This spectacular beach (often erroneously referred to as Long Beach) stretches from the southern foot of Chapman's Peak (593m) where a rocky outcrop looks down on a famous surfing spot, 'The Hoek'. From here one can watch the surfers riding the waves and occasionally one is lucky enough to see dolphins frolicking in the surf. On the mountainside below Chapman's Peak Drive there is a dense band of dark-green trees called white milkwoods. The beach stretches southwards and is a massive expanse of sand with impermanent lagoons on the land side of the beach. These lagoons are sometimes filled by waves at high tide, depending on the lunar cycle and the size of the swell. Just over 3 kilo metres along the beach lies the wreck of the SS Kakapa (named after a New Zealand flightless parrot. This ship (1093 tons) went ashore on the night of25dt May 1900. No lives were lost. She was on her maiden voyage from Swansea to Sydney and carried no cargo. It is thought that the captain confused either Karbonkelberg Peak (above Hout Bay) or Chapman's Peak