Studland Bay is an exposed 2.5 km wide west-facing, semi-circular shaped bay, bordered to the south by the low irregular Dodgers Point and to the north by the steep 72 m high basaltic Bluff Point. In addition to the points, reefs extend 1 km north of Dodgers Point and are scattered along parts of the southern-central shoreline and surf zone. Curving between the two points is 3.7 km long beach T 952. The beach consists of three sections. In the south Dodgers Point and reefs lower waves to about 1 m where they maintain a low tide terrace along the first 1 km of shore. Waves then increase to over 1.5 m along the central 2 km where they interact with the rocks and reefs to maintain a 100 m wide inner bar cur by a series of six reef-controlled rips. The northern 1 km of the beach curves to the west and is relatively free of reefs, with an outer bar also forming and drained by large rips to each end. The vegetated slopes of Bluff Point rise steeply behind the northern corner of the beach, with reefs dominating the final 200 m of surf. The beach is backed by a series of both active and older vegetated transgressive dunes. The active dunes form two sand sheets, a 20 ha southern sheet extending about 1 km inland to a height of 68 m and a 150 ha northern sheet which reaches 1.7 km inland and 84 m in height. A narrow parabolic dune also climbs the northern slopes to extend 800 m inland and reach 88 m in height. At least five small creeks drain from the dunes onto the beach. read more

Beach Length: 3.7km