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Clovelly Beach
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Clovelly Beach

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Clovelly Beach
4.5
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Top ways to experience Clovelly Beach and nearby attractions

The area
Neighborhood: Coogee
Very accessible by public transport, Coogee is the smaller, friendlier, more intimate version of Bondi Beach. Coogee is the only beach in the Eastern suburbs that does not have big waves, making it an excellent family beach. The Coogee Bay Hotel, located right across the beach, has one of the biggest beer gardens in Australia and plenty of entertainment every night of the week. Be on the lookout for celebrity footballers! A little further south is Wylie’s Baths, offering sweeping 180 degree views over the Pacific Ocean, and it is perfect for a swim or a few laps. Plenty of dining choices surround the beach, including the famous fish and chips.
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,384 within 3 miles
Darley Street Bistro at Clovelly
94
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
X74
384
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options • Gluten Free Options
Pizzavelly Italian Kitchen
58
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Van Expresso Bar
34
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Asian • Vietnamese
Gordons Cafe
79
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
Out of the Blue
70
0.1 mi$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Fast Food
Village On Cloey
18
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
Green Mango Cafe
16
0.1 mi$ • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Madame & Yves
8
0.2 mi$ • French
Clodeli Fine Foods
37
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
See all
Attractions
710 within 6 miles
Coogee Beach
956
0.2 miBeaches
Bondi to Coogee Walk
14,994
0.6 miHiking Trails
Bronte Beach
383
0.9 miBeaches
Gordons Bay
1
0.3 miBeaches
Dunningham Reserve
31
0.4 miScenic Walking Areas
Sydney Harbour
21,958
Bodies of Water
Sydney Ferries
21,342
Ferries
Sydney Opera House
24,791
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Tamarama Beach
482
1.3 miBeaches
Sydney Harbour Bridge
14,015
Bridges
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
172 reviews
Excellent
97
Very good
58
Average
15
Poor
1
Terrible
1
S4nnyBunny
Melbourne1,876 contributions
Crowded but picturesque
Apr 2021 • Solo
Great beach depending on what you want. The pros; it’s more of a non sandy beach, so if you prefer not to get sand but still want to chill and dip in the water, this is for you. It’s family friendly, there’s a swimming pool for kids on the side and it’s very picturesque.

The cons; it gets very crowded, too crowded for my liking. Not ideal if you want some space & privacy. Not a lot of sand if you prefer that style of beach.
Written April 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LadyLaen
Horsham, Australia1,610 contributions
Safe swimming area - water could be cleaner
Jan 2019 • Solo
Clovelly is one of my favourite beaches in Australia, because it is in Sydney. In the east. And most importantly I feel safe swimming there.

The water is deep and a terrific place to learn to snorkel, you’ll always see fish and sometimes the blue grouper.

The bay of Clovelly is flanked by cement paths perfect for those that hate getting sand everywhere. If you want sand, head to the west tip of the bay/beach.

There is an ocean pool -far from impressive as Icebergs but none the less good for kids or people wanting to swim short laps.

Clovelly does is manned by surf life savers and does have a nippers club.

People swim laps in the beach. Sometimes the water here could be a lot cleaner. You’ll see a lot of green moss and plant matter when swimming and on busy hot summer days just a film in the water.

The beauty is you will not get dumped by waves at Clovelly.

Free public toilets and showers that are cleans. Also there is a cafe sit down or take away. In the peak of summer & summer weekends the lines are long.

