Are you looking to discover the best beaches in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney? The beaches in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs are simply incredible!
Without a doubt, one of the best things about Sydney is the easy access to a multitude of beaches right on your doorstep – did you know that Sydney has over 100 beaches?!
And a quarter of those beaches are located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney alone.
Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs are home to over 25 unique beaches, including world-famous Bondi Beach and many other lesser-known beaches that are equally stunning but attract way less visitors!
In this article we will take you through all of the beaches in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, as well as including top tips, facilities they have at each beach, and how to reach all of them.
So whether you want to find a beach with the best waves to go surfing, or the beach with the best Sydney Harbour views, or with the best ocean pool or even shark nets, or you want to visit a child-friendly or even dog-friendly beach, there is a beach in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney for you!
As we are photographers based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, we have captured many beautiful photographs of the below beaches.
If you would like to purchase any of our prints you can click on any of the images or send us a message!
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES – PACIFIC OCEAN FACING
Bondi Beach
Tamarama Beach
Bronte Beach
Clovelly Beach
Gordon’s Bay Beach
Coogee Beach
Maroubra Beach
Malabar Beach
Little Bay Beach
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES – BOTANY BAY
Congwong Beach
Little Congwong Beach
Frenchmans Beach
Yarra Bay Beach
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES – SYDNEY HARBOUR
Double Bay Beach
Seven Shillings Beach (Point Piper)
Rose Bay Beach
Queens Beach
Tingara Beach
Milk Beach
Shark Beach
Parsley Bay Beach (Vaucluse)
Kutti Beach
Gibsons Beach
Watson’s Bay Beach
Camp Cove Beach
Lady Bay Beach
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES – PACIFIC OCEAN FACING
Definitely the most well-known out of all the Eastern Suburbs Beaches in Sydney are the beaches on the coastline that face out towards the Pacific Ocean. These are of course the beaches with the biggest waves, so great for surfers.
Most of them have ocean pools to swim in, which is great if you have younger children who aren’t yet confident in big waves, or you are a bit anxious about sharks in the ocean!
Bondi Beach
Of course we have to start with Bondi Beach – the most famous beach not only in the Eastern Suburbs or even Sydney, but in the whole of Australia!
Bondi Beach is Australia’s busiest beach and as it is one of the most famous beaches in the world it attracts many people every single day. It is estimated around 2.7 million people visit Bondi Beach every year!
The beach is 1km long and is Sydney’s widest beach but can get very crowded during the summer months! In fact on really busy hot summer days you can expect up to 40,000 people here on Bondi Beach!
There is a great atmosphere here and lots of cafes and restaurants and holiday apartments around that you can enjoy.
During the whale season (around April to October) it is very common to see whales going past Bondi Beach on their annual migration to Hervey Bay in Queensland and back down to the Antarctica!
It is such a fantastic sight to see these majestic creatures, and you’ll also often spot dolphins year round too!
As the white sandy beach of Bondi is only 7km (4 miles) east of Sydney CBD it is really convenient to get to and is a popular place with both locals and tourists from all around the world.
If coming by public transport, take the 333 bus from either Circular Quay (the bus stop is close to the ferry wharf number 2) or St Martin’s Place and get off at Campbell Parade.
The North end of Bondi Beach is more popular with families, whereas the South End is popular with experienced surfers, as well as being known as the backpackers end by the locals.
You’ll find the children’s pools at North Bondi, as well as public toilets, the outdoor gym, showers, children’s playground, free BBQs and picnic tables.
At the south end you’ll find more toilets, as well as the world-famous Bondi Icebergs outdoor swimming pool which you can swim in for $8.
You can get the aerial picture below from street level when you are standing on Notts Avenue overlooking the pool.
All along Campbell Parade – the main road that runs parallel to the beach, you’ll find shops, cafes, restaurants. Surf boards and wetsuits are also available to hire by the beach.
Despite Bondi Beach being a patrolled beach, be careful to only swim between the red and yellow flags. Bondi Beach is known for having big rips. Do not underestimate the water here – many tourists have sadly died here.
Watch the famous real life TV show Bondi Rescue that is filmed right here at Bondi Beach to see the lifeguard performing daily rescues.
