Beach Number:

tas1136

Includes Beaches:

Bluff Beach

State/Region:

TAS - Devonport

Post Code:

7310

General Beach Hazard Rating:

4/10 (Moderately hazardous)

Beach

Bluff Beach (T 1136) is a low gradient 300 m long northeast-facing, sandy beach located on the more protected eastern side of Mersey Bluff (Fig. 4.250). The 20 m high Bluff and its rich aboriginal occupation sites is a major tourist destination and provides a good view of the beach. The beach is backed by a large foreshore reserve containing the Devonport Surf Life Saving Club, a skate park, large car park and picnic and playground facilities (Fig. 4.251). Additional recreational facilities are also available on the Bluff. Waves average 0.5 m, while tides range up to 3 m, and combine to produce a very narrow high tide beach, with waves sometimes reaching the low backing seawall, while at low tide the low gradient beach may be up to 100 m wide. Rocks and rock flats begin to dominate off both ends of the beach.

Swimming

Bluff Beach is the least hazardous, because of the usually lower waves and fewer rips and the presence of the surf club. Coles Beach is moderately hazardous with rips forming when waves exceed 0.5 m, while Back Beach is one of the more hazardous on the west north coast, and is only suitable for board surfing.

Surfing

Coles Beach is the more popular, while more experienced surfers will also surf Back Beach being careful to avoid the many rocks. During a bigger north swell there are also breaks along the outer banks of the Mersey River mouth.