Mick's Retreat is a sheltered snorkeling and dive spot on the Bonville Creek estuary near Sawtell on the Coffs Coast of NSW. The site is named after local identity Mick Stanley and offers calm, shallow estuarine waters with a sandy bottom, making it an excellent entry-level snorkel location. Accessed via the Mick's Retreat picnic area, the spot provides a peaceful setting where the creek meets the coastal landscape, surrounded by bushland and birdlife. Ideal for beginners and families, it offers a gentle introduction to the marine environment of the Solitary Islands Marine Park region.
Mick's Retreat (dive site)
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.4 mSwell Period 7.7 sWind Speed 10 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Estuarine currents
Tidal flows through Bonville Creek can create moderate currents, particularly on outgoing tides near the creek mouth.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Located on Bonville Creek near Sawtell, approximately 10 km south of Coffs Harbour. Take the Pacific Highway to Sawtell, then follow Bonville Headland Road to the Mick's Retreat picnic area. The snorkel entry is via the shoreline along the creek banks.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at the Mick's Retreat picnic area off Bonville Headland Road.
parkingpicnic_tablestoilets
No fees required for access.
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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