The Diving

Fish Rock is the famous dive area and main draw for divers to the area, but there are other worthwhile dive sites too. The big marine life draw for the area is the grey nurse shark. Divers should also see wobbegongs, green and loggerhead turtles,  hunting jewfish and kingfish as well as schools of bait fish, pomfret and bulleyes and maybe Moorish idols too. There are a great variety of nudibranch, some lovely cowries to be spotted as well as octopus and cuttlefish.  Look out for the shy black cod and not so shy Queensland grouper too. The area is prone to current and attracts both temperate and subtropical marine life meaning is both plentiful and colourful. Fish Rock itself lies 2km off Smoky Cape Lighthouse is rich with life. Divers have named seven areas of the island: Fish Rock Cave, The Aquarium, Colorado Pass, Shark Gutters, Fish Bommies, The Wall, and The Pinnacle. Depending on the current and your dive plan you could visit one, two or three of these areas on your dive.

In the Cave, Credit

Fish Rock Cave sits in Australias top 10 dive sites due to its 125m (410ft) cave swim through. Decorated with gorgonian fans, it has entrances / exits at 24m (79ft) and 12m (40ft). Swim through swirls of fish, passed grey nurse sharks and a variety of marine life to the end where you will be greeted with some stunning silhouettes as you exit. The water here is always clear making this a unique, stunning dive. There is nothing like this in the ocean anywhere else.

Around the island outside of the cave, boulders, gutters, bommies, walls and pinnacles can all be explored for their abundant life as well. Colorado Pass is signifiant due to its stunning topography created by the gutters that typify the area

Shark Gutters is 16-35m (52-115ft) in depth and is the go-to spot for seeing the grey nurse shark. The population here can number into the hundreds and they hang in the water like a flight holding pattern. It's nothing short of awesome.  The Wall is a deeper dive site to 40m (132ft) depth and for the adventuours who will be rewarded  with some big fish action.

Green Island, Black Rocks, Bait Reef and Lady Reef are other formations and not part of Fish Rock but equally deserving of diving. Green Island is a dive staff favourite and an often requested by regular divers as an alternative to Fish Rock. It lies north of Smoky Cape Lighthouse and is between 6-18m (20-60ft) in depth. Lady Reef is a good shore dive, night dive or dive for beginners.

One more Grey Nurse shark, Credit

Bait Reef is a shallow site, 5-10m (16-33ft), and is close to shore at Trial Bay Gaol. It's great for photographers with plenty of subjects to choose from; pineapple fish, squid, catfish, eels, miniature cuttlefish, lionfish, anglerfish can be found in the weeds, nudibranch and sea hares. According to its name, it is home to baitfish and you might also see wobbegongs and loggerhead turtles too.

Black Rocks lie off Smoky Cape Beach and erupt from the water making two possible dives. The shallower northern side is 6m-16m (20-52ft) whereas the north side dips to 20m (66ft) both have boulders, overhangs, crevices lots of plate coral. It's a spotter's paradise. Look and you will be rewarded with lots of eels, lionfish, nudibranchs, feather stars, octopus. A highlight is the egg cowrie. The fish life is as rich as Fish Rock, Enjoy large schools of bulleyes and bait fish, check out the sand for white spotted shovelnose rays and flounders and of course keep an eye out for loggerhead and green turtles as well as the occasional grey nurse shark too.

How to Get there

South West Rocks is five and half hours’ drive from Brisbane or five hours drive from Sydney. You can fly into Port Macquarie or Coffs Harbour. Port Macquarie is a one-hour drive away whereas Coffs Harbour is a one and a quarter drive away.

Grey Nurse in Deep End of Cave, Credit

Where to Eat & Drink

Theres a range of places to eat and lots with water views. Visitors can enjoy bistro style food as well as restaurants, cafes and take-away too.

South West Rocks, Credit

Other Activities

Apart from beachcombing and of course diving, surfing, windsurfing, and fishing are popular pursuits for visitors to the area. You can explore Arakoon State Conservation area and Hat Head National Park, Smoky Head Lighthouse and the history of Trail Bay Gaol. There are at least 8 beaches to explore even one that faces west, which is an interesting concept for an east coast town.

South West Rocks Creek, Credit

Family Friendly

Children are going to enjoy the numerous beaches and whale watching cruises in season too. (May to November)