A North Epping couple have been swept to the deaths during a walk to the Pink Caves near Catherine Hill Bay

An afternoon stroll to some picturesque pink caves has had tragic consequences, with an elderly couple believed to have been swept to their deaths near Catherine Hill Bay.

An elderly couple have been swept to their deaths after attempting to visit some picturesque caves on a piece of rugged Lake Macquarie coastline notorious for claiming other lives.

Police believe the North Epping couple – a woman, 80, and her 76-year-old husband – were washed into the ocean as they attempted to walk along a cliff face on the southern headland of Catherine Hill Bay o`n Monday afternoon.

The woman was found in surf off nearby Moonee Beach on Monday afternoon before a police helicopter located her husband’s body about three kilometres off Birdie Beach, several kilometres south, on Tuesday morning.

Lake Macquarie police district duty officer Chief Inspector Peter Vromans said it appeared the couple, who were fit and had visited the area previously, got into trouble as they attempted to walk to the well-known tourist spot called Pink Caves.

“[The woman] was with her husband doing a walk along the sea cliffs to access a cave, a cave that we call the Pink Cave. Tragically, it appears that she was washed into the ocean and it appears she‘s drowned,” Ch Insp Vromans said on Tuesday afternoon.

Moonee Beach, south of Catherine Hill Bay, where the woman’s body was located.

A member of the public found the woman’s body just off Moonee Beach, the stretch of sand directly south of the headland, about 2.30pm on Monday.

A large air and sea search found her husband’s body about 9.45am on Tuesday.

“This is the tragedy of it. The Pink Cave is actually quite popular and can be found on social media. Obviously they get a lot of interest,” Ch Insp Vromans said.

“However, that stretch of coastline from Catherine Hill Bay to the south to Wybong can be very treacherous.

“And from speaking to the surf lifesavers, they explained that the conditions can appear quite calm for a few minutes. But then a large swell can come through and take people unaware.”

Lake Macquarie police district duty officer Chief Inspector Peter Vromans said the couple had visited the area before. Picture: Dan Proudman

A woman died near the Pink Caves in April after being washed into the ocean with a friend while at least eight people have been killed after being hit by waves on nearby Flat Rock – a rocky outcrop several hundred metres south and popular with rockfishers.

“There has been, tragically, previous fatalities there and there‘s been some near-miss incidents as well,” Ch Insp Vromans said.

” Unless you’ve got a really good understanding of sea conditions, my advice would be to not undertake that trip.

“Things can change very quickly, winds can change conditions and to anyone other than an expert it’s very difficult to pick what’s going to happen in the next few minutes.”

He later added: “As their family explained to me, they are actually reasonably fit and seasoned walkers. They’ve done this trip a number of times before so they know the location which really goes to illustrate the danger of it – that they’d been in numerous times, but was still taken off guard.”

A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.