Rainbow on Zenith Beach, Shoal Bay

Martin Zustak, on January 27, 2007, said:

Past Shoal Bay is the steep Tomaree Head with Zenit Beach cove. You trek through the forest of the Tomaree National Park to reach the barely three hundred metres long sandy stretch. The rip and undercurrent are so strong there that the beach’s shape is highly unusual and from the profile resembles a camel’s hump. Looking from the shore, the sand piles uphill towards the water, then, at the highest point, droops suddenly into the ocean. Retreating waves are sucking sand away from the tidal area at a frightening speed, only to wash it out onto the hump of the camel moments later. Standing on top of the sand bank seems quite dangerous as the next large wave could tip you over in to the ocean, from which it would be difficult to recover considering the steep and slippery bank. The swell is reaching the height of a grown man, each breaking wave collapsing with a sickening thump. You stand back in respect when, all of a sudden, the sun pops out of the clouds and floods the shadowy scene with incredibly sharp light. Nature have turned its headlights on. Grey sand metamorphoses into canary yellow, the ocean into cyan blue, while the silvery foam of the waves supplies perfect contrast. It is still raining heavily out in the bay, so the combination of the light and raindrops conjures up an astonishing full rainbow arching above the ocean, which seems to be growing out of sand.