Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on October 7, 2022
Gordons Bay is one of the main snorkeling spots of the Bondi to Cogee Walk, the famous Sydney’s east coast path. In the cool waters of the bay, protected by a marine reserve, you can spot many New South Wales coastal fish, including the blue groper.
Gordons Bay is a small bay in Sydney’s eastern coastal suburb. It is located on the Bondi to Cogee Walk, the coastal promenade which links for almost 6km the two famous beaches of Bondi and Cogee. If you prefer to get there by car, parking is available between Gordons Bay and Clovelly Beach, at the end of Clovelly Road.
By public transport, the nearest bus stop is Clovelly Road Terminus (location here), right next to the parking lot. From there, you will be a 5-minute walk from the recommended water entrance point (see below).
We advise you to enter the water from the access which has been marked in the rocks (location here), east of the bay. It is located at the end of a small concrete path in the middle of the rocks. Be careful because even if the access is quite easy, you will have to walk on slippery rocks to get into the water.
The other option to get into the water is to walk to the small beach, but you will have to walk almost 600m from the parking lot to reach it (with a very steep climb).
You can snorkel all over the bay, but we especially recommend that you follow the rocks on either side of it. In the center of the bay, the depth is greater (↕20-25ft/6-8m) and the sandy bottoms less interesting.
Gordons Bay is a protected area, part of the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve. Spearfishing is prohibited here, and a great diversity of fish can be spotted. Patches of parore and small groups of red morwong swim around the seaweed, where damselfish and several wrasse species hide.
Near the large immersed boulders, many mados (which we recognize by their striped body) and Eastern pomfreds can be found. The blue groper, emblematic fish of the New South Wales coastal areas, can also be seen in the bay.
Gordons Bay is quite exposed and can experience rough seas. In this case, underwater visibility may be poor. Do not enter the water if there are waves in the bay.
There are several cafés around Clovelly Beach. The FoodWorks Clovelly supermarket is located 500m from the car park along Clovelly Road.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
