Lady Reef (also known as Ladies Reef) lies just off the headland at Horseshoe Bay in South West Rocks, on NSW's North Coast. This small but surprisingly rich submerged reef rises only 2 metres from the sandy seafloor at 11 metres max depth, offering a dense tapestry of soft and hard corals teeming with macro life. The swim starts from Main Beach, past Stingray Rock — home to a resident bullray — then heads north across sand to the reef proper. Here you'll find eagle rays, decorator crabs, wobbegongs, nudibranchs, tiny juvenile red morwong, and schools of bream, trevally, and yellowtail. Sheltered from southerly winds, it's a superb shore-accessible site for experienced snorkelers seeking vibrant reef life without a boat.
Lady Reef
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.4 mSwell Period 7.3 sWind Speed 11 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Southerly swell exposure
While protected from southerly winds, northern/northeasterly swells can create rough entry and exit conditions on the small beach.
Low risk: Depth variation and navigation
The reef sits 100m offshore at ~10m depth; snorkelers must navigate across open sandy bottom from Stingray Rock to find the small reef feature. Easy to miss without surface reference.
Low risk: Boat traffic
The area near the headland and outside Horseshoe Bay can have local boat traffic. Snorkelers should remain aware and use a dive/safety float.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Lady Reef is accessed from South West Rocks on the NSW Mid-North Coast. From the town centre, drive to the headland east of Horseshoe Bay. Park at the South West Rocks Surf Club carpark or the headland carpark east of Horseshoe Bay. Walk to the small beach immediately east of the headland (called Main Beach, between the headland and large boulders). Swim out ~110m on the surface to Stingray Rock, then head due north another ~100m across sandy bottom to reach the reef.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at the South West Rocks Surf Club carpark or the headland carpark east of Horseshoe Bay.
parking
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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