Anemone Bay (North Solitary Island) – Solitary Islands Marine Park
Anemone Bay on North Solitary Island, in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, is a shallow bay carpeted with what the local author estimates to be tens of thousands of anemones and their clownfish, mostly 5–12 m deep. Outside the bay the bottom drops to 20–25 m and more than 30 m in the north-east corner, and the outer Shark Gutters (about 25–27 m) attract grey nurse sharks, normally present in winter. Turtles, eagle rays, manta rays, occasional hammerheads, wobbegongs and cleaning stations are all reported. The island is about 25 nautical miles north of Coffs Harbour, so it is a long boat trip from Coffs and a shorter one from Wooli.
Facts
- Region: New South Wales – Byron Bay to Eden (Australia)
- Area: Solitary Islands (Coffs Harbour–Wooli)
- Depth: 5–30 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: moderate
- Type: reef, wall, drift
- Coordinates: -29.9232, 153.38803
- Highlights: anemonefish, turtles, eagle rays, manta ray, grey nurse shark (winter), hammerhead shark (occasional), wobbegong, cleaning stations
- Tips: Position is the published inner mooring (WGS84). Water about 19 °C in late winter to 25 °C in late summer, visibility normally 20–30 m. The only practical access without your own boat is Wooli Dive Centre (typically 6+ divers, about 14 km / 25 minutes); the Mullaway dive shop is reported closed since 2024–25. Jetty Dive's trips to North Solitary run only October–June. Park zoning applies: check the NSW Marine Parks zone map.