Snorkelling off the beaches and rocks around here is like having your own big aquarium to play in.
Tomakin Cove is a protected sandy cove that’s shallow lagoon like qualities make it popular with novice snorkellers and groups. 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 eaglerays 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 kelps shelter many small fish and garfish are common in the deeper gutters near Melville Point.
Tomakin Cove is backed by dense vegetation which hides the houses of Tomakin village. To the south of Tomakin Cove is Tomakin Beach where there are amenities including toilets, wood barbecues and picnic tables.
To get to Tomakin, which is approximately halfway between Batemans Bay and Moruya, turn off George Bass Drive into Ainslie Parade and then first right into Sunpatch Parade. To access the southern end of the cove follow Sunpatch Parade into Kingston Place and into the Tomakin Beach car park. To get to the northern end via Melville Point follow Ainslie Parade right around and turn right at Red Hill Parade. There is also access via a walkway from Sunpatch Parade. Tomakin Cove is within a general use zone of the Batemans Marine Park but just north of Melville Point the zoning changes to habitat protection zone, where certain restrictions apply. Check your Batemans Marine Park zoning guide for more information.
Download a free copy of Beaches in Eurobodalla and find the best beaches for surfing, snorkelling and swimming. Also available at the Visitor Centres, or by phone 1800 802 528.
Batemans Marine Park User GuideKnow the rules before you go out on the water.