The Park covers some 635 hectares. The reserve, is divided into three sections: Pegwell Bay, the Central Section and Buffer Zone to the south of the river Stour.

The landscape is made up of a complex mosaic of habitats: inter-tidal mud flats, salt marsh, shingle, sand dunes, ancient dune pasture, chalk cliffs, wave cut platform and coastal scrub land. It is the best remaining complex of this type in the southeast, showing a complete series of seashore habitats.