Snorkelling, Lord Howe IslandCredit: Destination NSW
Woman snorkelling off Lord Howe Island.
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There are hundreds of fantastic diving and snorkelling spots along the coastlines of New South Wales. Among them are a handful of spectacular shallow sites that are ideal for both diving and snorkelling — perfect for divers with travelling companions who prefer to snorkel while you scuba (or vice versa). Here are five of the most iconic spots, and how to experience them.
Montague Island, South Coast
Just 9km (around a 20-minute boat ride) from Narooma on the NSW South Coast, Montague Island is renowned for its fur seal colon. You can scuba dive and snorkel with these curious creatures in shallow waters surrounding the island year-round. Underwater Safaris specialises in snorkelling and diving tours to the island; you can also combine seal snorkelling and an island tour with Montague Island Adventures or Island Charters Narooma. As well as seals, snorkellers and divers might also spot some of the large bull rays and Port Jackson sharks that hang out among the seals. From November to April, scuba divers can also spot grey nurse sharks on deeper dives.
Conditions and accessibility: Montague Island is a boat dive/snorkel, with visibility ranging from 10–40m. The water temperature drops to around 16°C in winter, with suitable wetsuits supplied.
Shelly Beach, Sydney
At Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the calm, shallow waters surrounding Shelly Beach, part of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, are a magnet for snorkellers and divers. Giant cuttlefish are often spotted here, particularly during their winter breeding season. From August to September, Shelly Beach also acts as a nursery for baby dusky whaler sharks, while octopus, eagle rays and wobbegong sharks are seen throughout the year. Dive Centre Manly runs snorkelling and diving tours to the site, while Pro Dive Manly focusses on dive tours and courses; Shelly Beach is one of the most popular places in Sydney to get Open Water Diver certified.
Conditions and accessibility: Shelly Beach is a shore dive/snorkel, with an average visibility of 8–10m. This is fine for the shallow site, which reaches a maximum depth of 12m.
Manly Underwater Experience Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy a memorable underwater experience in Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve, Manly.
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Manly Underwater Experience Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy a memorable underwater experience in Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve, Manly.
Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Fur seals swimming around Montague Island, Narooma.
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Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Fur seals swimming around Montague Island, Narooma.
Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Yellowtail fish swimming in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly.
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Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Yellowtail fish swimming in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly.
Cook Island, Tweed Heads
In the far northeastern corner of NSW, less than 1km off Fingal Head, Cook Island Aquatic Reserve is a haven for turtles (particularly green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles), so you can expect to see at least a few during a typical snorkel or dive. There are also a range of anemone fish and other tropical fish species, corals and rays to be spotted. Watersports Guru runs up to three snorkelling tours daily, and Tweed Sea Sports runs morning dives.
Conditions and accessibility: Visibility at Cook Island is typically around 15m. All sites are accessed by boat, with snorkelling sessions conducted along a coral ledge where turtles hang out; divers can explore beyond the wall, which drops off to around 20m.
Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli), Byron Bay
Julian Rocks, or Nguthungulli in the Bundjalung Aboriginal language, is a rocky outcrop located 2.5km offshore from Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast. The convergence of the East Australian Current with cooler waters from the south attracts an incredibly diverse array of species to its shallow temperate reefs, from tropical fish to numerous turtle, shark and ray species, as well as corals. Byron Bay Dive Centre and Sundive run daily trips; both also offer snorkelling tours and dive courses.
Conditions and accessibility: Julian Rocks is a boat dive with an average visibility of 15m, perfect for snorkelling at the shallowest site called The Nursery, which ranges from 5–12m. The maximum diving depth is 21m at the Cod Hole, a swim-through full of marine life.
Lord Howe Island
With more than 100 dive sites to choose from, Lord Howe Island, less than two hours’ flight from Sydney, is a scuba diver’s paradise. However, many of the island’s shallower dive spots, which support a wide variety of tropical and temperate species brought on converging currents, are also great for snorkelling. Chief among them is The Lagoon, on the western side of the island, where you can expect to see everything from anemones to lionfish, slipper crayfish to the rare Coleman’s pygmy seahorse. Pro Dive Lord Howe Island runs snorkelling and diving tours around the island.
