The put-in is the shack settlement
of Camfield, at the end of Broke Inlet Road. The landscape here
is rather bleak, but look forward to some pristine and special
scenery towards the coast.
|
Head west-south-west towards the channel that leads to the Southern
Ocean. The sandy beach and spit of Coal Point (okay for camping)
will be on your left as you arrive at the channel. This crossing
can get rough, particularly with a strong sea breeze in the afternoon.
|
The 200m wide channel leading to the sea is bordered by sand
dunes up to 60m high.
|
In the drier months the sandspit at the mouth is intact and extensive.
The vegetated calcarenite (limestone) bluffs make up much of
the coastline along this part of Western Australia. Fishing enthusiasts
camp here for the ocean beach fishing. There is a sandy 4WD track
from Mandalay Beach Road which is open when the inlet water level
is not too high.
|
The inlet opening is one of the most exposed high energy lagoon
openings on the Australian coast. Calcarenite reefs lie off the
entrance contributing to the 500m wide surf zone, with waves
averaging 2m high. The 60m high cliffs contribute to the feeling
of a wild and untamed coastline.
|
Big view of inlet mouth. The intermittent opening in the sand
spit can be just a few tens of metres wide when the lagoon level
is high enough to break through to the surf zone.
|
