Sand Patch beach (WA 421) commences 5 km west of Sharp Point. The discontinuous 9.5 km long beach represents the remnants of a once more robust and continuous beach that extended 17 km from Sharp Point to Hanging Rock. Loss of sand to the backing high dunes and offshore have eroded the former beach leaving the discontinuous pockets of sand and high tide remnants. The beach faces southwest and receives the full forces of the high southwest swell (Fig. 1.13), which averages over 2 m. These maintain a rip-dominated 200-300 m wide surf zone, with rip spaced every 500-600 m, and flowing up to 1 km seaward. The inner surf zone and shoreline is dominated by discontinuous beachrock reef, with an intertidal active platform and higher inactive platform. While it is possible to walk along most of the ‘beach’ section, there are rock fall and much rock debris along the high tide beach. This is an extremely hazardous beach and unsuitable for swimming. This beach picks up any swell and there is always a wave on the numerous beach breaks, often too big. Even with a board this is a hazardous beach, so be cautious and talk to the locals. There is vehicle access to the top of the cliffs on the Sand Patch Road, with a steep climb down to the shore. read more

Beach Length: 9.5km