Bondi Beach marks the start of two lovely coastal walks: the Bondi to Coogee walk, as well as the start of the lesser known Bondi to Watson’s Bay Walk.
Tamarama Beach
Heading south along the Coastal Walk from Bondi Beach will bring you to Tamarama.
Tamarama Beach is one of the smaller beaches along the walk but it is incredibly picturesque sitting in an enclave surrounded by houses steeped either side.
Despite being such a small beach, the waves here are insane and Tamarama is one of the most dangerous beaches to swim in the whole of Australia (it of course makes a great place for experienced surfers to catch waves).
Tamarama is also one of the only Eastern Suburbs beaches in Sydney without an ocean pool. Despite this it is an extremely popular beach for locals.
There is a children’s playground at the back of the beach, as well as a coffee shop and public toilets. Keep your eyes peeled as dolphins can often be seen off the shores of Tamarama Beach!
Tamarama Beach is along the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk, just over halfway between both beaches.
The Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk is the first half of the longer Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, but it actually provides the most stunning views.
So if you are short on time or don’t want to walk too far, at only 2km long the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk should take you only 30 minutes to walk.
From Tamarama Beach to Bondi Beach it is 1.2km and should take around 20 minutes to walk.
To reach Tamarama Beach by public transport, take the 381 bus from Bondi Junction. You can reach Bondi Junction by train (T4 blue line or by 333 bus.
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
Bronte Beach
Bronte Beach is one of Sydney’s most famous surf beaches. Out of all the oceanside pools in Sydney the ocean pool at Bronte Beach – known as the Bronte Baths is one of the most famous and instantly recognised, and is even one of the most Instagrammable places in Sydney!
The Bronte Baths are really popular for drone photography and you’ll often see aerial shots of the iconic Bronte Baths on social media.
Entrance to Sydney’s stunning Bronte Baths is free. The baths are always open to the public, but if the sea becomes too rough or the pool is being cleaned they will temporarily close the metal gates in front of the baths, preventing access.
Note on Sundays 9-11 am the Bronte Swimming Club does swimming galas here. It is a really nice atmosphere at this time!
Bronte Baths are 30 metres in length, so whilst they are smaller than many ocean pools in Sydney there is still plenty space for swimmers to do lengths (lanes are marked out).
There is also a shallower part of the pool that is perfect for families with children and groups of friends relaxing.
As for the beach itself, Bronte Beach is another beautiful yet crowded beach. It is very popular with families due to the ‘Bogey Hole’ – the small rock pool next to the Bronte Baths (only visible at mid to low tide).
The Bogey Hole is a naturally forming rock pool is a very popular place for families as the water is fairly shallow and the rocks break the waves, making them much more gentle and safer for younger children.
At Bronte Beach you’ll find toilets and showers near the Baths, and further back in Bronte Park right behind the beach you’ll find free BBQs and plenty of picnic tables, as well as a children’s playground and a kiosk.
There are also a few cafes along Bronte Road where you can grab some delicious food.
To get to Bronte Beach by public transport, take the number 333 bus from Circular Quay and then alight at Bondi Junction. At Bondi Junction take the 379 bus to Bronte Beach from Stand E.
The bus will drop you right off at the southern end of Bronte Beach by the ocean baths.
Clovelly Beach
The next beach along on the Eastern Suburbs long line of beaches is Clovelly Beach. Clovelly Beach lies in a narrow bay between two concrete platforms and is actually the only beach in Sydney that is made from concrete!
Not a personal favourite of mine as it is not the most beautiful beach (due to it being very narrow and made mostly out of concrete), but it is a really popular beach and has a nice atmosphere.
The concrete walls means the beach is protected from the sea waves and so is a great place for families with young children as the water is calm.
There are also beach volleyball nets here so it is popular with groups of friends too, plus they have a 25 metres long ocean pool here (known as the Clovelly Ocean Pool or Geoff James Pool).
You’ll find public toilets, a small children’s playground, a cafe and free wifi here at Clovelly Beach (Randwick Council provides free WiFi at most of their beaches).
To get to Clovelly Beach from Bondi Junction take the 360 bus to Eastbourne Avenue then walk the 2 minutes to Clovelly Beach.
