The Yirrkala community is located at the southern end of Yirrkala beach (NT 1025) in lee of a laterite headland that extends 2.5 km to the east (Fig. 5.117). The beach begins on the southern side of the 100 m wide headland that separates it from beach NT 1024 and trends south before curving round at the southern end to face north. The northernmost 1 km of beach has offshore rock reefs at either end, and some rocks outcropping along the beach. The next 1 km of beach is exposed to moderate waves averaging just over 1 m, which maintain a 50-100 m wide surf zone, with up to 12 rips occurring south of the reefs. Waves decrease in the southern corner and calm conditions often prevail. A small often blocked creek, that drains a 200 ha largely infilled lagoon, flows across the southern end of the beach and against the small rocky point that forms the southern boundary. The beach is backed by foredune ridges in the south, grading to largely vegetated transgressive dunes in the north and extending up to 500 m inland. The 1000 strong Yirrkala community is largely located immediately south of the southern end of the beach, and a track from the community runs behind the beach. The beach is occasionally patrolled by the Gove SLSC. read more

Beach Length: 2.5km