Harvey’s Return Snorkel
LOCATION Kangaroo Island South Australia
DEPTH 3-5 Meters
WATER TEMP 15-21 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Advanced
Access to the beach at Harvey’s Return is along a steep, rocky path, Conditions in the water can also be surgy.
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Harvey’s Return Snorkel
LOCATION Kangaroo Island South Australia
DEPTH 3-5 Meters
WATER TEMP 15-21 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Advanced
Access to the beach at Harvey’s Return is along a steep, rocky path, If you get half way down and trealise you left something in the car, you might think twice about going back to get it. Conditions in the water can also be surgy.
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Harvey’s Return
Harvey’s Return is a challenging snorkel on Kangaroo Island where you can see giant blue gropers. The rocky descent to the beach is tough – the only thing worse was walking back up – but it’s worth it. The turquoise water, white sand and black rocks provide a unique setting.
What Can I See?
- Blue Groper
- Harlequin Fish
- Rainbow Cale
Western blue groper which are found all along the south coast of Australia. We also saw a few rocky reef fish.
Where & How do you get in?
Access to this snorkel is from the beach – just getting to the beach is tricky. There is a 1km return walk. Half the walk is on a steep, rocky path.
Best Season
See there blue groper here year-round, but you December – March are the best months for the beach with calmer conditions and higher water temperatures.
Potential Hazards
As described below, the walk down to the beach and then back up the rocky path is challenging so take your time. Rips can also be present at Harvey’s Return so take care when snorkelling.
Recommended Gear
Good shoes will be needed for the walk to and from the beach.
Visibility
We experienced low visibility due to the surge of maybe just 3-5 meters but I’m sure with better conditions this would be better.
Costs / Permits
Harvey’s Return is located in the Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area. You will need to purchase a National Park Pass for entry.
Getting There
This is not a snorkel you do on a whim. First, you have to be on Kangaroo Island which is off the coast of South Australia. It is one of South Australia’s and Australia’s best locations for a wilderness and wildlife experience and worth putting on your list of places to see.
Once you are on Kangaroo Island, Harvey’s Return is on the Northwest Coast, 1 hour and 40 minutes from Penneshaw where the ferry comes in. Follow Cape Borda Road to the Harvey’s Return Campsite where you can park and follow signs down to the beach.
The information for each snorkel spot is provided by people who have snorkelled there. However, snorkelling conditions change daily. Please be aware that wind, swell, tides and cloud cover can all affect visibility and your experience in the water.
Best Conditions
This is quite an exposed part of the coast. Definitely look to do this snorkel when ocean swell is low.
Windy Map Instructions – Click on the icon in the top right to see other conditions such as swell, temperature, rain etc
Facilities at Harvey’s Return
Parking
About the Snorkel
I won’t lie, this was one tough snorkel. The things you do to see an interesting fish! But when we heard you could see giant blue groper at Harvey’s Return we couldn’t resist. The first part of the walk is okay, you follow a dirt path for 200-300m but then it gets hard. It is about another 200m down to the beach and the path was very steep and rocky. It wasn’t quite a rock scramble, but it was tough enough that we new we were in for a cardio hit when it came time to climb back up.
Once you make it down, the view is spectacular, the narrow rocky bay used to be a supply point for the nearby Cape Borda Lighthouse which is worth a look while you are in the neighbourhood. From the shore the turquoise water and black rocks looked a picture but once we were in the water, visibility was awful and there was much more swell than we noticed from the sand. Despite the conditions, having ventured down, there was no way were not going to look around.
We snorkelled the right hand rocks and soon spotted one blue groper there and some other reef fish, but the groper didn’t hang around. We kicked across the narrow bay to the other headland and spotted 3 or 4 groper swimming slowly between the rocks and seaweed. They were a great sight but the surging, undulating water was hard going. When the last groper vanished into a cave we decided to finish up. Back on shore we looked back at the water and blue skies, it was such a beautiful setting and lovely day it just didn’t add up that the conditions were so tough!
We relaxed for a while on the beach taking in the views but eventually had to clamber our way back to the top of the ‘track’ which was every bit as hard as we feared it would be. If you find yourself on Kangaroo Island and like a snorkelling safari, Harvey’s Return is a great adventure if the conditions are on your side.
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