[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":230},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon":9,"spot-shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon":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 Shelly Beach (Port Macquarie) lagoon - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Shelly Beach (Port Macquarie) lagoon, New South Wales. Excellent conditions, water 19.2°C, waves 0.63m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fshelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon_0_45b9f4970d50.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Shelly Beach (Port Macquarie) lagoon","Tucked away on the southern edge of Port Macquarie, Shelly Beach's natural tidal lagoon is a protected, shallow snorkeling haven sheltered by a small rocky reef. At low tide, the lagoon's clear, ca...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-31.454032,152.931441,{"@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 Shelly Beach (Port Macquarie) lagoon",{"@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\u002Fshelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon",{"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":144,"area_boundary":124,"routes":124,"created_at":154,"updated_at":155,"today_conditions":156,"today_verdict_view":178,"images":206,"submitted_by":227,"region_name":26,"verification_status":229,"verified_at":124,"disputed":169,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":124},"9e111b8a-a385-4f83-aea5-c7d8554ba3a3","shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon","Tucked away on the southern edge of Port Macquarie, Shelly Beach's natural tidal lagoon is a protected, shallow snorkeling haven sheltered by a small rocky reef. At low tide, the lagoon's clear, calm waters reveal a sandy bottom scattered with seagrass beds — a favourite hangout for eagle rays gliding past. Surrounded by the lush Sea Acres Rainforest Reserve, this secluded beach offers a unique blend of coastal and rainforest scenery. The lagoon's gentle conditions make it one of the safest and most family-friendly snorkeling spots on the Mid North Coast, with wildlife sightings almost guaranteed.","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],0.026541699556463592,0.009664237098085629,0.17611778164811884,0.03253033226741405,0.5290385749644281,0.005582129342026114,0.0016505953921592078,0.004704081783503007,0.10740202342919446,0.09830423466955368,0.056707460959587945,0.020850595586877026,0.013341191548521942,0.13143434717045857,0.003430880127737567,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],279.66974778257236,0.31786471982493936,339.3316347768912,301.03595912681027,303.2242177829446,317.039651388321,214.8100852940463,228.886354247491,295.1981984466952,311.79402927221867,337.87763048894345,266.7329307958574,354.57342080183724,316.5890766915319,335.83520934662744,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,118,121,125,128,131,135,138,141],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Surf waves and rips","Shelly Beach is a classic surf beach with rolling waves; rips can develop at the northern and southern ends. The safest snorkeling area is the central lagoon in front of the carpark.","warning",12,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"General Hazard Rating 6\u002F10","Beachsafe rates Shelly Beach at 6\u002F10 general hazard, meaning moderate conditions that can increase with swell and wind.","caution",{"name":119,"description":120,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Rocky reef at headlands","The southern end has a small reef and rocky headland with sharp rocks exposed at low tide — avoid snorkeling close to the rocks.",{"name":122,"description":123,"severity":117,"season_start":124,"season_end":124},"Outgoing tide current","As the tide retreats from the lagoon, a gentle current can develop through the narrow channels, which may surprise less confident swimmers.",null,{"name":126,"description":127,"severity":117,"season_start":124,"season_end":124},"Rocky reef and bommies","Submerged rocks and reef bommies are scattered close to shore; sharp coral or barnacle cuts are possible when wading or if caught off-balance by a wave.",{"name":129,"description":130,"severity":112,"season_start":124,"season_end":124},"Surf break at high tide","At high tide the lagoon merges with the open ocean and waves can break directly over the reef, creating hazardous conditions for