The iconic "Grey Nurse (location)" — also known as Big Seal Rock at Seal Rocks — is one of NSW's premier snorkelling destinations, offering shore-entry access to the largest aggregations of endangered grey nurse sharks on the east coast. Located within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park on the Barrington Coast, this spot features a rocky reef system with gutters, bommies and caves that shelter resident grey nurse sharks year-round. Visibility can exceed 15m on calm days, and snorkellers drift over a dramatic underwater landscape while being surrounded by curious, slow-moving sharks.
Grey Nurse (location)
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.8 mSwell Period 8.6 sWind Speed 1.7 knPrecipitation 0.1 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Richard LingThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Rocky shore entry
Entry and exit are over uneven rock shelves that can be slippery and treacherous, especially when wet.
Low risk: Ocean swell and surge
The exposed position of the reef means ocean swell can create strong surge conditions around rock walls and bommies, especially during southerly winds.
Low risk: Strong currents
Tidal currents can run strongly between the islands and along the reef gutters, requiring good fitness and awareness.
Low risk: Limited beach access road
The unsealed access road to Seal Rocks can become rough or impassable after heavy rain.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
1 photo from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Located at Seal Rocks, approximately 30 km south of Forster on the NSW Mid-North Coast. From the Pacific Highway, take the Lakes Way (B64) to the village of Seal Rocks. Follow Kinka Road to the end, where a short walking track leads to the rocky shoreline at Big Seal Rock. The site is part of the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park.
Parking & facilities
Limited gravel parking is available at the end of Kinka Road. No designated car park — park roadside clear of access gates.
No fees required for snorkelling at this site. A Marine Park entry permit is not needed for recreational swimming/snorkelling.
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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