South of Brownsea Island, as close inshore as you can manage is excellent in a northerly, and close to the entrance.
In a SWly head head up one of the channels to the west and drop the hook off Cleavel Point or somewhere similar, but make sure you won't swing into the channel. Everywhere, as far as I've discovered so far is fairly soft mud.

Wherever you go, make sure you get the tide right or you might find yourself stuck for a fortnight.

I reviewed these notes in April 2021. There is not much to update; the harbour dues have increased and the prices at Sandbanks also.

We have checked upon the Studland Bay Conservation Zone and there are no legal restrictions to anchoring there. No other changes; new charts and new prices

These notes were reviewed by Don in May 2106. The MCZ controversey in Studland Bay rumbles on but , at the moment, no yachting restrictions are in place. There are no plans at the moment to provide mooring buoys there.

There are no changes apart from the removal of the Voluntary No Anchor Zone. That trial has been completed.

The notes for the Approaches to Poole harbour and the Anchorages in Studland Bay were updated by Don T on the 4th February 2013. There are no changes to the original notes apart from the revision of the circumstances surrounding the Voluntary No Anchor Zone in Studland Bay.