Discover Gordons Bay (Between Coogee and Clovelly)

Last updated: November 26, 2021

Located just moments away from Clovelly and Coogee beach, Gordons Bay is a small piece of paradise along the coastal walk between Bondi and Coogee.

Protected by a reef, the bay is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, diving and snorkeling, away from the crowds at the larger beaches nearby.

How to Get There

The best place to park your car is at the Clovelly Beach car park on Victory Street (see map location).

Even though it’s quite a big parking area, it does fill up rather quickly on sunny weekends when people want to go swimming at Clovelly Beach.

Map of Gordons Bay

Alternatively you can try to find parking in the paid parking areas at the north end of Coogee Beach or surrounding suburban streets.

Or why not leave the car at home? Various bus routes lead to the Clovelly Road Terminus from where you can walk to Gordons Bay. Check the Transport NSW website for more details.

About Gordons Bay

Quietly nestled between Clovelly beach and Coogee beach, Gordons Bay is a small and secluded oasis that is worth a visit.

The bay itself has no car parking areas, and is only accessible via the coastal walk between Bondi and Coogee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Aerial view of Gordons Bay
Aerial view of Gordons Bay

The bay was named after Lewis Gordon, a government surveyor who was granted crown land in this area in the 19th century.

He originally named the area Cliff-Brook, a name that is still used for a heritage mansion facing Gordons Bay and the track that connects Gordons Bay with Victory St in Clovelly.

Gordons bay does have a small strip of sand but it can hardly be called a beach. Racks of boats from the local fishing club cover most of it, which kind of makes Gordons Bay look and feel like a quiet fisherman’s village on a remote Greek island.

Gordons Bay between Bondi and Coogee

A beautiful boardwalk swings around the bay, as part of the coastal walking track, and offers great views of the natural surroundings of the area.

This boardwalk also functions as protection against damage to the native flora and fauna in and around the bay.

When the tides are low though, you can certainly enjoy the beach for a swim and a bit of sunbathing. Alternatively you can use the rocky sections on the north side of Gordons Bay as your base.

Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail

Besides fishing, Gordons Bay is also a popular spot with snorkelers and divers.

The Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail, maintained by the Gordons Bay scuba diving club, is a self-guided 600 metres long trail. Not a walking trail, but an underwater trail that consists of concrete filled drums linked by a chain.

Several steel plaques on the trail display helpful information about the underwater world. It would take an average diver or snorkeler around 40 minutes to complete this trail.

The deepest point is 14 meters but on a very clear day snorkelers should be able to enjoy good underwater views too.

Here’s a cool video of a free-diving session at Gordons Bay:

 

Gordons Bay north of Coogee

 
 

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4 Comments
  1. Hello,

    I am really wanting to snorkel in the Gordon’s Bay underwater trail but I’m a solo traveler. Would you say it is something that is safe to be done alone? Also, are there any lockers, etc. nearby where I can store some personal items while I snorkel?

    Reply
    • Hi Pratishta,

      If you’ve snorkelled before and are comfortable in the water, then Gordons Bay is reasonably safe. There are no lockers though, but most people leave their stuff either on the rocks or on the small beach.

      The other option is to go snorkelling at Clovelly Beach around the corner. The water there starts off shallow and there are more people around including lifesavers.

      Reply
  2. Hello team,
    Is gordon’s bay accessible with a pram?
    Where do you start walking if you’ve parked near victory street to access the bay?
    How long is the walk? Is it uphill or down?

    Reply
    • Hello Anna,
      Gordons Bay isn’t very pram friendly, plus there’s stairs between Victory St and Gordons Bay.
      Clovelly Beach is probably a better choice, which has a paved walking path around the bay and the beach.

      Reply
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