Beach Number:

sa0229

Includes Beaches:

Hallett Cove

State/Region:

SA - Hallett Cove

Post Code:

5158

General Beach Hazard Rating:

5/10 (Moderately hazardous)

Beach

Hallett Cove is a 1 km long break in the 40 to 60 m high cliffs that dominate the coast from Point Curlew to Seacliff. The break forms a natural amphitheatre along the shoreline within which is a strip of sand called Hallett Cove Beach (229) (Figs. 4.56 & 4.57). The sloping land behind the beach has been partly developed for housing, with a park in the centre of the beach reserve for recreation, the Hallett Cove Surf Life Saving Club and a boat ramp. A small creek, called Field River, drains across the southern end of the beach.

Figure .56 Hallet Cove has a narrow high tide sand beach is fronted by an intertidal gravel-rock flat.

The beach is 1 km long, faces west and is bordered by the cliffs of Curlew Point to the south and Black Cliff to the north. Black Cliff is a famous geological site where ancient glacial remains are clearly visible. It is now part of the Hallett Cove Conservation Park, which includes the northern half of the beach and bordering cliffs. The cliffs at either end are fronted by 50 to 100 m wide intertidal rock flats. These also extend along the length of the beach, where they are only partially covered by sand at high tide. Consequently the beach while sandy at high tide, is predominantly rocks flats and boulders at low tide, with a sand bar seaward of the rocks. The waves, which average 0.5 to 1 m break over the bar and rock flats, usually maintaining 2 to 3 rips across the bar.

Swimming

One has to chose the time and place to swim at Hallett Cove. The best time is high tide when most of the rocks are covered by water, and the best place is where most sand is available. This is usually directly in front of the Surf Club car park where some of the rocks have been cleared away.

Surfing

This is not a popular spot owing to the dominance of rocks.

Fishing

Most fishing is done from the rocks at either end. The boat ramp is really only useable at high tide, owing to the rocks.

General

An attractive cove, which unfortunately has lost much of its cover of sand, causing problems for swimmers and surfers.