Gordon’s Bay Beach
The tiny strip of sand on Gordon’s Bay oozes Mediterranean vibes. It’s mostly a beach for groups of friends to gather on the rocks or with their stand-up paddle boards as the water is always very calm here.
Gordons Bay is a beautiful protected aquatic reserve with the most insane blue water! Plus there is even an Underwater Nature Trail here where you can do scuba diving or snorkelling!
This is one of the best places in Sydney for snorkelling, so definitely stop and head in if you have your snorkel gear with you!
To get to Gordon’s Bay with public transport, you can either take the 353 or 360 bus from Bondi Junction to the corner of Clovelly Road and Arden Street and then walk 10 minutes down to Gordon’s Bay.
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
Coogee Beach
Sydney’s most famous Coastal Walk – the Bondi to Coogee walk finishes here at Coogee Beach (or starts here if you are walking from Coogee to Bondi)!
Coogee Beach is one of the Eastern Suburb’s most popular (and therefore busiest) beaches.
The large crescent-shaped sandy beach is popular with families as the waves here are a lot smaller than at the likes on Bondi and Bronte, due to Wedding Cake Island, which can be seen 700 metres away, breaking a lot of the waves.
Coogee Beach is 400 metres long and has amenities such as toilets, showers, changing rooms, free lockers and picnic tables. There are plenty of places by the Pavilion and off Arden Street to sit down and have some food.
To get to Coogee Beach by public transport take the 373 or 374 bus from Circular Quay. They usually run every 15 minutes and the journey takes around 40 minutes.
At the southern end of Coogee Beach you’ll find the small but picturesque Russel Jones Memorial Pool.
If you carry on walking past the Russel Jones Memorial Pool it will lead you down to McIver Baths and Wylie’s Baths (there is also toilets, picnic tables and a big children’s playground here) and onto the Coogee to Maroubra walk.
In contrast to almost all of Sydney’s ocean pools (except Bondi Icebergs), McIver Baths and Wylie’s Baths both require an entrance fee to be paid and can only be accessed through a gate during opening hours.
This is in comparison to the majority of Sydney’s other ocean pools that can be accessed at any time of the day.
McIver’s Baths
McIver’s Baths is the first pool you’ll come across. This ocean pool is for ladies and children only – in fact it is the last remaining ladies and children’s only bath in the whole of the southern hemisphere!
It is also sometimes known as Coogee Women’s Pool or the Ladies Baths. Entry to the baths is $2 and currently they are operating at reduced hours from 8 am to 4.30 pm. Do check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
The baths are not visible from the path – you’ll just see a gate and path on your left-hand side that you’ll need to go down, before heading down the stairs to the pool.
The baths are truly stunning, perched on the edge of a rock platform and cliff face and offer fantastic views out towards the ocean.
They are Heritage Listed, being built in the late 1870s, and are very well shielded from onlookers – something that was very important back in the day.
Wylie’s Baths
A couple of hundred metres past McIver’s Baths is Wylie’s Baths. Wylies Baths is one of Sydney’s oldest, largest and most spectacular ocean pools. Plus you can even get massages here!
McIver’s Baths were built in 1907 by Henry Wylie – father of Australia’s first female Olympic swimmer Mina Wylie. Like McIver’s Baths, Wylie’s Baths are Heritage Listed.
The gates to Wylie’s Baths are only open from 7 am to 5 pm April to September and from 7 am to 7 pm October til April.
You can purchase a Multi-Visit Ticket ($55 for 10 visits) or a casual day pass ($5.50) to enter.
Maroubra Beach
At 1km long, Maroubra Beach is really spacious at 1km long, and so therefore it never feels too busy.
There is a nice relaxed vibe here, and you’ll also find the picturesque Mahon Ocean Pool located just north of Maroubra Beach on Jack Vanny Reserve. There are toilets and changing rooms here if you need.
You’ll find several restaurants just off the beach on Marine Parade. McKeon Street also offers a variety of cafes, smoothie bars and food joints.
Towards the southern end of Maroubra Beach you’ll see some coastal dunes. Do not go in these dunes – you will see signs saying red-bellied black snakes have been seen in this area.
