Exploring Rockpools at Shelly Beach

Exploring the rockpools at Shelly Beach, near the Look At Me Now Headland, Coffs Harbour

Every time we visit Shelly Beach is a new adventure, as we explore the area’s rockpools, caves and sandy shores. If your kids love rockpools or collecting shells and washed up ‘treasures’, if they love looking for sea creatures like crabs, seabirds and anemones, or climbing rocks and checking out caves, or even just playing with rocks and sticks – there is something for kids of all ages to do here.

Everyone raves about the Look At Me Now Headland, deservedly so, but I always feel like the crowds are missing something special by not going down the staircase to explore the rocky beach below.

How to Get There – Choose Your Own Adventure

There are really three ways to get to Shelly Beach, depending on your level of adventure and plans for the day:

 

  • Park at the Moonee Nature Reserve carpark on Dammerel Crescent, and walk 200m or so down to the beach (the Look at Me Now Headland Track). This is the easiest and quickest, and enjoyable because it’s a gorgeous grassy walk through bushland filled with flowers and birds, and views of the Look at Me Now Headland. (A decent pram would cope fine.)

  • Park at the Moonee Nature Reserve carpark and walk the long way around the Look at Me Now Headland to include amazing views of the region’s coastline and islands and get up close (but not too close) to kangaroos. There are steep stairs down the beach from the headland. You can always do a loop to go back the quick way to the carpark as a short cut if the kids don’t want to do the headland walk on the way back.

  • Park at Emerald Beach and walk around the Emerald Beach Headland, on a paved path (the Dammerel Headland Track, which goes to Lighthouse Crescent and then joins onto the Dammerel Headland Track). This includes amazing views, the chance to see kangaroos lazing in the sun, a bushwalk where you’ll see lots of native species (we’ve seen kangaroos, lots of different birds and even a little snake). The hill climb back up can be tiring for little legs. There are also steep steps on the Emerald Beach side of the headland (not a pram friendly walk). This has the added benefit of beginning and ending in Emerald Beach, which has a public toilet, playground, gorgeous swimming/surfing beach, and cafes/restaurants.

 (Side note - have you noticed all my ‘adventures’ seem to mention coffee or picnics? More proof I am not a hardcore hiker!)

Best Things to Do at Shelly Beach on the coffs coast

  • Explore the rockpools

  • Look for caves

  • Collect shells, rocks and other ‘treasures’ (we’ve found dried coral, crab shells and claws, etc)

  • Play along the sand dunes (my kids can’t resist the pandanas trees and little grassy area on top of the rocks, as if it were a secret spot put there just for them to play)

  • Play and build with the bigger rocks on the sand

  • Bird watching (we’ve seen all sorts of birds in the bush and out over the rock pools too)

 

Tips for exploring the rockpools at the look at me now headland beach

  • Don’t forget to bring rock/water shoes if the kids will be climbing on the rocks, some are quite sharp.

  • The only food and amenities are at Emerald Beach, so pack plenty of water and snacks.

  • Don’t risk swimming here unless you know the area well. Safer beaches to swim at nearby are Emerald Beach, Moonee and Woolgoolga.

  • Nature tools like magnifying glasses and binoculars, nature journals, nature scavenger hunt cards, etc, will get lots of use here.

  • The only pram friendly option is the grassy walk, check my photos to see what it’s like. The two headlands have steep hills and stairs to get down onto the beach.

  • No dogs allowed as this is a nature reserve.

  • If your bigger kids are up for a decent walk and day out, try starting at one of the headlands and going to the other one with a stop at Shelly Beach in the middle. We keep starting at Emerald Beach, then getting to Shelly Beach and spending hours there, and then my youngest kid never wants to go on to the Look at Me Now Headland. We’ve done Emerald Beach – Shelly Beach snacks and play and explore – Emerald Beach swim and coffee. You could do LAMNH – Shelly – Emerald for lunch and a swim – back to LAMNH. It’s a great walk with incredible views on a good day. Go during winter to spot whales off the headlands and stay out in the sun longer.

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Family Attractions on the Coffs Coast (plan your next holiday!)

Fun, DestinationMiki RobertsonNSW, Adventure Days, Coffs Harbour, Rockpools, AustraliaComment