Mount Cleveland is surrounded by 25 km of predominantly rocky shore, linked to the mainland by extensive tidal flats. On its eastern shore between the cape and Cape Ferguson, 14 km to the south, is a rocky shore containing four beaches, the longest being 2 km in length. Only the southern Turtle Bay is accessible by road and since 1985 has housed the Australian Institute of Marine Science. The first three can only be reached by boat or on foot over the steep backing terrain.
Turtle Bay Beach (878) is the longest of the cape's beaches, running for 2 km almost due south from 80 m high Cape Woora to 56 m high Cape Ferguson. The Australian Institute of Marine Science is located on gently sloping ground behind the beach, with the institute's small harbour and boat ramp in lee of the cape. The beach is composed of coarse sand and slopes steeply to a 50 m wide low tide bar. A small creek is usually dammed behind the middle of the beach. Waves average 0.5 m and surge up the steep beach at high tide, while breaking across the bar at low tide. There are large granite boulders at the southern end and scattered rock reefs off the southern end, including prominent Bald Rock.
The shoreline and adjacent sea between Paradise Bay and Chunda Bay, west of Cape Ferguson, is part of the Cape Ferguson Marine Park, with the section between Cape Woora and Chunda Bay reserved for scientific research and off limits to the public.
Beach Length: 2km
General Hazard Rating:
3/10
Patrols
There are currently no services provided by Surf Life Saving Australia for this beach. Please take the time to browse the Surf Safety section of this website to learn more about staying safe when swimming at Australian beaches.
Click here to visit general surf education information.
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.