Bushrangers Bay, Bass Point: Snorkelling the Aquatic Reserve
Bushrangers Bay is a small, cliff-ringed inlet at the tip of Bass Point, just south of Shellharbour in the Illawarra. There's no beach here, only dark basalt rock dropping into clear, kelp-lined water. It has been a no-take aquatic reserve since 1982, and the marine life shows it: this is one of the best-loved snorkel and shore-dive spots on the NSW coast.
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It's a swim for people happy to trade sand for a mask and snorkel. Go on a calm day and it feels like dropping into a giant natural aquarium. It's one of the wilder ocean entries in Swim New South Wales.
Swimming at Bushrangers Bay
The bay is sheltered by its cliffs, but it's still open ocean water. It drops off quickly from the rocks into deeper channels lined with kelp, so this is a swim for confident swimmers. Getting in means stepping carefully over smooth, barnacle-covered rock or using the metal steps put in for divers. Reef shoes make a big difference.
Once you're in, the visibility on a good day is excellent. NSW fisheries notes a wide mix of reef fish here, including blue groper, wrasse and morwong, and says the reserve is the southern limit for several tropical species that turn up as juveniles. Divers also report weedy seadragons and cuttlefish, and grey nurse sharks are occasionally sighted around the area.
At low tide the rock platforms leave small, clear pools that are good for a gentler dip. Pick a day with little or no easterly swell. When the sea is up, waves surge hard against the rocks and the entry becomes dangerous.
Everything here is protected. You can't fish by any method, collect anything (even empty shells), or harm animals or plants. Don't touch marine life or stand on kelp.
How to Get to Bushrangers Bay
Head to Bass Point Reserve, south of Shellharbour, and follow Bass Point Tourist Road through the reserve to the Bushrangers Bay car park near the end of the headland. Part of this road was gravel; Shellharbour City Council has been rebuilding and sealing a two-kilometre section, with vehicle access to much of the reserve closed during works. Check the council's website for current access before you go.
From the car park, a steep timber staircase with viewing platforms leads down the cliff to the rocks, about five minutes down. It's the only way in and out, and the climb back up is a solid workout.
Know Before You Go
- Aquatic reserve: strict no-take rules. No fishing, no collecting (shells included), no disturbing animals or plants.
- Unpatrolled: no lifeguards. Snorkel with a buddy.
- Rocky entry: no sand. Wear reef shoes for barnacles, slippery rock and sea urchins.
- Swell: skip it in big easterly swell, and never turn your back on the sea on the rock platform.
- Access: one way in and out via the staircase; check Shellharbour City Council for road works or closures in Bass Point Reserve.
- Leave no trace: pack out all rubbish and put sunscreen on well before you swim.
Bushrangers Bay FAQs
Can you swim at Bushrangers Bay?
Yes, in calm conditions. It's a rocky, deep-water entry with no beach and no lifeguards, best for confident swimmers and snorkellers.
Can you fish at Bushrangers Bay?
No. It's a no-take aquatic reserve, declared in 1982. Fishing by any method and collecting anything, including empty shells, is banned.
What can you see snorkelling at Bushrangers Bay?
Reef fish such as blue groper, wrasse and morwong, juvenile tropical fish, and kelp forests. Divers also report weedy seadragons and cuttlefish.
How long are the stairs at Bushrangers Bay?
It takes about five minutes to walk down the timber staircase from the car park. Allow more time for the steep climb back up.
