Shelly Beach Tours and Activities

Shelly Beach featuring a sandy beach
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Come to this stretch of coast to find your quintessential Australian beach where summer crowds, fishermen and surfers gather and whales and dolphins swim by.

Shelly Beach is located between the 131-foot (40-meter) high Black and Ballina heads. Watch the surfers ride the waves, laze on the golden sands, listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean or climb up to the headlands for Pacific sunrise views.

Set between Black Head and Ballina Head, Shelly Beach is just as long and just as popular as its neighbor Lighthouse Beach. Walk the length of the 2,300-foot (700-meter) long beach to soak up its serenity and ocean views.

Like Lighthouse Beach, Shelly Beach has two tide rips that run against either headland, which are often connected by a central tide rip as well. But, due to this being a southeast-facing beach, Shelly Beach is more exposed to southerly waves. Depending on the wind direction, pick the beach that looks calmest on the day of your visit.

Swimming isn’t always safe on Shelly Beach, which is only patrolled by the surf life savers from the club at Lighthouse Beach during the summer school vacations. When swimming, watch for rips and longshore currents and stay between the flags. Kids can safely splash around in the small “swimming pool” at the southern end of Shelly Beach. This walled rock pool is part of the beach and fills up with seawater during high tide.

If you are an experienced surfer, you’ll be right at home here. Head to the rocky headlands with either a right or a left surf break, depending on which headland you pick. Fishing from the flat, rocky platforms at either end of Shelly Beach is another popular activity.

Shelly Beach is backed by the residential suburb of Richmond Hill in East Ballina and just a short drive from the city center of Ballina. There are four car parks that serve the beach. Adjacent Lighthouse Beach has a kiosk at the surf life saving club and a café that teamed up with Botero, an esteemed coffee roastery from the nearby Clarence Coast. The beach has an outdoor shower for those wanting to rinse off the sand and salt.

Plan a trip to see Shelly Beach

YEHS Hotel Sydney CBD
YEHS Hotel Sydney Harbour Suites
YEHS Hotel Sydney QVB
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Top Shelly Beach Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Discovery Parks - Ballina
Discovery Parks - Ballina
4.5 out of 5
25 Fenwick Drive, East Ballina, NSW
Discovery Parks - Ballina
Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina Byron
Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina Byron
4.5 out of 5
2 Martin Street, Ballina, NSW
Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina Byron
Ballina Beach Resort
Ballina Beach Resort
3 out of 5
Compton Drive (Corner Cedar Crescent), East Ballina, NSW
Ballina Beach Resort
Bailey's Beach House - Original East Ballina Beach House With Ocean Glimpses
Bailey's Beach House - Original East Ballina Beach House With Ocean Glimpses
East Ballina
Bailey's Beach House - Original East Ballina Beach House With Ocean Glimpses
Haere Mai 2 - Comfortable Stroll to Shelly Beach
Haere Mai 2 - Comfortable Stroll to Shelly Beach
East Ballina
Haere Mai 2 - Comfortable Stroll to Shelly Beach
Grandview Apartments Ballina
Grandview Apartments Ballina
4 out of 5
3-7 Grand View Street, East Ballina, NSW
Grandview Apartments Ballina
A PERFECT STAY - Sunrise on Shelly
A PERFECT STAY - Sunrise on Shelly
East Ballina
A PERFECT STAY - Sunrise on Shelly
Surfside - Executive style Townhouse Close to Shelly Beach
Surfside - Executive style Townhouse Close to Shelly Beach
East Ballina
Surfside - Executive style Townhouse Close to Shelly Beach
Oceanic 3 - Luxury Apartment with Stunning Ocean Views & Wifi
Oceanic 3 - Luxury Apartment with Stunning Ocean Views & Wifi
East Ballina
Oceanic 3 - Luxury Apartment with Stunning Ocean Views & Wifi
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.