Tollgate Islands, Batemans Bay, NSW Australia drone video -Phantom 4

Tollgate Islands, Batemans Bay, NSW. The Tollgates are a small and serene sanctuary off Batemans Bay, New South Wales Australia. Video shot with a DJI Phantom 4 drone sent off from Wimbie beach. This special departure visits the offshore Tollgate islands within the Batemans Marine Park and will have you experiencing ocean features, the possibility of wildlife such as dolphines, seals, migratory birds and even Whales (in season). Departing early morning to make the most of the calm conditions, our stable double sea kayaks will have you and your partner slipping through glassy waters past points of interest, then away from the mainland towards these historical offshore icons. The paddle time to the islands is around 45 mins, we then spend time exploring the passages, beaches and bays of the islands. This exciting “must do” south coast adventure has been featured in media releases by Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Traveller, Brisbane Times, Canberra Times and Grainger Tv’s Travel Oz. This adventurous tour departs all year round, on demand and of course weather permitting. A trip to the Tollgates at Batemans Bay is a popular local open water paddle. Wimbie Beach is a relatively sheltered place to launch and provides the shortest route to the Islands. It is a nature reserve so landing on the Islands is not permitted. Shelter on the western side for a break before heading back Montague Island is one of the top ten dive sites in Australia. It is Grey Nurse Shark critical habitat and a known aggregation site, which is defined by the presence of five or more sharks in the one spot. These sharks like sandy gutters at depths of about 25- 35 metres, rocky sea-caves and inshore reefs. Grey Nurse Sharks move south down the eastern coast during summer months to Montague Island as the water becomes more temperate. The Tollgate Islands off Batemans Bay is another critical site for the Grey Nurse. They are usually only sighted for around six weeks each year starting from February. Dive tours are available to Montague Island and Tollgate Islands. A number of specialised dive operators and charter operators in Batemans Bay, Canberra and along the South Coast can offer dive tours to the Tollgates and Montague Island. You can contact these operators directly or for more information call the Eurobodalla Visitor Centres on 1800 802 528 In NSW there is a Grey Nurse Shark code of conduct for divers that is important to read and adhere to. It includes common sense rules such as not harassing or chasing the sharks, or feeding, touching them or interrupting the flow of their swimming. It also includes rules based on their behaviour, for example, night dives at known aggregation sites like Montague are not allowed because the animals are night feeders; also entrances to caves and gutters where the sharks are found should never be blocked. Your dive instructor and operator will go through all the rules with you before your trip.