This spot has been added by

snorkeling team
Snorkeling Report's team
Other contributors You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form

Last updated on

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.

Mado and Eastern pomfreds in Gordons Bay
Mado and Eastern pomfred are common around Gordons Bay’s rocks.

How to go snorkeling at Gordons Bay

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).

Gordons Bay snorkeling map, Cogee

Water entrance for snorkeling Gordons Bay

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).

Gordons Bay snorkeling exploration

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.

Rock cale in Gordons Bay
The rock cale is easy to spot among the seaweed.

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.

Snake-skin wrasse at Gordons Bay
A snake-skin wrasse in Gordons 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.

Restaurants and accommodations nearby

There are several cafés around Clovelly Beach. The FoodWorks Clovelly supermarket is located 500m from the car park along Clovelly Road.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Protected areaBronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve
  • Maximum depth15ft/5m
  • Water entranceFrom rocks, or a sandy beach
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersMedium
  • Access costsFree

MAP Spot

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.