Highly recommend.
Written January 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lowping
Sydney, Australia3 contributions
This beach goes off
Sep 2019 • Couples
Clovelly is a great beach for snorkeling as it has a protective wall that keeps the man eaters out. Concrete runs along both sides making Clovelley more of a huge ocean pool than a beach. Lots of marine life to see. Great for swimming with plenty of parking.
If you're experienced in the water head around to the south carpark area and give Gordon's bay a try.
Written September 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mjm19622019
New South Wales, Australia452 contributions
My Snorkelling Spot
Apr 2018 • Solo
This is the best spot in the eastern suburbs for a snorkel. You can drive and park here but it does get crowded on weekends, you can also get the bus here from the city. There are many types of fish to see, including the blue groper. You can choose to sit on the sand and paddle and wade on the edge, ( great for children) or sit on the concrete platforms that line the bay. Be careful, though it looks calm, it can be a bit tricky to get in and out and there are some deep pockets. Hope you enjoy beautiful Clovelly.
Written May 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SydneyJed
Sydney5,746 contributions
An Eastern Suburbs Gem
Feb 2012 • Friends
A fatal mistake many visitors to Sydney make is to only visit beaches and locations such as Bondi Beach when out on the tourist trail.Nothing wrong with that but there are so many 'hidden gems' around Sydney town and Clovelly Beach tucked in the eastern suburbs is one of them.There are a couple of ways to get to Clovelly...you can catch the bus to Bondi(380) and take the coastal walk around past the Bondi Icebergs,Tamarama,Bronte beaches and then walk through what must be the best location of any cemetry you're ever likely to see..Clovelly cemetry.The ocean views from here are breathtaking and locals swear on a good day they can see New Zealand(after a few beers of course).. Exiting the cemetry and a short look in front to the left is another little gem nestled within the area..Clovelly Bowling club.Walking into this club for a refreshing beer/lemonade on your way through is like stepping back in time to the early sixties..nothing has changed and definitely worth a visit if just for the stunning views of the Pacific from their ballroom.Walking down the hill and the first thing that hits you is the open natural ocean swimming pool that really is a sight to behold..This really is an hidden gem in Sydney and the little beach and surroundings here make this an ideal place to bring all the family for a barbecue picnic and of course swim.Parking around here can be a bit of a problem but the surf club has a car park and you could always just leave the car at home and ride the 360 bus from Bondi Junction bus station(every 20 minutes).For those feeling a wee bit peckish there is a cafe called SeaSalt just up from the swimming pool which sells fish n chips and other refreshments.Up the hill to the right is the famous Clovelly hotel..known to the locals affectionately as 'the Cloey' and is well renowned in the area for it's hotel pub meals and family friendly attitude..A real hangout for the younger crowd in the evenings around Sydney with bands playing every weekend.Happy hour during the week here is from 4-6pm and Friday afternoon goes off bigtime!
Just across the carpark and following along the coastal walk another hidden gem awaits you...Gordons Bay(http://randwickcitytourism.com.au/sights/gordons_bay.html)This little cove is a protected aquatic reserve and is Sydneys only underwater marine nature trail used by divers and snorklers alike..you can feel the karma everytime you walk/swim this area..you just can't describe it but just something about it.So that is Clovelly folks...well worth the effort and time to visit around here.You can also access Clovelly via the Coogee beach coastal walk if you want...just a really good location if you are in town..Enjoy!
Written March 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz023
Wollongong45 contributions
Easy day walk from Clovelly to Bondi
Great place to start a walk to Bondi, along the coast, past Bronte and Tamarama. An easy walk, with ample palces to swim or have a coffee along the way. Clovelly is easily reached by a 20 minute bus ride from Central Station, (Bus 335, Stand C, Eddy Ave) which makes it a good day trip option for tourists and locals alike.
Written March 14, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rami R
Winnipeg, Canada58 contributions
Great snorkelling destination!
Feb 2019 • Solo
If you want to people watch, go to Bondi. If you want to swim, snorkel, scuba or just relax on the rocks and watch the waves crash on the shore, Clovelly is the beach for you. There is a location for everyone here. A small white sand beach. A natural basin "the pool" for kids of all ages, and further along Gordons Bay, great shore diving and snorkelling sites with a concrete ramp for easy entry. No this aint the great barrier reef so don't expect to see clown fish dancing in anemones but there are gropers, sea perches, leatherjackets,and bulleseyes galore.
Written February 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mlb186643
Wexford, Ireland329 contributions
Small sheltered inlet
Apr 2017 • Family
Safe bathing for small kids from a sandy beach . Good swimmers can enjoy swim out along narrow outlet to the sea. Both sides of inlet are concreted where people lie down to sunbath . There is a cafe and toilets here. During busy times there is lifrguard cover . Only drawback for Clovelly is the limited parking


Written April 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nutto36
Granville, Australia59 contributions
Amazing Snorkling @ Clovelly
May 2016 • Friends
It's amazing snorkeling place. I spent a quality time with my mom, She really loved it !!!
Clear & Bright

How to go : You can take Bus No. 370 from Hyde Park to Clovelly Beach by 30 minutes.

Toilet : Clean

Fees : No charged !!

Wanna come back : Yessss !!!
Written September 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrandmrsbeas
Sydney, Australia559 contributions
Place to go for safe snorkelling
Dec 2014 • Family
I love to visit Clovelly Beach to o snorkelling with my family. It is usually easy to find a park with a huge free carpark adjacent to the surf club (gold coin donation to the surf club on weekends). Clovelly is not what I would describe as a 'normal' Sydney beach. It is a narrow bay with a cement boardwalk on either side. At the far end is a small stretch of sand. It is patrolled every day by Randwick City lifeguards with patrols by the surf club as well on weekends.

It is a great place to snorkel with plenty of fish including big grophers. For those wanting to challenge themselves - try 'the circle of death' - swim across the bay then run up the hill and around to where you started the swim and repeat over again and again! Most people wear old sneakers to save your feet on the run stage.

There are clean toilets and a cafe to buy coffee and food after a dip in the water. Highly recommended
Written December 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Clovelly Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Clovelly Beach

Clovelly Beach Information

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58

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