Tucked away in the wild southern reaches of Booderee National Park, Steamers Beach is a 700 m sweep of golden sand framed by steep headlands and towering dunes with an unusual reddish hue — thought to have been deposited by a prehistoric tsunami. Access requires a 2.3 km walk through tall eucalypt forest, finishing with a staircase descent to the shore. The beach's exposed position and powerful ocean swells make it feel far more rugged than Jervis Bay's famous calm coves, and its crystal-clear waters reward confident snorkelers with excellent visibility over rocky reef shelves near the headlands.
Steamers Beach
AdvancedMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.5 mSwell Period 8.8 sWind Speed 1.4 knPrecipitation 24 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Steamers Beach has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Strong Rips and Currents danger
Steamers Beach is exposed to powerful ocean swells that create severe rip currents and tows. Official park advice strongly recommends against swimming due to these dangerous conditions.
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Strong Rips and Currents
Steamers Beach is exposed to powerful ocean swells that create severe rip currents and tows. Official park advice strongly recommends against swimming due to these dangerous conditions.
Moderate risk: Large Sharks
The park authority notes that large sharks are present in the waters off Steamers Beach, adding to the risks for swimmers and snorkelers.
Moderate risk: Shallow Rock Shelves
Submerged rock shelves near the shoreline pose a risk of injury, especially at low tide or when surf is breaking over them.
Moderate risk: Large Shark Presence
The area is known for resident shark populations. Authorities advise caution and recommend avoiding deep water.
Moderate risk: Exposed Swell and Surf
The beach faces open ocean swells with no sheltering reef, creating powerful dumping waves that can be hazardous for snorkelers.
Low risk: Rock Shelves
Shallow rock shelves fringe parts of the beach and can be hazardous, especially when waves break over them or at high tide when submerged.
Low risk: Steep Staircase Access
The final 200 m of the trail involves steep wooden stairs and a metal walkway that can be challenging in wet conditions, though the wooden steps are designed not to get slippery.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Within Booderee National Park, ~20 km (30 min) drive south of Huskisson. Last 2 km to car park is gravel road (suitable for all vehicles). From the car park, a 2.3 km walking trail (fire trail + stairs) leads down to the beach.
Parking & facilities
Steamers Beach car park at trailhead. No additional parking fee beyond park entry.
toilets
Booderee NP vehicle entry: $20/day (check current rates).
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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