Clovelly Beach 7

From a distance the bay looks like a concrete-lined swimming pool, and it’s not as picturesque as the other beaches we passed on our walk. There’s sand, of course, but the concrete sides make it feel like a natural pool. Quite a few people were swimming laps from the shore to where the waves break and back. Quite a sight.

There’s a small beach with calm, shallow water that’s family friendly, though the deeper sections can get choppy. Still, conditions are very good even if you’re not a strong swimmer, and it’s a decent place to snorkel. Sometimes there’s a lifeguard on duty. It can get a bit dirty after rain, but usually the water is clean and clear. Plenty of flat ground for sunbathing, and well-kept paths form part of the famous Coogee to Bondi coastal walk. There are several ways to get in, lots of parking nearby, disability parking and access ramps. There’s also a small pool that was recently updated, plus a café and kiosk for lunch or takeaway snacks.

For a small, cosy beach with several ways to enter the water, from the shore or straight into deeper water, plus lovely snorkelling and the fantastic coastal walk from Clovelly to Coogee, I can’t think of many better spots. If you know one, go ahead and skip this place 😉

I’d heard this was a popular place for beginners to practise snorkelling, but conditions on the day I visited were rough. The water was smashing against the concrete platform so hard that I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone had died. I’d come for a relaxed swim and a bit of snorkelling, but after 5-10 minutes I got out because I was worried about getting hurt. It may not be calm all year. There were lots of families with children there. If the weather’s good, you’ll probably have a nice time.