Conditions and accessibility: Snorkellers can swim out from The Lagoon and Ned’s Beach to explore shallow coral reefs, or sign up for an outer reef snorkelling tour by boat alongside more experienced divers. The depth within the lagoon ranges from 5–10m, with an average visibility of 10m. The visibility increases to a maximum of 40m on the outer reef.
Tweed Heads Underwater Experience Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Some of the outstanding aquatic experiences on offer in the Tweed region of NSW.
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Tweed Heads Underwater Experience Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Some of the outstanding aquatic experiences on offer in the Tweed region of NSW.
Julian Rocks, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Scuba diver exploring the soft coral fans at the Julian Rocks dive site in Byron. Bay.
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Julian Rocks, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Scuba diver exploring the soft coral fans at the Julian Rocks dive site in Byron. Bay.
Blue Pool, BermaguiCredit: Destination NSW
The scenic Blue Pool on the Bermagui coastline.
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You’ll find spectacular ocean pools dotted along the southern coastline of New South Wales. These handmade pools, fed by the ocean’s waves, are often built into the rocks near beautiful sandy beaches, can be hidden away along the coastline and are enjoyed mostly by locals. Ocean pools are great for kids learning how to swim, lap swimming and for a dip on the days when the waves are a little too big for your liking. Here’s where to find an ocean pool on the coast south of Sydney.
In the Illawarra
You’ll find many spectacular ocean pools in the Illawarra area, from south of the Royal National Park all the way through to the popular seaside town of Kiama. These include lovely pools at Coledale, Bulli, Towradgi, Port Kembla and North Wollongong.
Take the road through the Royal National Park to Stanwell Park and onto Coalcliff Beach, where the ocean pool is set against a dramatic backdrop of the escarpment.
Nuns Pool, at Flagstaff Point in Wollongong, is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to the 1830s. (The title of oldest ocean pool goes to the Bogey Hole in Newcastle, north of Sydney. It was built by convicts in 1819.) Located below the lighthouse, the Nuns Pool (formerly known as Chain Baths and used by the nuns of St Mary’s convent) sits in a small, sheltered cove and is accessed via a narrow path chiselled into the sandstone.
Further south at Kiama, the Blowhole Point Ocean Pool offers a safe swimming spot near the area’s famous blowhole, the largest in the world, on a headland near the town centre. This beautiful, hand-cut pool is an irregular shape and has a varied depth and rock bottom – it was also once a men-only bath. You can also take the 15-minute walk around Kiama Harbour from the blowhole to Black Beach Reserve. Here you can do 50-metre laps in the Olympic-size Continental Ocean Pool.
A 15-minute drive south of Kiama is the tiny coastal town of Gerringong. Head down to Gerringong’s Werri Beach for a swim at Ourie Ocean Pool, at the southern end of the beach. This rectangular pool, carved into a flat rock shelf, has a smooth concrete bottom and is perfect for a summer’s day dip.
Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
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Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
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Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
From the Illawarra to the Shoalhaven
Drive an hour further south into the Shoalhaven region and seek out Huskisson Sea Pool at Huskisson. This coastal town has a rich shipbuilding heritage, which you can explore at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum after your swim.
A 45-minute drive south of Huskisson brings you to Mollymook, where you’ll find the South Coast’s famous Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool on the headland south of the beach. There’s also a lovely ocean pool at Ulladulla, a five-minute drive further down the coast.
On the Sapphire Coast
One of the state’s most famous ocean pools is found at Bermagui, a little over five hours by car from Sydney, on the Sapphire Coast. Bermagui’s Blue Pool is revered as one of the prettiest, filled with azure-hued water fading to turquoise and green. At 50 metres long it makes for a great lap-swimming pool and there’s also a shallow wading pool, ideal for kids, just next to the pool.
One of the southernmost ocean pools on the NSW coastline is the Aslings Beach Rock Pool, a hidden gem carved into the pink-and-white cliffs at Aslings Beach in Eden, a six-hour drive from Sydney. It’s only a short walk from town, but its low profile makes it hard to spot from further down the beach. Make your way over the rocks from the beach and take a dip at low tide before the waves have a chance to deposit any seaweed.
Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
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Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.
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Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.