Shaws Bay is a beautifully sheltered tidal bay in East Ballina, formed when the northern wall of the Richmond River was constructed. Its calm, shallow waters are renowned for extensive seagrass beds — regarded as some of the best in Northern NSW — creating an ideal nursery habitat for marine life and superb conditions for safe, family-friendly snorkeling. The bay features sandy beaches bordered by littoral rainforest and a scenic shared pathway, making it a peaceful spot to explore the underwater world without currents or waves.
Shaws Bay (Ballina)
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Wave Height 0.5 mSwell Period 6.9 sWind Speed 1.6 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Outgoing tide current
As a tidal bay connected to the Richmond River, outgoing tides can produce gentle currents near the entrance channel.
Low risk: Boat traffic
The bay is used by small boats and kayaks; stay aware near the channel and boat ramp area.
Low risk: Tidal currents
As a tidal bay off the Richmond River, outgoing tides can create moderate currents that may pull inexperienced swimmers toward the river channel.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Located on Compton Drive, East Ballina, approximately 3 km east of Ballina's town centre. Turn onto Compton Drive from the Pacific Highway (Ballina bypass) and follow signs to Shaws Bay Holiday Park and Pop Denison Park.
Parking & facilities
Street parking along Compton Drive plus designated parking bays near Pop Denison Park, including two disabled parking bays.
toiletsparkingshowerspicnic_tablesdrinking_water
Free entry. No parking fees.
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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