Sunderland Bay Beach (Phillip Island)

Sunderland Bay is a secluded spot with a rocky platform and boulders. There is a 200 m wide gap in the basalt bluffs, into which waves break over extensive reefs and rocks and around a sea stack. This has produced a 300m long, south facing beach composed of sand and basalt cobbles. Waves are lowered to about 0.5 m by the time they hit the beach, which is steep and narrow, with no bar, but reefs off the beach.

In general, Sunderland Bay beach is a small semi-enclosed bay that is most suitable for a picnic, rock pool rambling and fishing, with surf out off the reefs. The beach has a General Hazard Rating of 4/10 (Moderately hazardous).

The Sunderland Bay Estate borders the eastern side, with parking available on the eastern bluffs and at the back of the beach, via a gravel road. The western side of the bay is bordered by the 40m high Sunderland Bluffs.

Swimming
A relatively safe beach usually with low waves; however, the beach is steep and composed of cobbles and some boulders, and a heavy shorebreak occurs during high waves. Bathing is best in calm conditions and at high tide, while at low tide, the rock pools at the western end are a popular spot to sit.

Surfing
None at the beach, however at high tide there is a left hander off the eastern reef that breaks toward the sea stack.

Fishing
A popular location, with ample spots for relatively safe rock fishing.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted on the beach 7am-10am and 5pm-8pm only. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Review:

We went down the wooden staircase to the beach at the south end of Sunderland Bay Road. There are black rocks all the way up the beach and large areas of rockpools when the tide was out.