Hammocks Beach State Park (ncparks.gov) on Bear Island is a stretch of sand you have to work to reach. Accessible only by ferry -- which periodically closes throughout the year -- or private boat, the beach is considered by many to be worth the trouble. On the northern end of Onslow County, the secluded Hammocks Beach is ripe for outdoor activities. If traveling via canoe or kayak, follow the designated canoe trail through the marshy inlet. Once on the beach, throw a fishing line into the water and reel in a flounder or two. While you can fish year-round, fall is the best time. If a few hours spent exploring the park isn’t enough, reserve one of the dozen or so overnight campsites. Contact the park office to reserve a spot, then stop by the park office on the mainland to pick up a permit to camp and to leave your car parked overnight. The sites are available for backpacking in only. While there is a centrally located bathhouse, don't expect many more facilities on the island.
The New River flows entirely within Onslow County until it meets the Atlantic Ocean at the New River Inlet. The best way to reach the stretch of beach on either side of the inlet is to head to North Topsail Shores on the northern tip of Topsail Island. The tip of the island is an ideal spot for searching for intact shells, and the area remains relatively crowd-free throughout the summer. While you won't worry about running into crowds on this beach, you won't have access to any facilities either. There is parking at the beach access. A quick trip in a canoe or kayak will allow you to venture across the Intracoastal Waterway north into the estuary of New River, but take care as the tide can be strong. While in the open water, stay on the southern side of the inlet because the northern side is part of the U.S. Marine base Camp Lejeune. All of the land on the northern side of the inlet was purchased by the U.S. government in 1941 and turned into a recreation area for active and retired military members, civilian employees and their families.
Half of Topsail Island is in Onslow County while the southern half is in Pender County. About 15 miles east of Jacksonville, the island is part of the barrier island chain that borders most of North Carolina's coastline. Drive over the northern of two island bridges to visit North Topsail Beach. The name is shared with the quiet North Topsail Beach, about six miles south of North Topsail Shores.
The beach is a spot to search for shells. You can play volleyball at the North Topsail Beach Town Park (ntbnc.org). The park is across the street from beach access 4 and also has picnic tables and a playground.
The town maintains more than 30 public beach accesses, with parking found near most accesses. The gentle waves in the area make it ideal for beginner surfers, or to introduce kids to the beach. The area does tend to get overrun during the warmer months because rentals are priced below those in nearby Wilmington area beaches.
A few restaurants sit on this end of the island, but most of the commercial conveniences are farther south.
The dividing line between the counties goes through Surf City, in the middle of Topsail Island. Sign up with a surf camp such as Indo Jax (indojaxsurfschool.com) or WB Surf Camp (wbsurfcamp.com) and learn to surf or paddleboard in Surf City. This is where the majority of restaurants and shops are, such as Bert's Surf Shop (bertsurfshop.com) and Beauchaines 211 (beauchaines211.com). Grab a gourmet ice cream pop at Lunapops (lunapops.com) before heading to the beach via any of the town's 39 beach accesses. Parking can be found throughout the town and beach area. The only surviving pier is located just south of access 19, where Roland Avenue brings you onto the island via a swing bridge. The bridge, built in the 1950s, is a beloved symbol of the area, but is set to be replaced beginning in 2017. The Surf City Pier (surfcityoceanpier.com) is a meeting spot for surfers, who must contend with the many fishers that line the 937-foot pier and the sand on either side of the pier.
