Wanda is a popular beach south of Sydney that has undergone a dramatic change after wild weather swept through the area. A mountain of sand has blown over Wanda Beach and part of the Don Lucas Reserve behind it, covering the previous beach entry and footpaths.
The Incredible before and after images from Don Lucas Reserve show the walkway, signage and a water bubbler are almost buried under the new sand dunes.
Wanda Beach is part of the Bate Bay coastline – made up of the stretch of beaches from Wanda to Shelly Beach and ocean currents typically deposit more sand there than other parts of the bay.
Wanda beach is in a region that is accreting sediments due to longshore drift within the Bate Bay embayment, where beaches further south are receding. Such events can occur after storms where strong winds create a strong drift of sand. Residents started noticing the phenomenal transformation in February 2025, after strong wind gusts reached 117km/h on January 15. The following days recorded maximum gusts of 78, 96 and 80km/h, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather station at Kurnell.
Yes, the dunes at Wanda Beach, particularly in the Greenhills Beach and Don Lucas Reserve area, are known to move due to strong winds and coastal processes. Powerful winds, like the ones experienced during 2025 with gusts of up to 117 km/h, can significantly shift sand, rebuilding dunes and impacting areas like the Don Lucas Reserve.
This EarthCache is explaining what is happening at the present time. Sand dunes form when wind transports and deposits loose sand in a specific area, often where it encounters an obstacle that slows the wind and causes sand to settle. The wind, typically onshore, blows sand from the beach inland. Obstacles like vegetation, rocks, or even previous dunes can disrupt the wind flow, causing sand to drop and accumulate.
At the 5th May 2018 everything was stable.
By the 8th June 2025 some locals are expressing concern about the natural occurrence that is taking place at Don Lucas Reserve.
However before looking at what builds a dune, it could be worth having a look at GCB3W6Q - Cronulla Beach storm erosion - Cronulla Beach EarthCache by MaxI125 and learning what can destroy a beach.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Winds: Strong winds, especially easterly winds, are the primary driver of sand movement at Wanda Beach. These winds can lift and transport sand, leading to the formation of new dunes or the redistribution of existing ones.
Longshore Drift: Wanda Beach is part of a region that experiences longshore drift, where sand is moved along the coast by waves. This process, along with other coastal processes like wave action and storm surges, can contribute to the dynamic nature of the dunes.
Vegetation: While dunes are naturally dynamic, vegetation plays a crucial role in stabilizing them and preventing excessive movement. Coastal management programs often focus on planting and protecting native vegetation to help maintain dune stability. You will see along the coast the management control being managed by the local Council with fencing and specific pathways.
Example of Movement: Recent strong winds have been responsible for significant sand movement in Don Lucas Reserve, even rebuilding a dune and partially burying an outdoor shower. This demonstrates the powerful effect of wind on dune formation and movement.
Wind gusts reaching an incredible 117km/h were responsible for the huge shift in sand at Wanda Beach. The Bureau defines wind gusts of over 90km/h as 'damaging'. While the landscape looks almost unrecognisable to some, long term residents of the Shire say it brings back memories of how Wanda Beach used to look. Huge sand dunes once surrounded Wanda Beach and the area that is now the suburb of Greenhills Beach. This photo shows current sand dunes further along Bate Bay.
The new sandhills will eventually even out and return to its usual form. Over time the beach will equilibrate and the sand will redistribute across the beach through the movement of wind and water.
In the days following the severe weather, Sutherland Shire Council redistributed some of the sand that was blocking emergency access paths to the beach. Works have been carried out to remove significant sand deposits which were obstructing emergency access routes to beaches along the northern end of the Bate Bay foreshore. The excess sand being transferred to beaches which were affected by sand erosion, North Cronulla is one of these.
Here's a more detailed look at what is happening by you. You can log your find when you visit however you are required to message your answers to these questions within a week for review by the CO. Failure to do this will result in your found log being deleted.
Question 1. What is required to build the Sand Dune?
Question 2. What is required to place the sand?
Question 3. What will cause the sand dune to form?
Question 4. What will cause the dune to grow and move:
Question 5. Add a photo of something to identify you at the viewing platform with Bobby Brown.
