Palana Beach (FI 128) commences in the southern corner of the bay and curves to the northeast for 1.7 km to a subdued sandy foreland formed in lee of granite reefs extending 500 m offshore. The beach commences at the mouth of the small Edens Creek, which drains the backing valley, with the Palana Road terminating behind the western end of the beach and the few houses of Palana occupying the slopes above. The beach receives both refracted westerly wind waves and easterly swell which average over 1 m and maintain a low gradient beach and low tide terrace grading into rips during periods of high waves. The beach between the boundary rocks and creek mouth is backed by a well vegetated foredune and a small picnic area. East of the creek mouth begins a series of large active parabolic dunes, that extend up to 1 km inland and to 50 m in height (Fig. 4.313), with older vegetated transgressive dunes continuing 4 km inland and climbing the backing slopes to 160 m, the largest area of dune transgression on the island. read more

Beach Length: 1.7km