Nestled within Bundjalung National Park on the NSW North Coast, Bluff Beach (Iluka Bluff) is a sheltered, family-friendly beach flanked by pandanus palms and backed by a grassy picnic area with a whale-watching lookout. The relatively calm, north-facing waters offer protection from prevailing swells, making it ideal for casual snorkeling close to shore. As the only patrolled beach in the Iluka area during peak summer, it combines safety with the raw beauty of a coastal national park setting — a quiet slice of paradise where the Clarence River meets the sea.
Bluff Beach (Iluka Bluff)
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.9 mSwell Period 6.0 sWind Speed 13 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Graham CookThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Rock fishing hazards
Rock platforms near the bluff are popular for fishing; slippery rocks and rogue waves pose a danger to those wading near the rocks.
Low risk: Shark presence
The area has recorded shark incidents in the past; caution is advised, particularly during dawn, dusk, and after recent rainfall.
Low risk: Rip currents
Like most open beaches, rip currents can form, especially near the southern end adjacent to the Clarence River entrance wall.
Low risk: North-easterly wind swell
When a strong north-easterly springs up, wave conditions become less predictable and can create challenging swimming conditions.
Low risk: Shark net distance
The shoreline-to-shark-net distance can be considerable, especially towards the rock wall end of the patrolled swimming area.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
2 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From Iluka town centre, head south on Charles Street which becomes Bluff Road. Follow Bluff Road approximately 2 km to the Iluka Bluff picnic area carpark at the end. The beach is a 100 m walk north past pandanus palms from the carpark.
Parking & facilities
Designated carpark at Iluka Bluff picnic area. Ample parking available, including spaces for 4WD vehicles accessing the beach.
toiletsparkingpicnic_tablesdrinking_water
$8 per vehicle per day for Bundjalung National Park entry (honour system).
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Gallery ┬╖ 2 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