[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":238},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-norah-head":9,"spot-norah-head":51},{"entries":4,"total":5,"period":6,"type":7,"generated_at":8},[],0,"all_time","reports","2026-10-03T06:32:05.526386Z",{"title":10,"description":11,"canonical_url":12,"og_image":13,"structured_data":14,"breadcrumbs":44},"Snorkeling Conditions at Norah Head - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Norah Head, New South Wales. Good conditions, water 20.0°C, waves 0.47m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fnorah-head","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_norah-head_0_7191d468cdc0.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Norah Head","Norah Head offers sheltered snorkelling around Cabbage Tree Harbour and the tidal rockpool at the northern end of Norah Beach. The craggy headland, crowned by the iconic 1903 lighthouse, creates ca...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-33.282178,151.566944,{"@type":25,"addressRegion":26,"addressCountry":27},"PostalAddress","New South Wales","Australia",{"@context":16,"@type":29,"name":30,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":31},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Norah Head",{"@context":16,"@type":32,"itemListElement":33},"BreadcrumbList",[34,39,42],{"@type":35,"position":36,"name":37,"item":38},"ListItem",1,"Home","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com",{"@type":35,"position":40,"name":26,"item":41},2,"https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"@type":35,"position":43,"name":18,"item":12},3,[45,47,49],{"label":37,"href":46},"\u002F",{"label":26,"href":48},"\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"label":18,"href":50},"\u002Fspots\u002Fnorah-head",{"id":52,"name":18,"slug":53,"latitude":22,"longitude":23,"description":54,"difficulty":55,"image_url":13,"status":56,"tide_constituents":57,"hazard_entries":108,"access_info_structured":159,"area_boundary":113,"routes":113,"created_at":167,"updated_at":168,"today_conditions":169,"today_verdict_view":190,"images":216,"submitted_by":235,"region_name":26,"verification_status":237,"verified_at":113,"disputed":211,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":113},"17431c17-7684-4369-a833-8d39a185a88a","norah-head","Norah Head offers sheltered snorkelling around Cabbage Tree Harbour and the tidal rockpool at the northern end of Norah Beach. The craggy headland, crowned by the iconic 1903 lighthouse, creates calm pockets ideal for exploring rocky ledges, kelp gardens, and sandy patches where stingrays, cuttlefish, and wobbegong sharks are commonly seen. The partially man-made rockpool provides a safe, family-friendly entry point, while more confident snorkellers can venture toward the reef wall (max 14 m) to find nudibranchs, octopus, and schools of baitfish. Part of the Wyrrabalong National Park coastline, the area is known for good visibility in settled conditions.","beginner","published",{"name":58,"amplitude":74,"phase":90,"latitude":22,"model":106,"epoch":107},[59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89],0.019026848874175547,0.011089291993953422,0.1610672587447701,0.034539535602553545,0.5025134370230712,0.007147833409914364,0.0025322870451089784,0.002546085339241724,0.11009071291557682,0.09296773259614857,0.048671570383197124,0.017636828999467533,0.015564766340023935,0.12389051020157082,0.007589224493335792,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],279.2766886280567,5.2179471481263136,327.8785445860776,317.7024898228866,306.8729658861125,267.2447593388782,231.97832188613017,101.33223847744341,296.8699455404536,298.53712868466437,324.7444652691832,267.6891965855266,312.96936069953745,314.32469518851985,258.5353776567848,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,118,121,126,130,133,136,139,144,147,150,153,156],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Swell and surf conditions","Snorkelling is best in calm conditions; easterly and northerly swells can create strong shore-dump and surge around the headland and rock platforms.","warning",null,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Rocky entry and exit","Shore entry at Cabbage Tree Harbour and the rockpool involves navigating rocks and barnacle-covered surfaces — sturdy footwear recommended.","caution",{"name":119,"description":120,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic near boat ramp","The nearby boat ramp can see vessel activity — stay vigilant near the ramp channel, especially on weekends.",{"name":122,"description":123,"severity":112,"season_start":124,"season_end":125},"Large swells and surge","Exposed offshore reef subject to large ocean swells that cause heavy surge, stirring up sand and reducing visibility. Only suitable in calm conditions.",5,9,{"name":127,"description":128,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":129},"Strong currents","Ocean currents can be strong around the headland and over the reef drop-off, especially during tidal changes.",12,{"name":131,"description":132,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":129},"Boat-only access","The reef is 1.5 km offshore with no shore-entry access. The