Bunkum Bay Beach

Bunkum Bay is a small cove of dark volcanic sand on the northwest coast, held between two low headlands with a beach bar that opens when there is reason to and very little else. It is one of the quieter beaches in the north and is often empty on a weekday. The water shelves quickly and the swimming is good when the swell is down. The road down to the bay is short and there is space to leave a car at the top.

What you actually see

• The dark sand cove - the small beach between two headlands.
• The quick shelve - water that gets deep close in.
• The beach bar - the one place on the sand, open irregularly.
• The quiet - a beach that is often empty on a weekday.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Swell makes swimming difficult at times. Weekends bring more people than weekdays.

Honest expectations

The bar opens irregularly and cannot be counted on. There is no shade beyond what the bar provides. The sea can be rough with a northerly swell running.

Nearby

Woodlands Beach is south, and Little Bay is north.