The pristine waters of the Batemans Bay Marine Park are home to exotically coloured fish, glowing jellyfish, big cruising rays, waving sponge beds and lush green kelp forests. Swimming and snorkelling with the seals at Montague Island is a 'must do' experience. Our snorkelling trails can be enjoyed by everyone with family friendly snorkelling in calm shallow water to more adventurous trails.

Snorkelling

Burrewarra Point Banksia Walk

Tomakin Cove is a protected, sandy cove with shallow lagoon-like qualities making it popular with novice snorkellers, groups and parents with young children. The cove is in Broulee Bay and is almost completely surrounded by rocky outcrops and reefs - on its southern side rocky platforms extend out into the bay, while to the north the cove is sheltered by Melville Point.

Above the water, the rocks at Tomakin Cove are known for their beautiful afternoon hues, while below the water snorkellers commonly see stingray species such as stingarees and eagle rays buried in the seabed floor, as well as schools of small whiting, mullet and baitfish feeding over the sand. On the seaward side of the cove the dense cover of kelp shelters many small fish, and garfish are common in the deeper gutters near Melville Point.

How to get there: Turn off George Bass Drive onto Ainslie Parade, follow this to the end and turn right onto Red Hill Parade. Park in the Barlings Beach car park below Melville Point, cross the road and use the track going down to the cove.

Snorkelling Tomakin Cove

The water at Guerilla Bay is clear and inviting and provides different experiences for different levels of snorkellers. A prominent small rocky island is a feature of the bay and divides the safer more comfortable snorkelling waters to the south of the gravel spit and the more adventurous and dangerous waters to the north of the spit.

On this northern side is the pot. Depending on the tide this can be difficult to access as some jagged rocks need to be negotiated to get to the water - but for more experienced snorkellers, in the right conditions, it is worth the effort.

The sheltered bay on the southern side is rocky with a flat reef extending up in walls on a roughly 35-degree angle and sheer walls that stretch up to ten metres. The seaweed-covered rocks and the crevices between them offer shelter to a wide variety of fish species such as blue groper, wrasse, luderick and more.

How to get there: Turn into Guerilla Bay from George Bass Drive onto Burri Point Road, then left onto Beach Parade and right into to the beach car park.

Snorkelling Guerilla Bay

McKenzies Beach

Maloneys Beach

How to get there: Sunshine Cove Beach is only five kilometres south of Batemans Bay along Beach Road at Sunshine Bay.

Sunshine Cove Beach is ideal for families keen to try some snorkelling in relatively calm waters. It's a picturesque location, protected from southerly swells and enclosed by two prominent headlands. The beach is a mixture of pebbles and sand and is a real getaway close to town.

There is a mixture of rocky reef, sandy bottom and seaweed beds. Novices and experienced snorkellers are likely to see endemic fish such as red morwong, luderick, bream and groper as well as lobsters and abalone. It is a Habitat Protection Zone of the Batemans Marine Park, so certain rules apply. Please check the zoning plan available from visitor centres and most bait and tackle stores in the area.

Snorkelling Sunshine Cove Beach

McKenzies Beach is a small, beautiful, undeveloped beach that should only be tackled by more experienced snorkelers. Enclosed by two headlands with rocks that ease down to greet the ocean and form natural reefs, conditions must be perfect if you're entering the water to snorkel. The beach is known for its rugged surf and is open to the swell, which can impact visibility.

Places to explore for experienced and fit snorkelling enthusiasts include the amphitheatre around the rocks at the southern end of the beach. Enter the water round the corner facing Jimmy's Island - the water depth is from five to eight metres deep. The amphitheatre is a special world of its own with spectacular rock formations and marine life such as baby cuttlefish. At the northern end of the beach, the wave and current movements have led to an exposed long reef to explore - the reef system is shallower and, in a nor-easter, is well protected.

How to get there: Drive south from Batemans Bay, to the end of Beach Road and then left onto George Bass Drive. Just past Malua Bay, watch out for a turnoff on the left into a small car park.

Snorkelling McKenzies Beach

Candlagan Creek, Mossy Point is a favourite spot for children and families in the Eurobodalla and plays an important part in the marine ecosystem with juvenile fish hidden amongst the seagrass beds and mangroves. The estuary extends from the northern end of Broulee Beach to approximately five kilometres inland.

At its mouth, Candlagan Creek is quite shallow and sheltered from adverse ocean conditions by a wide sandbar. On its northern edge, there is a grassy bank with shady trees and picnic tables. Being a shallow estuary type environment, it is a good snorkelling spot for beginners with weedy rocky outcrops, marine molluscs, small fish, and small rays common sights.

Be aware that the current can be very strong where the creek meets the sea, especially on an outgoing tide, while sharp oysters attached to the rocks can be hazardous to feet.

How to get there: Turn off the Princes Highway at Mogo onto Tomakin Road. Follow Tomakin Road to George Bass Drive, and turn right. Shortly after the Tomago River bridge, turn left onto Annetts Parade. Follow Annetts Parade through Mossy Point until it turns onto Beach Road. You'll see a small carpark on the left just before you cross the bridge over Candlagan Creek.

Snorkelling Candlagan Creek

Tomakin

Snorkel from the calm and shallow beach to the left toward the rocks. Not far from shore you will find amazing rocky formations with plenty of nooks and crannies where sea creatures hide. Take the time to explore and spot abundant fish life in small groups and larger schools, rays, starfish and shell fish. Keep your eyes peeled for abalone and crayfish - hard to spot but great to eat (note that a fishing licence is required and bag limits and size restrictions apply).

How to get there: Head North from Batemans Bay eight kilometres on the Princes Highway. Turn right into Cullendulla Drive, Northcove Road to Maloneys Beach and onto Chain Bay. There is a sandy track down to the beach car park and a basic boat ramp.

Snorkelling

Snorkelling Chain Bay to Acheron Ledge - Maloneys Beach

Snorkelling Sunshine Cove Beach

Snorkelling McKenzies Beach

Snorkelling Guerilla Bay

Snorkelling Tomakin Cove

Snorkelling Candlagan Creek