Wharton Beach (WA 115) is located 2 km west of Duke of Orleans Bay and is the most accessible and most popular surfing beach in the area. The beach faces south and curves round in a semi-circle for 4.5 km between the lower slopes of Mount Belches and the 50 m high spur of Cheyne Point. The car park above the eastern end of the beach provides an excellent view up the beach (Fig. 4.28) as well as 4WD access to the beach. Waves average about 1.5 km in the west and centre, decreasing to the lee of Cheyne Point, adjacent Station Island and some scattered rock reefs. A rip-dominated 100 m wide surf zone dominates the eastern half of the beach. Up to 12 rips usually form along this section of the beach, including a permanent rip below the car park with the rips usually clearly visible from the car park. To the west waves decrease and a continuous narrowing bar fronts the beach, usually free of rips. It is backed by vegetated dunes in the east grading into active dunes to the west. Two creeks are impounded by the dunes at times forming shallow lagoons in the deflation basins. They only flow to the shore following heavy rain. read more

Beach Length: 4.5km