Please keep on the beach as these snakes are active during daylight hours mostly. There is also a large children’s playground and outdoor gym at the south of Maroubra Beach.
To get to Maroubra from Central Station take the 395 bus to Maroubra Beach. Buses run roughly every half hour and should take around 35 minutes.
Alternatively take the 396 or 377 bus from Circular Quay to Maroubra Beach. Buses are roughly every half an hour and take around 40 minutes.
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
Malabar Beach
Malabar Beach is a lovely beach and there are lots of amenities here including a water refill station, toilets, picnic tables, BBQ stations and a playground by the beach for you to enjoy.
Malabar Rock Pool is about 400 metres to the right of Malabar Beach via Bay Parade. The rock pool is really beautiful and as it is not right next to the beach it is usually not too busy which is great!
Walking along Bay Parade to the rock pool, look back and you’ll be rewarded with nice views across to the beach.
There is also a sign saying that snakes have been spotted in this area so don’t go walking on the thick grassy parts: make sure you stick to the paths!
Little Bay Beach
Little Bay Beach is a cute sandy cove and the water is really lovely and clear here. There are showers and toilets if you need to freshen up, as well as a beach cafe, and Randwick Council provide free wifi here on the beach if you need it!
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES – BOTANY BAY
The following four beaches are located below the main Eastern Suburbs Beaches, in Botany Bay.
Congwong Beach
Located towards the end of the Maroubra to La Perouse walk, Congwong Beach is a lovely sandy beach that offers nice views across to Bare Island and Kurnell.
You can access Congwong Beach from the end of Anzac Parade in La Perouse. Near the bus stop and Snake Pit you’ll find the start of the Congwong Trail.
There are some toilets and bins just before the steps that lead down to the path, so make sure you use them if you need to, and then follow the steps down towards Congwong Beach.
Little Congwong Beach
If you walk to the end of Congwong Beach you’ll see the sign for Little Congwong Beach on your right. Little Congwong beach is about 600 metres from Congwong Beach and is actually a nudist beach.
Someone has etched it into the path as you are walking so you know before you get there and don’t have any surprises when you arrive!
As there were nudist people on the beach when I got there, I did not take any photos, but it looks quite similar to Congwong Beach just smaller!
Frenchmans Beach
Frenchmans Beach is located next to La Perouse that lies on the northern part of Botany Bay.
There is a great atmosphere in La Perouse and despite it being quite small you can easily spend a few hours here.
There are many things to do here, for example visiting Bare Island or La Perouse Museum, seeing the Snake Man, going diving or relaxing on Frenchmans Beach.
There are also some pretty good places here for food, my favourite being The Boatshed for their fish and chips!
If you are stood at La Perouse looking out to Bare Island, head round to your right, past The Boatshed and you’ll come to Frenchmans Beach (there are some toilets along the way).
It is a lovely sandy beach and you can see across to the white sandy beaches of Brighton Le Sands and Lady Robinsons Beach on the other side of the bay.
However you can also see the ugly red and yellow cranes at Port Botany, which does spoil it a little.
If you walk along the beach and then turn your back to Port Botany however, you won’t be able to see the cranes and can enjoy the view across to Kurnell.
To get to La Perouse take the 394 or 399 bus from Circular Quay (Alfred Street, Stand B) to La Perouse. Buses run roughly every half hour and take around 50 minutes.
Yarra Bay Beach
Next to Frenchmans Beach is Yarra Bay Beach. This beach lies so close to the airport and the port that it isn’t so relaxing or picturesque.
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES – SYDNEY HARBOUR
Whilst the coastal beaches are the most famous in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, there are several beaches closer to the city along the Sydney Harbour.
Plus as these beaches aren’t facing onto the coast, the Harbour beaches are very calm and have hardly any waves, which make them perfect for bringing young children, or just if you don’t fancy the big waves.
Some of them even offer stunning city skyline views! The Sydney Harbour Beaches of the Eastern Suburbs can all be accessed easily by bus and it is easy to walk from one to the other.
Double Bay Beach
Double Bay Beach is a fairly small beach, but if you’re in the area it’s a nice beach to visit. Double Bay is a lovely residential area with some nice cafes, restaurants and shops.
