In contrast to the exposed eastern shore of the island, the west facing bay shore is protected from both the ocean waves and dominant easterly winds. Consequently it consists of low energy sand beaches, backed by the vegetated dunes that originated in the east and fronted by sand flats and, in places, tidal channels. The three small island settlements are all located on this side, at Kooringal in the south, the central Tangalooma and northern Bulwer. The ferry 'Moreton Venture' discharges vehicles near Kooringal and at Tangalooma. The 36 km of bay shoreline contain six, near continuous beaches, totalling 27 km in length, with a 9 km section of mangroves between Kooringal and Kounungai Beaches. Mays Hole beach (MOR7) lies immediately west of the southern Reeder Point and runs to the north-west for 1.1 km to low, sandy Campbell Point. The beach receives no ocean swell and is usually calm, with only low wind waves at high tide. The beach is, however, fronted by 100 m wide sand flats, then the deeper water of Mays Hole, then a tidal channel called Days Gutter 300 m off the beach. Shifts in the position of the tidal shoals and gutters result in a shifting shoreline. During the 1990's the beach was eroding, with the backing trees falling down a 10 m high scarp onto the beach. read more

Beach Length: 1.1km