Nguthungulli Julian Rocks Nature Reserve
Byron Bay · Activities & Tours
(38 reviews)
About a kilometre offshore from Main Beach, a submerged volcanic outcrop draws more marine life per square metre than almost anywhere on the NSW coast. Nguthungulli Julian Rocks is a protected marine reserve, which means the fish here are famously unbothered by humans. Grey nurse sharks congregate in the deeper gullies year-round. Leopard sharks rest on the sandy bottom in summer. Turtles are a near-certainty. The reserve is dive and snorkel territory only — no fishing, no anchoring, no taking anything. Most visitors access it through one of the Byron Bay dive operators who run regular morning and afternoon trips. Water visibility varies with the season; winter tends to run clearest. If you're snorkelling rather than diving, the northern shallows are the place to be.
Opening Hours
- MondayClosed
- TuesdayClosed
- WednesdayClosed
- ThursdayClosed
- FridayClosed
- SaturdayClosed
- Sunday12am – 11:59pm
What People Say
Wow! What an amazing place to snorkel and see so many fish, sharks and coral. Felt very safe too. I’d recommend Wild Byron from Brunswick Heads, they will take good care of you!
This place is great to snorkel and dive at, just 3 km off the shore from Byron Bay. You see amazing beautiful creatures all year round. Manta Ray, Leopard Sharks and in the summer. Nurse sharks, and humpback whales in the winter, as well as the occasional different species of sharks cruising through. The best dive site I’ve been to!
Insane spot for a dive or even a snorkel! Got to see some massive grey nurse sharks.
Great spot for diving for muff fish. Spent all day muff diving here with my grandparents and church group and had a ball!!
Went out with Sundive Byron Bay. Was awesome.
More Activities & Tours in Byron Bay
Byron Bay Ballooning
Byron Bay
Dawn flights over the Tweed Valley hinterland, with the Byron lighthouse visible on a clear morning and macadamia farms rolling out below. A champagne breakfast follows landing. The 5am pickup is non-negotiable, but the light at that hour is the whole point.
Cape Byron Kayaks
Byron Bay
Morning kayak tours launching from Clarkes Beach, with the Cape Byron headland as your landmark and dolphins as a genuine possibility. Accessible to beginners, priced in the middle of the Byron activities market. The lighthouse circuit is the one to book.
Most Easterly Point of the Australian Mainland
Byron Bay
The easternmost point of the Australian mainland sits at the top of the Cape Byron Walking Track, a 3.7-kilometre loop above Byron Bay. Humpbacks pass through from June to November. Sunrise here is the first on the continent. Free, well-maintained, and worth the early alarm.
Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Knockrow
A café inside a wildlife sanctuary in the Knockrow hinterland, where the koalas are the main event and the menu plays a supporting role. Best approached as part of a full day out, particularly if you're travelling with kids who need feeding between animal encounters.