The Nguthungulli Julian Rocks Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve that is located on the Julian Rocks in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, in Australia.
The reserve comprise two small islands, situated in the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean, approximately northeast of .
The islands were sighted by Captain James Cook when he passed through the area in 1770. However, he did not name them. The rocks are referred to as the Juan and Julia Rocks in Staff Commander Howard’s 1883 survey report of Cape Byron Bay and in his sketch of Byron Bay.
In 1982, after pressure from locals, the area surrounding the rocks was established as a marine reserve, with all fishing and commercial exploitation banned for a range around the rocks. The area is home to large numbers of marine species, including leopard sharks, grey nurse sharks, wobbegong, a variety of nudibranchs. It's one of about a dozen critical habitats for the grey nurse shark in NSW.
In July 2023, it was announced that the landmark would officially be renamed Nguthungulli in order to improve Indigenous representation. This name is the Bundjalung language word used the refer to the 'Father of the World' and, in the same language, these rocks have also been referred to as Sulaoma Billigin for which no translation is available.
See also
- Protected areas of New South Wales