. Most of the beach is backed by a low dune and natural vegetation.

At the southern Agnes Water end there is an extensive foreshore reserve, including a camping reserve. The beach usually receives waves averaging about 1m, which combine with the medium sand to build a moderately steep high-tide beach, with a continuous bar exposed at low tide. During and following higher swell, up to 30 rip channels are cut across the lower section of the bar, and an outer bar forms along the central and northern sections of the beach. The rip channels will persist for some weeks during lower wave conditions.

A relatively safe beach in the southern patrolled area, care must be taken if the swell exceeds 1m as rips will be present, particularly at low tide and up the beach. Club activities and patrolled areas are located at Agnes Water Main Beach.