An elderly couple from North Epping who were found drowned off the Central Coast, north of Sydney, were hit by a freak wave while sightseeing at the popular Pink Cave, police say.
The body of an 80-year-old woman was found in waters off Moonee Beach, near Pink Cave, yesterday afternoon.
Her 76-year-old husband was found by police helicopter this morning, three kilometres off nearby Birdie Beach.
NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector Peter Vromans said the incident was a sightseeing trip gone wrong.
"A lady was found deceased on Moonee Beach yesterday and she was doing a walk along the sea cliffs to access a cave that we call the Pink Cave," Detective Chief Inspector Vromans said.
"It tragically appears that she was washed into the ocean and it appears she has drowned.
"The search continued yesterday and this morning for her husband and tragically at 9:45am this morning our police helicopter spotted him in the water."
He said the area is much hyped on social media but a notorious spot for deaths.
"This is the tragedy of it because the Pink Cave is quite popular," he said.
"However, that stretch of coastline from Catherine Hill Bay to the south can be very treacherous."
Detective Chief Inspector Vromans said distraught family members told police the couple were fit for their age, even for the challenging terrain, and had made the trip to Pink Cave before.
He said it appeared the couple were not wearing life jackets and were caught off guard.
"From speaking to the surf lifesavers at the scene they explained that the conditions can appear quite calm for minutes but then a large swell can come through and take people unawares," he said.
"Unless you have a really good understanding of sea conditions my advice would be to not undertake that trip, things can change very quickly.
A report is being prepared for the couple's deaths.
Another woman in her 20s was swept off the rocks and died at the Pink Cave in April after a valiant rescue attempt by two others.
A man died nearby a month earlier.
Moonee Beach is an unpatrolled beach popular with campers and hikers.
