New South Wales
Coffs Harbour & the Solitary Islands
A 75-kilometre marine park where tropical, subtropical and temperate species genuinely overlap.
The Solitary Islands Marine Park stretches approximately 75 kilometres along the coast and covers around 71,000 hectares. It is one of the largest and most ecologically interesting marine parks in New South Wales.
Its proximity to the East Australian Current produces a distinctive mixture of tropical, subtropical and temperate marine life — hard corals growing alongside temperate species that would be out of place on a tropical reef.
Visit NSW particularly highlights extensive anemone beds and soft corals around North Solitary Island, which is one of the region's signature underwater features.
| Water temperature | Roughly 18–26°C. |
|---|---|
| Visibility | Commonly 10–30 m, best when the current runs clean. |
| Season | Year-round. Grey nurse sharks are strongly associated with cooler months; tropical species peak in late summer. |
| Diving types | Marine park, Reef, Shark diving, Soft coral |
| Businesses documented | 2 |
| Dive sites documented | 2 |
The species mix changes noticeably with distance offshore and with season, which makes repeat diving here more rewarding than a single visit suggests.
- grey nurse sharks
- wobbegongs
- leopard sharks
- manta rays
- hard coral
- soft coral and extensive anemone beds
- schooling fish
Coffs Harbour is the main access point for the southern and central parts of the marine park. Wooli provides access to the northern marine-park region and surrounding islands, including North Solitary Island.
The distinction matters: which island a boat can reach in a day depends heavily on where it departs from.
Each profile separates what is verified from what is advertised, and lists the questions still worth asking the operator directly.
Before you book
Capabilities and requirements change. Read how to choose a dive centre for what to actually evaluate, and confirm certification requirements, equipment hire and conditions directly with the operator before travelling.