Picnic Cove beach (WA 157 also known as Fifth Beach) shares a 20 m high granite headland and large car park with Twilight Cove. The 2.8 km long beach faces southwest and is exposed to waves averaging over 1.5 m at the eastern end, decreasing closer to the western boundary, 70 m high Observatory Point. The eastern end of the beach is therefore dominated by high waves, a 100 m wide surf zone cut by strong rips, with a strong permanent rip right in front of the car park access. While the beach is excellent for beach fishing, it is unsuitable for swimming. In addition beachrock outcrops along the beach resulting in several strong permanent rips. Only in the far western corner do waves drop below 1 m and a continuous bar usually free of rips prevails. The road runs along the top of the 50-60 m high calcarenite bluffs, which back the beach, with a car park and viewing area at Observatory Point, and the steep access down to the more sheltered western end of the beach. To the west of Observatory Point is a 13 km long exposed beach system that terminates in the lee of Butty Head. Beachrock and bedrock outcrops divide the beach into six systems, three longer exposed beaches (WA 158-160) and three shorter increasingly protected beaches approaching Butty Head (WA 161-163). The Twilight Beach scenic drive continues on west of Observatory Point for 6 km to the boundary between beaches WA 159 and 160, with the remainder of the beaches not accessible by vehicle. read more

Beach Length: 2.8km