Julian Rocks Snorkeling

Australia is very lucky to be home to six species of sea turtle! And you very well could come across them. The 3 species you are most likely to encounter at Julian Rocks include the endangered loggerhead turtle, as well as the the green, hawksbill turtles that are listed as vulnerable, meaning they may become endangered if threats continue. Threats to these graceful creatures include pollution, overfishing and increasing water temperatures. Turtles are a magnificent sight to see and you learn more about helping to preserve them here. Spot them: Year-round.

With over 500 recorded species of fishes located in the Cape Byron Marine Park you’re bound to meet dozens of them. Our favourite encounters include sea anemones hosting clownfishes, bizarre-looking frogfishes and wobbegongs (or carpet sharks) snoozing on the seafloor. This reef is teeming with colourful fish of all shapes and sizes, so no matter what you spot, it will be fascinating! Spot them: Year-round.

Despite their gnarly appearance, the Grey Nurse Shark actually has a very placid nature! These creatures can grow up to 3.6m and tend to roam in shallow waters near rocky reefs or islands, making Julian Rocks an ideal place to see them. They tend to hunt at night and feed on fish, rays, squid and crustaceans. Interestingly, a female grey nurse shark can only produce two pups per litter (1 pup in each uterus – yep, sharks have two uteruses) giving them the lowest reproductive rate of any shark in the world. Because of this, they are a threatened species. There may only be hundreds remaining in NSW. Read more about how you can help them here. Spot them: May – November.