To get to Double Bay Beach on public transport, get the train to Edgecliff from Martin Place or Town Hall, and then walk the 1.2km down to Double Bay Beach from Edgecliff Train Station.
This should take less than 20 minutes (walk straight down Ocean Ave).
Seven Shillings Beach (Point Piper)
Less than a 10 minute walk east of Double Bay Beach will bring you to Seven Shillings Beach in the affluent area of Point Piper (home to Nicole Kidman and the likes).
Seven Shillings Beach is a great place to swim as they have the Murray Rose (Redleaf) Pool here. The Murray Rose Pool is a netted harbourside pool (similar to the one at Balmoral Beach in Mosman), making it perfect if you want a swim.
The Redleaf Cafe overlooks the Murray Rose (Redleaf) Pool and you can get some nice pictures of the pool from outside the cafe. It’s also a great place to grab a coffee and a bite to eat.
To get to Seven Shillings Beach you can get on the 324 or 325 bus from Town Hall Station. Get off at the stop ‘New South Head Road before Gladswood Gardens’.
The journey should take roughly 20 minutes from town. Alternatively you can get the train from Town Hall Station to Edgecliff Train Station, then pick up the 324 or 325 from there.
The time of both journeys is roughly the same, whether you decide to go by bus all the way, or by train then bus.
Rose Bay Beach
Rose Bay is a very desirable neighbourhood of Sydney which lies along Sydney Harbour.
It is a lovely place to spend a sunny afternoon and there are lots of places for you to stop off for a coffee or a quick bite, such as Catalina right by Rose Bay Wharf, Club Rose Bay by the Sailing Club, the two coffee shops in the park, or along New South Head Road which is just behind the beach you’ll find plenty of options for food.
Rose Bay Beach is just to the right of the wharf past Woollahra Sailing Club. Rose Bay Beach is one of the best-loved off-leash dog beaches in Sydney and is probably the best and most well-known dog-friendly beach in the Eastern Suburbs.
You’ll find many dogs playing in the shallow water near the end of the beach. Rose Bay Beach is a firm favourite for many dog owners living in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
The large 24/7 off-leash dog beach on the Rose Bay foreshore has perfect views across to The Sydney Harbour Bridge and is absolutely stunning!
Plus the water is very shallow here and the beach is very flat, meaning it is perfect for dogs of all sizes to enjoy. Rose Bay Dog Beach gets quite popular at peak hours and at the weekends, but the locals here are all super friendly!
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
Queens Beach
Queens Beach is the first beach along The Hermitage Foreshore Walk, which is a section of the Rose Bay to Watson’s Bay Walk and one of the best Sydney Coastal Walks.
Queens Beach is located about 300 metres from the start of the Hermitage Foreshore Walk at the base of Bayview Hill Road. It should take you 5 minutes or less to reach here.
Queens Beach is a small narrow and secluded beach, and if you come at high tide the beach might have even disappeared!
Tingara Beach
The next beach along the Hermitage Foreshore Walk is Tingara Beach. This is probably the most secluded beach in the whole of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs!
From the path Tingara Beach is quite hidden because of the trees so many people don’t even notice it! Plus the path to get down to the beach is not noticeable at all so most people just walk straight past it.
I only realised you could go down when I saw someone fishing there, so I walked back on myself to the start of the beach and found a tiny opening to a dirt path between the bushes probably only 1 or 2 metres long that got straight down to the beach.
Watch your step as you go down as it can be a bit slippery. Then walk around to the right across the rocks (be careful if it is wet!) to the sandy beach and you’ll most likely have the whole beach to yourself!
Milk Beach
Milk Beach is regarded as one of Sydney’s best-kept secret beaches. It offers perfect views of The Harbour Bridge, Shark Island and Sydney Harbour.
And at 50 metres wide there is plenty space to relax, whether it is on the sand, on the grass or on the rocky outcrop on the far end of the beach.
There are plenty picnic tables nearby (as well as public toilets by Strickland House) and it’s always a popular spot at the weekends!
Shark Beach
The last beach on The Hermitage Foreshore Walk is Shark Beach, which is also the biggest and busiest beach along the walk.
It is located next to Nielsen Park and is a great place to go for a swim as it has a big swimming net enclosure (shark net) surrounding it which is great if you’re scared of sharks!
