Herald Reef lies off Herald Point, a 60 m vegetated headland near Nanarup in the wild Rainbow Coast region of Albany, WA. This granite and limestone reef system drops into the clear, cool waters of the Southern Ocean and is flanked by a sheltered 350 m south-facing beach. The reef's gutters and ledges attract baitfish and larger pelagic visitors, while turquoise lagoon-like shallows over the reef crest offer calm snorkeling on fine days. Part of the Gull Rock National Park area, the site rewards adventurous snorkelers with pristine granite boulder gardens and the possibility of spotting migrating southern right and humpback whales from July to October.
Herald Reef
IntermediateSKIP
SKIP
Poor conditions. Stay out today.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 2.0 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 0.8 knPrecipitation 2.6 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Southern Ocean swell
Exposed to powerful Southern Ocean swells; conditions can change rapidly with large waves and strong surge around the reef.
Moderate risk: Strong rip currents
Rip currents can form in channels around the headland and reef during larger swell events.
Low risk: Cold water temperatures
Water temperatures can drop below 14°C (57°F) in winter; risk of cold shock and hypothermia without adequate wetsuit protection.
Low risk: Sharp reef ledges
Granite and limestone reef structure has sharp, barnacle-encrusted edges that can cause cuts and abrasions.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Located approximately 25 km east of Albany via Frenchman Bay Road, then south toward Nanarup and Gull Rock National Park. Turn off toward Herald Point and follow the unsealed track to the beach parking area.
Parking & facilities
Unsealed gravel parking area near Herald Point beach; limited spaces, no marked bays.
No fees; Gull Rock National Park entry may apply if accessing via the park.
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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