Smaills Beach

Just offshore from the beach, dominating the wave patterns of the surf, is the rocky outcrop known as Bird Island.

At very low tides the base of the promontory is exposed, making Tomahawk and Smaills effectively a single beach.

Southward the incoming waves of the Pacific Ocean are deflected into complex patterns by Bird Island,[5] so named for its popularity with seabirds.

[3][4][5] In particular, beachgoers are asked to keep dogs under control around sea lions as aggressive interactions could result in injuries on either side.

The Dunedin City Council is addressing this concern by an ongoing programme of contouring and revegetation, through a memorandum of understanding with the Tomahawk Smaills Beachcare Trust.

Their original homestead still stands near the beach and is listed as a Historic Place Category 2 by Heritage New Zealand.

The reason given by residents is that the campers habitually defecate in the Reserve;[15] however, the solution of providing public toilets at the site has been rejected in favour of the proposed ban.