One Mile Beach at Port Stephens was expected to be closed on Thursday and Friday after a whale carcass washed ashore.
The juvenile humpback whale is estimated to be around 9.7 metres in length.
A spokesperson for Ports Stephens Council said crews were waiting for low tide before they could move in equipment to have the body removed. The carcass is expected to be removed on Friday morning.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, council advised residents and visitors to avoid the area and said crews would reassess the situation on Saturday.
