For sea kayakers with some experience only, this is a fantastic paddle at Byron Bay that takes in the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve and the waves off Little Wategos beach, which is at the foot of Cape Byron. Dolphins and turtles can often be seen as well as whales in June and July, on their Northern migration, and September and October, on their Southern migration. I have listed some of the potential hazards for this paddle. However, with care and moderate conditions, it is a safe paddle for sea kayakers with some experience. Novice sea kayakers are advised to paddle in the company of someone more experienced.
Clarkes Beach, near the café, is a good setting off point to paddle to Julian Rocks as the waves are gentle and there are no rock hazards to contend with. The only draw back is the walk of about 150 metres from your car to the beach while carrying your kayak. Sometimes there is a shore break and the current generally flows northward along the beach toward the surf club. When paddling toward Julian Rocks it is best to aim your kayak in a direction slightly north of the rocks, as the current tends to sweep in a Southward direction as the Rocks are approached. There is a small reef about 600 metres off the beach, which sometimes gives a breaking wave. On winter mornings there is turbulence on the water surface between the reef and the rocks at the point where the chop caused by the land breeze, which is travelling away from the beach, encounters the easterly ocean swell travelling toward the beach. The paddle to Julian Rocks from Clarkes Beach is 3.8 km and will take most paddlers 20 to 30 minutes. The Rocks are an extension of Cape Byron, separated by water, and form a most unique marine reserve, providing shelter and food for more than 500 tropical and temperate fish species alone! It is an excellent place to moor your kayak to one of the diving buoys on the North side of the Rocks and go for a snorkel. When there is an Easterly breeze, the waters on the Westerly corner of the Rocks are very choppy where the two waves travelling around the rocks meet. Snorkelling from kayaks at Julian Rocks Leaving the Rocks, it is 2.5 km to paddle to the waves off Little Wategos beach. There is a bombora here which provides waves that are rideable by sea kayaks prior to breaking. Beware of an exposed rock at this location. Many paddlers choose to stay and play in the waves at this location for a while. If conditions are suitable, an alternative extension paddle from Little Wategos is to go around the Cape to “Cosy Corner” on the Southerly corner of the Cape Byron and return. The return journey of this extension paddle adds about half an hour to this paddle. However beware; it is very choppy in a large swell and the waves break directly onto the cliff face! The return paddle to Clarkes beach is 1.8 km. If you paddle close to Wategos Beach beware of the Northerly direction current. If you fall from your kayak in the breaking waves, the current will sweep you onto the rocks between Wategos beach and The Pass, locally known as “Bullshits.” When rounding the corner at The Pass, there are often lots of board riders at this popular surfing spot. The waves sweep in an arc along the crescent shaped beach and can be ridden in many locations. The shore break will deliver you back to starting location.