Snorkelling Tomakin Cove

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.