Desoto Inlet is a narrow, rocky chasm carved into the coastline just south of Catherine Hill Bay on the NSW Central Coast. About 75–100 metres long and 10 metres wide, this sheltered inlet is named after a DeSoto car driven off the cliff decades ago—its remains still rest at the head of the inlet. Vertical rock walls with overhangs, a pebble-strewn seafloor, and scattered kelp beds create an atmospheric underwater landscape that shifts from shallow 6-metre depths to around 16 metres offshore. It offers intimate, sheltered snorkelling that feels a world away from the busier beaches nearby.
Desoto Inlet
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 0.0 sWind Speed 3.6 knPrecipitation 3.2 mmTidal Phase unknown
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Swell surge at inlet exit
In bigger swells, exiting the inlet via the water can be very difficult; entry/exit must be carefully timed with conditions.
Moderate risk: Restricted access track
The access track crosses private mining land with locked gates; access may be blocked or require coordination with local dive shops.
Low risk: Slippery rocks
The entry and exit rocks at the inlet can be treacherously slippery, especially when wet or covered in algae.
Low risk: Variable depth changes
Depth changes abruptly from 6 m to 16 m over a pebbly slope, which can surprise inexperienced snorkellers.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From the M1 Pacific Motorway, take the Doyalson/Toukley exit and head north on the Old Pacific Highway. Turn right onto the unmarked mining road towards Catherine Hill Bay (signposted 'Moonee Colliery'). Follow the main street through the village, turn left past the Wallarah Hotel, and continue downhill to a small carpark. A dirt track from the back of the carpark leads through a gate (may be locked) down to the grassed area above Desoto Inlet. Note: access relies on the mining company's permission and the gate may be welded shut; check with local dive shops.
Parking & facilities
Small carpark at the bottom of the hill near the Wallarah Colliery (limited spaces).
parking
Park entry to nearby Munmorah State Conservation Area is $8 per vehicle per day if accessing via that route; check local access arrangements.
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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