A rare Loggerhead turtle nesting on the Coffs Coast has turned into a powerful win for conservation, with 135 hatchlings safely reaching the ocean thanks to a rapid rescue operation led by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
On 17 December 2025, a beachgoer on Sapphire Beach spotted an endangered Loggerhead turtle nesting, an event rarely seen in the region.
When NPWS and Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary (CCWS) arrived, they discovered the nest had been laid below the high‑tide line after heavy erosion, leaving the entire clutch at immediate risk of being washed away.
Working under moonlight, the NPWS staff and CCWS carefully excavated 140 eggs and transferred them to NSW TurtleWatch for controlled incubation and 24-hour monitoring by accredited volunteers.
On 2 March 2026 NPWS and NSW TurtleWatch coordinated a night-time release at Campbells Beach under perfect low‑tide, low‑predation conditions, in which all 135 hatchlings reached the water and follow‑up monitoring confirmed zero washbacks.
Loggerhead turtles are endangered, and nesting at Coffs Coast is rare, so protecting healthy dune systems remains critical as they stabilise beaches, shield nests from storms and erosion, and provide the safe habitat turtles need to nest.
NPWS reminds the community that clearing or damaging dune vegetation is illegal and undermines the survival of threatened species including future nesting turtles.
This conservation win was made possible through a strong partnership between NPWS, NSW TurtleWatch, Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary and the local community.
It also demonstrates what's possible when expertise, volunteers and quick public reporting combine.