The water is very calm here in contrast to the big waves you’ll get at many of Sydney’s beaches that face out towards the Pacific Ocean on the coast.
As Shark Beach is in the harbour it is protected from the big sea waves, so it certainly makes a nice change from the usual beaches in Sydney. There is a nice relaxed holiday vibe here at Shark Beach.
Shark Beach doesn’t face The Harbour Bridge – it faces north across the harbour towards Middle Head but the views are still stunning.
There is plenty space to spread out here, either on the sandy beach or the surrounding grassy area of Nielsen Park. Plus there are public toilets, changing rooms and showers here too.
The Nielsen is located on Shark Beach and is the perfect place to stop and enjoy food with a view.
There is a restaurant and a kiosk here, so whether you just want to grab a coffee or you want to enjoy a nice sit-down meal you can do so, all whilst enjoying a stunning harbour view.
The kiosk has several al fresco tables for you to sit down at and feast on their delicious fish and chips!
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
Parsley Bay Beach
Parsley Bay Beach is a little hidden gem in Sydney located in the Eastern Suburbs.
You’ll never find crowds here as tourists are unfamiliar with this area – it’s only really locals who venture down to this little slice of paradise, located in Vaucluse.
Parsley Bay Beach lies halfway between the Hermitage Foreshore Walk and Watson’s Bay.
Parsley Bay Beach is really picturesque and often you will have the place to yourself! The enclosed bay is surrounded by beautiful headlands and houses and really gives you those Mediterranean vibes!
The water is clean, shallow and calm here at Parsley Bay Beach and it is really good for snorkelling. Although currently at the time of writing the shark net here is damaged so do exercise caution if you do go in the water.
In Parsley Bay Reserve just behind the beach, you will find a playground and several picnic tables and bins in the shade – perfect if you are bringing the kids or having a picnic.
Parsley Bay Cafe Kiosk is also located here so you can grab a coffee and some food here if you wish! Opening times are 9 am until 4 pm. You’ll also find toilets here at Parsley Bay Reserve.
Finding Parsley Beach Bridge & Beach
If you want to get onto the Parsley Bay Bridge – a suspension bridge that goes over Parsley Bay, when you are walking along Fitzwilliam Road right by the bus stop you will see the house number 43A.
The pedestrianised turning onto the bridge will be just after this building – you’ll see some steps next to the house that lead down to the bridge. There is a blue sign that directs you to Parsley Bay Reserve at the top of the steps to guide you too.
If you want to get onto Parsley Bay Beach you can either walk across the bridge, turn right and go down to the beach or you can carry on walking on Fitzwilliam Road.
Go past the turning for the bridge, turn left down Parsley Road then turn left into Horler Avenue and this will lead you onto Parsley Bay Beach.
You can walk on the footpath under the rock on the right-hand side of the beach and it will take you round to the little jetty and then back up to the road via some steps. Parsley Bay Bridge looks particularly picturesque from here.
How to get to Parsley Bay Beach
Despite being very well hidden, Parsley Bay is very easy to get to, even with public transport. Take the 324 or 325 bus from Wynyard Station in the direction of Watson’s Bay.
If you get the 325 it will go along Vaucluse Road and drops you off right next to Parsley Bay (get off the bus at Fitzwilliam Road).
If you get the 324 it will go all the way along New South Head Road and into Old South Head Road so you need to get off at the stop “New South Head Road at Clairvaux Road”.
From here it is a pleasant 15-20 minute downhill walk to Parsley Bay, passing by beautiful houses. If you want to do less walking it is better to get the 325 bus – you can check the timetable.
The bus journey should take around 45 minutes but do note, taking the bus coming back into the CBD will take longer especially if you will be travelling at peak hours when the traffic on New South Head Road heading back towards town can often be quite bad.
If coming by car there is a free parking area on Hopetoun Avenue by Parsley Bay Reserve that closes at sunset and has space for around 20 cars.
You’ll also find some places to park your car in the surrounding streets (Parsley Road and The Crescent). Just observe street signs to make sure you are authorised to park there.
