Shell of medium to large size (90-140 mm), rarely more, elongate, fusiform of solid structure. Surface shiny, smooth, showing thin axial growth marks only. Spire relatively high with gently convex whorls. Protoconch with mean diameter of 9-11 mm, smooth, possessing faint cancellate surface when magnified, arch-shaped, raised and bearing sharp calcarella at apex. Protoconch-teleoconch transition very gradual. Suture slightly impressed. Teleoconch of 3 to 4 gently convex whorls with rather flat subsutural zone forming an indistinct shoulder. Aperture long, narrow, forming more than 70% of total length of shell. Outer lip smooth and simple, solid and thickened. Columella straight, with 4-5 thick porcellaneous oblique plaits. Siphonal notch deep. Fasciole prominent. Background colour pink-cream overlain by close-set red tent-like pattern, often ill-defined and crossed by 3 spiral bands of crimson rectangular blotches on body whorl, plus another at the suture, often fusing. Calcarella white, embryonic and protoconch whorls pink.

The smooth protoconch is unique amongst the eastern Volutoconus and makes identification easy. The species immediately to its north, V. keppelensis n. sp. bears an outline and pattern rather similar but its size is constantly smaller and its protoconch is always ribbed, precluding any confusion. Only the western V. hargreavesi bears a smooth protoconch too, but quite different with its dome-shape, incised suture and bicoloured apex.
With a range of approximately 850 km, regional populations are often distinctive in form and colour. The New South Wales specimen, from Laureton to about Evans Head, have a shorter spire and darker patterning; from the south Queensland border, Tweed Head/Cape Moreton, north to the northern Sunshine Coast, the spire tends to become more solid and higher. Further north along the northern extreme of the cline, Double Island Point to Sandy Cape, the spire is more tapered and the pattern is more dense, with quite distinguishable darker broken spiral bands. Among these local variations, the most obvious difference is apparent when comparing the squat spire of shells from the southern N.S.W. regions with the relatively high spire of those from the Queensland colonies. However these variations warrant no conclusive conchological consideration.

TYPE LOCALITY
Caloundra, Queensland, Australia.
RANGE
From Laurieton, N.S.W. to Break Sea Spit, Queensland. Northward, a further isolated population is also found from off Bustard Bay, Queensland.
HABITAT
Between 50 to 150 m on sandy substrate.