Long Reef is a popular recreational destination and is one of the more interesting geological areas in Sydney.

The cliffs of Long Reef are composed of Bald Hill Claystone above Bulgo Sandstone.

The most commonly seen type of rock in Sydney, Hawkesbury sandstone, is absent at Long Reef.

Perched water tables produce a number of small freshwater springs on the cliff face.

[6] In 1986, part of a fossilized mandible (jawbone) of a giant labyrinthodontian amphibian was discovered on Long Reef within the Bulgo sandstone.

The first white people to set foot in the area were Governor Arthur Phillip and his exploration team, when travelling north to Broken Bay on 22 August 1788.

In 1881, the paddle steamer SS Collaroy, bound for Sydney from Newcastle, changed course in a fog and beached near Long Reef.

[17][18][19] SS Myola was a 655-ton screw steamer, 55 metres long, built in Middlesbrough in the United Kingdom.

Four miles behind, the steamer South Bulli observed distress flares and assisted in picking up survivors.

The wreck of Myola was found off Long Reef in 1994 in 48 metres of water, lying on its port side.

[20] The 170 ton iron paddle steamer SS Euroka traveled south in 1913 with a cargo of coal loaded at Lake Macquarie.

Eventually, Euroka ran aground in five metres of water at Long Reef with no loss of life.

They found the wreck of another vessel, another collier, Susannah Cuthbert, which ran aground on the reef on 7 July 1875.

The wall is populated by many species of fish, including bull rays, blue devils, snapper, yellowtail kingfish, blue groper, Port Jackson sharks, red morwong, wobbegong, large cuttlefish and the rare grey nurse shark.

Large shoals of small fish are also frequently seen in this area, including pomfret, yellowtails and bullseyes.

Sea birds uncommonly seen in Sydney include the Ruddy turnstone, Bar-tailed godwit, Grey-tailed tattler, Red-necked stint, Black-browed albatross, Little penguin, Sooty oystercatcher, Osprey, Antarctic prion, Red-tailed tropicbird,[29] Double-banded plover and the Pacific golden plover.

Fish may be isolated in the rock pools at low tide, such as the smooth toadfish (Tetractenos glaber), juvenile mullet and goby (Favonigobius lateralis).

[33][3][34] Themeda Grassland was once common at Long Reef, and in recent years efforts have been made to restore it in some areas.

Bushcare efforts have been made to reduce invasive weeds and encourage local flora and fauna.

Between 1998 and 2004, tadpoles of the green and gold bell frog were released into specially designed ponds and dams on Long Reef Golf Course.