Beach Number:

saki111

State/Region:

SA - Vivonne Bay

Post Code:

5223

General Beach Hazard Rating:

7/10 (Highly hazardous)

Beach

Vivonne Bay beach (KI-111) is one of the most popular surfing beaches on the south coast. The small fishing and holiday settlement of Vivonne Bay backs both the beach and western headland shore behind the jetty, together with a store on the South Coast Road 1.5 km to the north. The 5 km long white sand beach begins in the east as a high energy double bar system (Fig. 5.20), before passing the usually closed mouth of the Eleanor River, beyond which wave height decreases, but calcarenite outcrops on the beach and in the surf. At the main beach car park, the surf has a single continuous bar cut by rips every 200 to 300 m. The rips generally disappear at the usually closed Harriet River mouth, as waves decrease to less than 1 m, and a continuous narrow bar continues on to a low bluff, which separates it from the jetty beach. There is access to the beach from the main car park and from the western side of the Harriet River, where there is also a camping area with basic facilities.

Swimming

The best swimming is west of the main car park and along the western jetty beach, where waves are usually less than 1 m and rips absent. Be careful, however, as rips can extend to the Harriet River mouth when waves exceed 1 m at the beach. The beaches east of the car park are exposed and dominated by reefs and rips and are unsuitable for swimming.

Surfing

This is one of the better beach breaks on the island and a very popular spot, particularly out in front of the car park. During big swell there is a right running along the north end of the jetty beach, as well as a fullish right on the tip of Ellen Point.

Fishing

The jetty is the most popular spot, however there is also excellent beach fishing into the rip holes.

General

The largest and most accessible bay and beach on the south coast, offering basic facilities for tourists and visitors and the best beach for swimming and surfing.