Environmental fluctuations can induce changes in animal behaviour, influencing annual migrations for food, optimal conditions, or reproduction, as well as daily shifts in response to short-term environmental change across varying spatial and temporal scales. Traditional acoustic tracking methods typically quantify the geographical movements of animals, without considering the changes in activity that can occur spatially, temporally, and in response to environmental conditions. We quantified spatial, temporal, and environmental factors that drive the activity levels of a top marine predator in a near-shore environment. We deployed acoustic activity tags on 506 white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) between 2020 and 2023 in New South Wales, Australia. Generalised Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) were then used to assess the influence of spatial, temporal, and environmental factors on shark activity levels. Despite considerable variation in activity patterns among individual white sharks, males and females responded significantly differently to some environmental factors. Males showed significantly higher activity north of 33°S between 1000 and 1500, while female sharks exhibited lower activity levels in this area. Sea surface temperature, wind speed and moon illumination were significant for male and female sharks, with disparate trends in activity between sexes. Shark activity peaked above 20°C, and responses to moon illumination percentage highlight the importance of light in successful predatory behaviour. Further, while both sexes had higher activity levels in gentle to moderate breezes. This research highlights the importance of moving beyond traditional acoustic tracking studies to explore the complex interplay of variables influencing shark behaviour and movement. Our findings will inform non-lethal programs to better protect water users, helping reduce the risk of negative human-shark interactions.