Free things to do
Free things to doSelf-guided experiences that cost nothing but your time.
14 things
- Bill’s Bay reef snorkelWade off the town beach and you’re over coral and fish within a few fin-kicks.
- Bill’s Bay swimA calm, shallow town lagoon — safe and easy for a family dip.
- Coral Bay kayak trailPaddle to numbered moorings on the reef, then drop in and snorkel.
- Bill’s Bay SUPGlassy, protected lagoon water for an easy stand-up paddle.
- Purdy Point drift snorkelCoral Bay’s signature drift — walk south, then let the current carry you back over the reef.
- Paradise Beach drift snorkelA quieter drift on the western side of the bay — walk south, drift back into Bill’s Bay.
- Paradise Beach swimA stunning, quiet stretch of soft white sand for an easy swim.
- Skeleton Bay reef-shark nurseryWalk to the bay’s north end to watch dozens of baby reef sharks in ankle-deep water.
- Five Fingers Reef snorkelShallow, calm and fish-rich reef fingers a short drive south — a family favourite.
- Oyster Bridge snorkelA rock “bridge” shelters a calm lagoon ~14 km north — gentle snorkelling for kids.
- Maud’s Landing turtle nestingGreen and loggerhead turtles nest on the beach north of town over the warm months.
- Maud’s Landing history walkA quiet beach with the remains of a 19th-century shipping jetty.
- Coral Bay sunsetClimb the dune above town for the sun dropping into the Indian Ocean.
- Coral Bay stargazingWalk up the dune after dark — no city lights for hundreds of kilometres.