[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":204},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-the-needles":9,"spot-the-needles":51},{"entries":4,"total":5,"period":6,"type":7,"generated_at":8},[],0,"all_time","reports","2026-10-02T06:59:37.379659Z",{"title":10,"description":11,"canonical_url":12,"og_image":13,"structured_data":14,"breadcrumbs":44},"Snorkeling Conditions at The Needles - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at The Needles, New South Wales. Fair conditions, water 21.8°C, waves 1.10m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fthe-needles","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_the-needles_1_a49e3f0449cd.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","The Needles","The Needles are a striking cluster of volcanic rock pinnacles rising from the sea just off Cape Byron, Australia's easternmost point. This exposed offshore snorkeling site sits in the Cape Byron Ma...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-28.63347,153.63825,{"@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 The Needles",{"@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\u002Fthe-needles",{"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":135,"area_boundary":113,"routes":113,"created_at":143,"updated_at":144,"today_conditions":145,"today_verdict_view":167,"images":193,"submitted_by":201,"region_name":26,"verification_status":203,"verified_at":113,"disputed":158,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":113},"a69888e2-31a5-4690-8f54-f59bbb2c27cf","the-needles","The Needles are a striking cluster of volcanic rock pinnacles rising from the sea just off Cape Byron, Australia's easternmost point. This exposed offshore snorkeling site sits in the Cape Byron Marine Park, where nutrient-rich currents sweep past the rocks creating a vibrant ecosystem. The dramatic underwater topography features sheer walls, boulder fields, and gutters, all swarming with fish life. This is not a spot for the faint-hearted — it demands strong swimming ability and ideal conditions, but rewards with some of the most pristine marine encounters on the NSW north coast.","advanced","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],0.020132224583929294,0.01143694335558036,0.18726203373117373,0.04107438704758803,0.5295224795205976,0.0034230808585692485,0.0005569507554686765,0.0021713339258749224,0.10758061907143636,0.10539519230481209,0.05462401007479264,0.02506394966317268,0.001908375120212597,0.15003723439877772,0.013374110547905778,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],291.69563629066795,355.58676206563075,352.93210408063356,297.02490864015016,300.97228279421216,208.1255182345187,32.79447253583772,11.502185426631343,293.5347712647989,319.7358481307946,344.2484777080273,298.5648662261243,49.13630293132318,312.645942068142,317.17423791030564,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,119,123,126,129,132],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Strong ocean currents","The convergence of warm and cool currents around the pinnacle can create unpredictable and strong tidal movements.","warning",null,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":118},"Deep water depths","The pinnacle drops beyond 40 metres, requiring good fitness and confidence in deeper water for snorkellers.","danger",12,{"name":120,"description":121,"severity":122,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic","The site is accessible only by boat, with dive and snorkel tour vessels operating in the area.","caution",{"name":124,"description":125,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Changing sea conditions","Exposed offshore location means wind and swell can build quickly, affecting water clarity and safety.",{"name":127,"description":128,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Exposed Swell","The Needles face the open Tasman Sea with no shelter, catching significant ocean swell even on calm days.",{"name":130,"description":131,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Sharp Volcanic Rock","The basalt pinnacles are rough and jagged; cuts and abrasions are common when being pushed against rocks by surge.",{"name":133,"description":134,"severity":117,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Limited Shore Access","The Needles are only accessible by boat\u002Fkayak and there is no immediate exit point if conditions deteriorate.",{"directions":136,"parking":137,"facilities":138,"fees":141,"access_method":142},"The Needles are located approximately 1.5 km offshore from Cape Byron (Byron Bay). Access is by private boat, kayak (with experience), or organised snorkel tour departing from Byron Bay. Launch from the boat ramp at the eastern end of Main Beach or join a tour from Byron Bay marina.","Paid parking available at Cape Byron State Conservation Area carpark (arrive early, limited spaces) or at Byron Bay town centre with a walk to the beach.",[139,140],"parking","toilets","No fee to snorkel the site itself, but Cape Byron State Conservation Area has an entry fee for vehicles. Tour costs vary.","boat","2026-07-27T02:56:05.604276Z","2026-08-04T05:34:24.990895Z",{"verdict":146,"evaluated_at":147,"models":148},"marginal","2026-10-02T02:21:15.960743Z",[149,156,162],{"model_name":150,"is_favourable":151,"value":152,"threshold":153,"unit":154,"operator":155},"Wind Speed",true,7.28,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":157,"is_favourable":158,"value":159,"threshold":160,"unit":161,"operator":155},"Wave Height",false,1.099,0.5,"m",{"model_name":163,"is_favourable":151,"value":164,"threshold":40,"unit":165,"operator":166},"Visibility",2.1,"","gte",{"verdict":146,"rating":168,"evaluated_at":147,"generated_at":147,"source":169,"confidence":170,"visibility":173,"parameters":174,"models_passed":43,"models_total":188},"Fair","precomputed",{"level":171,"value":172},"High",100,{"score":164,"rating":113,"confidence":113},[175,177,182,185,190],{"name":157,"value":176,"label":113,"unit":161,"favourable":158,"score":5,"optimal_max":160,"marginal_max":36},1.0990833030305185,{"name":178,"value":179,"label":113,"unit":180,"favourable":151,"score":43,"optimal_max":181,"marginal_max":118},"Swell Period",7.65,"s",8,{"name":150,"value":183,"label":113,"unit":154,"favourable":151,"score":43,"optimal_max":153,"marginal_max":184},7.280387402678038,15,{"name":186,"value":5,"label":113,"unit":187,"favourable":151,"score":43,"optimal_max":188,"marginal_max":189},"Precipitation","mm",5,20,{"name":191,"value":113,"label":192,"unit":165,"favourable":158,"score":36,"optimal_max":113,"marginal_max":113},"Tidal Phase","ebb",[194],{"id":195,"image_url":13,"sort_order":36,"is_primary":151,"moderation_status":196,"license":197,"license_url":198,"attribution":199,"author_name":200},"4475c096-5233-4e91-86cb-935532be712e","approved","CC BY-SA 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-sa\u002F4.0\u002F","Photo by misaochan2","misaochan2",{"display_name":202},"Daniel","unverified",1790924510327]