Kutti Beach
Kutti Beach is a very narrow beach and like Rose Bay Beach it is dog friendly! It is on the way to Watsons Bay, right in between Parsley Bay and Watsons Bay, and it only takes 10 minutes to get to Kutti Beach in either direction.
This is a beach where you will only find locals as it is really secluded, hidden from view and actually very easy to miss if you don’t know where the entrance is!
To get to Kutti Beach you’ll need to head down Wharf Road just after you exit The Crescent. Walk all the way to the bottom of Wharf Road until you get to Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Club. By the way the houses here are breathtaking.
It’s a small winding residential street so at first you’ll think it is not the way to the beach, but just keep going! When you get to the Sailing Club you’ll see a white picket fence on the left-hand side (they are quite hidden!).
Walk right to the end and you’ll see a hidden narrow staircase behind the fence. Head down and you’ll find Kutti Beach – one of Sydney’s beautiful and undiscovered secret places!
Gibsons Beach
Gibsons Beach is not as secluded as Kutti Beach but still nice and quiet nonetheless. You’ll reach it from Palmerston Street, off Hopetoun Avenue. Follow the path round to your right and you’ll pass the Watsons Bay Baths and The Tea Garden.
The Tea Garden has a lovely outdoor area and is perfect for a coffee and a cake, as well as the nearby Dunbar House. Continue walking along Marine Parade and you’ll reach Watsons Bay wharf and Watson’s Bay Beach.
SYDNEY EASTERN SUBURBS BEACHES
Watson’s Bay Beach
Watsons Bay is such a lovely charming part of Sydney and is actually Australia’s oldest fishing village established in 1788! It is also the point where Governor Philip first landed in Australia.
The atmosphere here is always great, especially at the iconic Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel which is right next to Watson’s Bay Beach. The outdoor area here is always full and the selection of food and drinks is brilliant!
Or if you fancy some yummy fish and chips head to Doyles just opposite. Dunbar Cafe also is great if you fancy brunch and a coffee.
Watson’s Bay Beach is right next to Watson’s Bay ferry wharf. From here you can get the ferry to Manly, Rose Bay or Circular Quay.
Camp Cove Beach
Camp Cove Beach is so gorgeous, and even though it seems tucked away it gets pretty busy on weekends as it is a great place for swimming!
The Camp Cove Kiosk is a cute Instagrammable place and you can stop off for some freshly squeezed orange juice or snacks here if you need!
You’ll also find the Camp Cove Jetty on the left of the beach, which is gaining a lot of popularity on Instagram too.
To get to Camp Cove Beach, walk along Wharf Beach for a couple of hundred metres until the end of the beach where you will see a turning on your right-hand side. Go up the steps and then turn left onto Cove Street.
Carry on to the bottom then turn right at the end onto Victoria Street. Take a left onto Cliff Street and you’ll find yourself on the picturesque Camp Cove Beach.
Lady Bay Beach
Half a kilometre along from Camp Cove Beach will take you to Lady Bay Beach. This is a nudist beach (just so you are prepared!) so please don’t take photos if there are people here!
Lady Bay Beach is a really stunning beach and it feels very private and quite rugged yet you get great views of the city and the harbour in the background!
The water is calm here so it is a really good place to swim too. From here you can do the short walk up to South Head and Hornby Lighthouse.
Other Beaches In Sydney:
In addition to the beaches of the Eastern Suburbs, Sydney has many more beaches!
Sydney’s Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches, located on the other side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that stretch from Manly to Palm Beach rival the Eastern Suburbs Beaches in Sydney.
Sutherlandshire Beaches
Head down to Cronulla and nearby Sutherlandshire Beaches if you wish to escape the crowds of the Eastern Suburbs Beaches in Sydney but still want beautiful views and beaches.
Cronulla is an amazing and lively suburb located 30km south of Sydney in Sutherland Shire (known as ‘The Shire’ to locals).
It has everything – beaches, coastal paths, nightlife, plenty places to eat – plus all the beaches in Cronulla have great surf and are really popular with surfers!
Popular beaches in Cronulla include Wanda Beach, North Cronulla Beach, South Cronulla Beach, Blackwoods Beach, Shelly Beach and Oak Park Beach.
You can also get the ferry across to Bundeena where you’ll be able to visit the stunning Royal National Park Beaches!