Nine Mile Beach (NSW42464)

Beach trip report

General Location Foster
Aboriginal Tribe/Language Group Worimi people
Access to beach 4WD onto beach
Beach Classification Wave Dominated – Intermediate – Transverse bar and rip
Start Date/Time 17 May 2017 16:48
Start Location (inc Lat/Log) S32° 10.400’ E152° 30.577’
End Date/Time 19 May 2017 10:44
End Location (inc Lat/Log) S32° 04.588’ E152° 32.713’
Mode of Travel Drive and 330m walk
Distance Travelled 11.7 km
Location of Sand Sample (lat/Long) S32° 08.956’ E152° 30.293′

Nine Mile Beach was the tenth beach in the Mile Beach club project. As to be expected there were new experiences with this beach. Funny though it was not what we initially expected.

Nine Mile Beach is 11.7 km (8 mile) long, and extends in a gentle east-facing arc from Diamond Reef rocks to the north entrance wall of Cape Hawke harbour. The beach is backed by a Holocene foredune plain that formed when the shoreline prograded up to 1 km seaward between 6000 and 4000 years ago. However, this in turn is backed by some of the oldest beach deposits in NSW, with evidence of beaches 90 000, 150 000, 220 000 and possibly 480 000 years old.

On the 17th May, Wednesday, Joanne and I had spent a very relaxing and extremely enjoyable day driving up from ‘The Ruins Campground’ and then spent time shopping and sightseeing in Foster/Tuncurry. We knew it was possible to drive on the beach but were a little hesitant with this option, not because of the fear of beach driving but simply the cost. The local council had only one cost option; $60 annual fee which expires on 31 June regardless of when you register. We ended up accepting and purchased a $60 Great Lakes beach 4WD pass, so we could drive Nine Mile Beach just once.

Chris was especially keen to get the 4WD pass as this would allow us to complete two mile beaches in one day. A task that we had not yet managed to accomplish. We entered the beach at the southern entry point just across the road from where we were camping at the Tuncurry Sporties. Followed some local fishermen down to the north entrance wall of Cape Hawke harbour, Foster/Tuncurry, we then proceeded north Chris driving and experimenting with some unusual beach driving techniques, trying to find the D-Maxs’ limits in the loose sand.

Well in the fading last rays of sunlight he found it’s limits and managed to bury the D-Max up to its chassis. Well this beach did in fact provide a first for the mile beach club. That first was having to use all four of our beach recovery boards not just once but three times to recover the D-Max. Following this the remaining beach was driven in complete darkness and locating the northern exit point had it’s own challengers. By the time, we found the exit point and weaved our way through the bush tracks behind the dunes we were ready for home; caravan that is.

We spend the next day relaxing, kayaking around Cape Hawke harbour. It was not until the day after, 19th May that we travelled back up the road to complete the last little section of beach, 330m at Diamond Reef rocks. When walking this very short section we could not help noticing several 4WD tyre tracks in the sand on this restricted 4WD section.

 

 

4 comments

    • Hi Andrea
      Thanks for that. Yes so true but good way to spice up you day I think. Giggle. Hope all is well with you.

      We are in Brisbane for a few days doing some work on our rental property then north again.

  1. Chris Its Judy Miller from calvary.we have brought a 4dr. this reminds me not to go onto a beach!!!. we have ordered a caravan, take delivery in January,Peter retires then.looking forward to it.

    • Hi Judy

      Great news on your purchases. Hope to see you out there on the open roads soon. We are in Brisbane for a few days catching up with friends then off again north to Cape York

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