Barlings Island is a small, 15-metre-high rocky island connected to Barlings Beach near Tomakin on the NSW South Coast, forming the eastern headland of this scenic 1-kilometre crescent-shaped beach. The island sits within the Batemans Marine Park, where sheltered rocky reefs and seagrass beds fringe its shoreline. Snorkellers can explore the rock platforms and boulder habitats directly off the island's southern side, with calm conditions often found in the lee of the island. The neighbouring Tomakin Cove offers a protected sandy lagoon for novices, while the island's reefier margins attract more experienced swimmers seeking rocky reef marine life.
Barlings Island
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 6.9 sWind Speed 2.1 knPrecipitation 15 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Strong currents
Tidal flows can create rip currents along Barlings Beach, particularly near the island headland.
Low risk: Rocky shore entry
Entry and exit points around the island involve uneven rock platforms and boulders, requiring care when carrying fins and masks.
Low risk: Swell exposure
The island faces south and can receive open-ocean swells, causing sudden surge around the rocks.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From Batemans Bay, head south on the Princes Highway to Tomakin. Turn onto Barlings Beach Road and follow it to the Barlings Beach car park. The island is accessible from the beach at low tide, or snorkellers can enter from the sandy shore of Barlings Beach and swim around to the island's reef margins.
Parking & facilities
Barlings Beach car park is available at the end of Barlings Beach Road, directly adjacent to the beach. Additional parking can be found near Tomakin Cove.
parkingtoilets
Free entry. Barlings Beach Holiday Park nearby offers amenities for a fee.
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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