WORD is spreading among owners of 4WD vehicles about the appeal of Boat Harbour beach. Laden with portable barbecues and coolers full of food and drink, the vehicles have traversed rough roads and sand dunes to reach pristine waters where children frolic while their parents relax on the shoreline. Luke Breeman, who discovered Boat Harbour when he moved to Cronulla in 2008, says that you wouldn't find him and his two kids anywhere else on a sunny Sydney weekend. "It's one of the last places in Sydney where you can drive on the beach," he said, saving the need to carry supplies to and from the beach for the day. "We meet up with friends and take a barbie down and have breakfast and lunch there — the kids can go for a swim and paddle boarding." His son Max said it was a great place for hanging out with family and friends. "It's just so unique compared to other beaches in Sydney," the 12-year-old said. Mr Breeman said he wasn't concerned about having vehicles on the beach. "Most people drive to the speed limit and look out for kids, but some idiots that do drive around can get banned because it's a privately owned beach." On the north-eastern side of Kurnell Peninsula, Boat Harbour was once one of the most polluted beaches in Sydney, but the water quality has considerably improved since an upgrade to the Cronulla Sewage Treatment Plant. "The water quality and the easy access to the beach is why this place is no longer a secret," said Glenn Johns, 49, who has been visiting since he was a young man. Mr Johns introduced his granddaughter, seven-month-old Piper, and her mum, Hepi Olive, to the beach. "While my son and I go fishing, my wife, granddaughter and son's partner just relax and play on the sand," Mr Johns said. Boat Harbour is an unpatrolled beach for the whole family, including dogs, with an entry fee of $30 a vehicle.