The head of the bay has a good sandy beach divided into two parts by a rocky outcrop. At the western end of the beach are an old wharf and the farm houses of Guards Bay. The old wharf is in a dangerous condition but can make a good mooring in an emergency in S sector winds.
The Pilot recommends the bay as an anchorage for large ships and in particular in the area off the point between Titirangi and Hikoekoea for SE winds. Cruising boats will find the area untenable in other the E to SW winds. In SE to S winds the bay acts as wind funnel and although holding is good on the mud bottom is not a quiet anchorage.