local boat ramp across the beach is rough and exposed, limiting launch conditions.",{"name":134,"description":135,"severity":112,"season_start":124,"season_end":125},"Large Swells & Surge","The exposed coastline can experience large swells and heavy surge, churning up sand and reducing visibility. Best on calm, low-swell days.",{"name":137,"description":138,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat Traffic","Access is by boat from a rough beach launch ramp. Snorkelers should be vigilant of dive boats operating in the area.",{"name":140,"description":141,"severity":112,"season_start":142,"season_end":143},"Open ocean swell","Exposed offshore site subject to ocean swell. Requires calm conditions (low swell, light winds) for safe snorkeling.",6,8,{"name":145,"description":146,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Rough boat ramp launch","Boats launch directly across the beach into open ocean from a rough ramp, limiting access to calm weather days.",{"name":148,"description":149,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Open ocean swell exposure","The Bull is an offshore bombora exposed to ocean swells. Large surf or southerly swells can make conditions dangerous or inaccessible.",{"name":151,"description":152,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":129},"Boat ramp conditions","The Norah Head beach boat ramp is rough, launching straight into the open ocean. Unsuitable for small boats in anything but calm conditions.",{"name":154,"description":155,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Difficulty navigating back to anchor","The boulders and reef wall extend over a large area; divers and snorkelers can easily lose sight of the anchor line.",{"name":157,"description":158,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Marine traffic","Coal ships and other vessels transit the area en route to Newcastle Harbour. Snorkelers must stay alert.",{"directions":160,"parking":161,"facilities":162,"fees":165,"access_method":166},"Norah Head is approximately 1.5 hours north of Sydney by car and 1 hour south of Newcastle. Take the M1 Pacific Motorway to the Wyong Road exit, then follow the signs through The Entrance to Norah Head. Public transport: train to Wyong station (1.5 hrs from Sydney), then a bus to Norah Head (approx. 1 hr).","Street parking is available near the rockpool at the northern end of Norah Beach, plus a carpark near the Norah Head Lighthouse. Additional parking can be found at Soldiers Beach.",[163,164],"toilets","parking","No fees for snorkelling access. Norah Head Holiday Park and Lighthouse Keepers Quarters are paid accommodation options nearby.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:55:23.293188Z","2026-08-04T05:30:44.786498Z",{"verdict":170,"evaluated_at":171,"models":172},"go","2026-10-03T02:15:45.314500Z",[173,180,185],{"model_name":174,"is_favourable":175,"value":176,"threshold":177,"unit":178,"operator":179},"Wind Speed",true,4.38,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":181,"is_favourable":175,"value":182,"threshold":183,"unit":184,"operator":179},"Wave Height",0.475,0.5,"m",{"model_name":186,"is_favourable":175,"value":187,"threshold":40,"unit":188,"operator":189},"Visibility",2.31,"","gte",{"verdict":170,"rating":191,"evaluated_at":171,"generated_at":171,"source":192,"confidence":193,"visibility":196,"parameters":197,"models_passed":43,"models_total":124},"Good","precomputed",{"level":194,"value":195},"High",100,{"score":187,"rating":113,"confidence":113},[198,200,204,207,213],{"name":181,"value":199,"label":113,"unit":184,"favourable":175,"score":43,"optimal_max":183,"marginal_max":36},0.4754817883308422,{"name":201,"value":202,"label":113,"unit":203,"favourable":175,"score":43,"optimal_max":143,"marginal_max":129},"Swell Period",6.55,"s",{"name":174,"value":205,"label":113,"unit":178,"favourable":175,"score":43,"optimal_max":177,"marginal_max":206},4.384186570709346,15,{"name":208,"value":209,"label":113,"unit":210,"favourable":211,"score":36,"optimal_max":124,"marginal_max":212},"Precipitation",6.4,"mm",false,20,{"name":214,"value":113,"label":215,"unit":188,"favourable":211,"score":36,"optimal_max":113,"marginal_max":113},"Tidal Phase","flood",[217,223,229],{"id":218,"image_url":13,"sort_order":5,"is_primary":175,"moderation_status":219,"license":220,"license_url":113,"attribution":221,"author_name":222},"50ae03f7-f743-431c-bb6a-cc9f66b7a0f5","approved","CC BY-SA 3.0","Photo by Cookaa","Cookaa",{"id":224,"image_url":225,"sort_order":36,"is_primary":211,"moderation_status":219,"license":226,"license_url":113,"attribution":227,"author_name":228},"f00d26a8-659c-4d1d-b0d2-5dd80c09e45f","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_norah-head_1_25bfa7f18410.jpg","CC BY 2.0","Photo by Yun Huang Yong from Harbord, Australia","Yun Huang Yong",{"id":230,"image_url":231,"sort_order":40,"is_primary":211,"moderation_status":219,"license":232,"license_url":113,"attribution":233,"author_name":234},"73c62689-3d2a-4aa6-a031-3bbe9be7596f","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_norah-head_2_dbf388b7384a.jpg","CC BY 2.5","Richard270384 at English Wikipedia","Richard270384",{"display_name":236},"Daniel","unverified",1791009179611]