snorkellers.",{"name":132,"description":133,"severity":117,"season_start":134,"season_end":113},"Bluebottle jellyfish","Bluebottles (Physalia physalis) may drift into the bay during northerly winds, particularly from November to March.",11,{"name":136,"description":137,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Rip current at beach entry","The open beach adjacent to the lagoon can develop rip currents. Snorkelers entering via the beach should stay inside the lagoon zone.",{"name":139,"description":140,"severity":117,"season_start":124,"season_end":124},"Incoming Tide Current","As the tide rises, water flows into the lagoon through narrow channels, creating a moderate current that can surprise swimmers.",{"name":142,"description":143,"severity":117,"season_start":124,"season_end":124},"Bluebottle Stings","Bluebottle jellyfish (Physalia physalis) are occasionally present, especially after northeasterly winds and in summer months.",{"directions":145,"parking":146,"facilities":147,"fees":152,"access_method":153},"From Port Macquarie town centre, take Pacific Drive south for about 4 km, then turn right into Shelly Beach Road and follow it to the end. The lagoon is directly in front of the carpark, on the southern side of the beach.","Shelly Beach Reserve has a dedicated carpark with approximately 30 spaces. It fills quickly on summer weekends and public holidays.",[148,149,150,151],"toilets","parking","picnic_tables","showers","Free entry. No parking fees.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:55:40.997906Z","2026-08-04T05:34:24.990849Z",{"verdict":157,"evaluated_at":158,"models":159},"go","2026-10-03T02:19:40.836195Z",[160,167,173],{"model_name":161,"is_favourable":162,"value":163,"threshold":164,"unit":165,"operator":166},"Wind Speed",true,7.99,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":168,"is_favourable":169,"value":170,"threshold":171,"unit":172,"operator":166},"Wave Height",false,0.627,0.5,"m",{"model_name":174,"is_favourable":169,"value":175,"threshold":40,"unit":176,"operator":177},"Visibility",1.86,"","gte",{"verdict":157,"rating":179,"evaluated_at":158,"generated_at":158,"source":180,"confidence":181,"visibility":184,"parameters":185,"models_passed":205,"models_total":200},"Excellent","precomputed",{"level":182,"value":183},"High",100,{"score":175,"rating":124,"confidence":124},[186,188,193,196,202],{"name":168,"value":187,"label":124,"unit":172,"favourable":169,"score":36,"optimal_max":171,"marginal_max":36},0.6273497252919836,{"name":189,"value":190,"label":124,"unit":191,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":192,"marginal_max":113},"Swell Period",7.4,"s",8,{"name":161,"value":194,"label":124,"unit":165,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":164,"marginal_max":195},7.994967405876638,15,{"name":197,"value":198,"label":124,"unit":199,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":200,"marginal_max":201},"Precipitation",0.2,"mm",5,20,{"name":203,"value":124,"label":204,"unit":176,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":124,"marginal_max":124},"Tidal Phase","slack",4,[207,214,217,220],{"id":208,"image_url":13,"sort_order":5,"is_primary":162,"moderation_status":209,"license":210,"license_url":211,"attribution":212,"author_name":213},"f290dd15-e39b-49af-8899-16c16674a913","approved","CC BY-SA 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-sa\u002F4.0\u002F","Photo by Brian Tolagson","Brian Tolagson",{"id":215,"image_url":216,"sort_order":36,"is_primary":169,"moderation_status":209,"license":210,"license_url":211,"attribution":212,"author_name":213},"5c89fdf7-29af-40a0-9191-c22daf233f45","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon_1_3b91cabdd833.jpg",{"id":218,"image_url":219,"sort_order":40,"is_primary":169,"moderation_status":209,"license":210,"license_url":211,"attribution":212,"author_name":213},"74bc4161-7f6c-40e3-80db-92f136ae8d74","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon_2_7890c3c43997.jpg",{"id":221,"image_url":222,"sort_order":43,"is_primary":169,"moderation_status":209,"license":223,"license_url":224,"attribution":225,"author_name":226},"dc0adea0-be20-472e-bda2-7117019de602","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_shelly-beach-port-macquarie-lagoon_3_31fce7a47e1e.jpg","CC BY 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby\u002F4.0\u002F","Photo by (c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY)","Thomas Mesaglio",{"display_name":228},"Daniel","unverified",1791009196414]