Lying within the Solitary Islands Marine Park on the NSW Mid North Coast, Arrawarra Marine Reserve offers a sheltered, shallow shore snorkel around a rocky headland and calm bay near Coffs Harbour. The East Australian Current brings warm, clear water and an exceptional mix of tropical and temperate marine life to this protected coastal reserve. Snorkellers can drift over rocky reef ledges, kelp gardens and sandy patches, exploring the same biodiverse transition zone that makes this region famous — all from a gentle beach entry with minimal current.
Arrawarra Marine Reserve
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.7 mSwell Period 6.5 sWind Speed 8.4 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Joy EngelmanThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Easterly Swell
Large easterly swells break across the headland rocks and make the site unsafe. Best on calm days only.
Low risk: Reduced Visibility After Rain
Heavy rain in the Coffs Coast catchment drops visibility sharply for several days.
Low risk: Shallow Rocky Reef
Depth ranges from 2 m to 8 m with rocky ledges and boulders — care needed to avoid contact.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
3 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Located 25–30 km north of Coffs Harbour. Take the Pacific Highway to Arrawarra, then turn onto Arrawarra Beach Road. The beach access and headland are at the end of the road near the village.
Parking & facilities
Free street-side parking available along Arrawarra Beach Road near the beach reserve.
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No entry or parking fees.
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Gallery ┬╖ 3 photos
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports