Snorkeling Clovelly Beach, Sydney

New South Wales Australasia Australia Locations

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Summary

By Luke

Summary

Rating: 3 out of 5.

By Luke

Good snorkel spot tucked away in the heart of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, NSW, where you can see the local Eastern Blue Groper. Clovelly is a lesser-known snorkel spot, but is great when combined with a beach day, with sea plants and fish just meters from the beach.

Pros

  • Can see Blue Groper meters from beach
  • Diverse plant life in a small area
  • Stunning beach
  • Free to snorkel

Cons

  • The narrow snorkel spot can have large waves the further out you go
  • Visibility can vary
  • No Coral Reef
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Snorkeling Clovelly Beach, Sydney

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Snorkel Snaps

Blue Groper Clovelly 4
Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper
Sea Plants, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Plants
Sea Urchin, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Urchin
Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper
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Where is Clovelly Beach?

The snorkel spot is located in the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve, and in the coastal town of Clovelly, on the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in the Australian state of New South Wales. The snorkel spot runs from the beach through the narrow inlet.

Snorkel Spot

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Highlights

Coral Reef Icon

No Coral

Thermometer Icon

2-3 Meters Average Depth

Australian Mado Icon

Ok Visibility

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Medium Difficulty

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Cafes nearby

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Free to snorkel

Sea Urchin Icon

Sea Urchins Present

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Jellyfish unlikely

When:

Who:

Tour Cost:

Star Rating:

Cost:

December 2024

Luke

Free

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The snorkel spot is located in the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve, in the Eastern coastal town of Clovelly, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. It is a 40-minute bus journey from the city centre, and in-between neighbouring Bondi and Coogee. This is a popular snorkel spot in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and is home to local Eastern Blue Gropers and marine life.

Snorkel Spot, Clovelly, Sydney
Snorkel Spot
Snorkeling, Clovelly, Sydney
Snorkeling Clovelly Beach

Safety Tip:

Sea Urchin, Clovelly, Sydney

Marine Life

Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper
Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper
Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper
Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper
Smooth Toadfish, Clovelly Beach
Smooth Toadfish
Sea Kelp, Clovelly Beach, Sydney
Sea Kelp
Sea Kelp, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Kelp
Turban Snails, Clovelly, Sydney
Turban Snail
Sea Urchin, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Urchin
Sea Plants, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Plants
Sea Kelp, Clovelly, Sydney
Stunning Sea Kelp
Sea Plants, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Plants cover the rocky sea bed
Sea Plants, Clovelly, Sydney
Sea Plants
Juvenile Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Juvenile Eastern Blue Groper

Top Tip:

Summary

Tour Guide Options

It is free to snorkel and accessible from the beach to the aquatic reserve.

Best Snorkel Spot

In my opinion, the best snorkeling spot is 5-meters from the beach, where on the left-hand side you can see the local Eastern Blue Groper, as shown below.

Eastern Blue Groper, Clovelly, Sydney
Eastern Blue Groper

Best Time Of Year

You can snorkel all year round in calm wave conditions, but conditions can be better during Australia’s Summer season which runs from April to October. The marine life can vary due to the time of the year.

The best time for snorkeling is early morning when visibility is clearer, and the marine life can be more active.

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Popular Marine Life

Eastern Blue Groper Wrasse Icon

Eastern Groper Wrasse

Grey Mullet Icon

Sand Mullet

Stripey Icon

Stripey

Sergeant Major Damselfish Icon

Damselfish

Black Spot Goatfish Icon

Black-Spot Goatfish

Australian Mado Icon

Australian Mado


Rare Marine Life Icon

Rare Marine Life

Stingray Icon

Stingrays


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What I Saw

(Seen on December, 2024)

Eastern Blue Groper WrasseTurban Snail
Black-Spot GoatfishOld Wife Fish
TarwhineBlack Sea Urchin
ParoreSand Mullet
Smooth ToadfishMaori Wrasse
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Things to Do

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Frequently Asked Questions

To get to Clovelly Beach for snorkeling from Sydney CBD, you have a few options:

1. By Car (Approx. 20-30 minutes)

  • Route: Head south on Oxford Street from the CBD, then turn left onto Bondi Road, which takes you towards Clovelly Road. Follow signs to Clovelly Beach.
  • Parking: There is limited parking near Clovelly Beach, so it’s best to go early, especially on weekends.

2. By Public Transport (Approx. 40-50 minutes)

  • Option 1 (Bus):
    • Take a bus from Bondi Junction Interchange (a short train ride from Central or Town Hall stations). Bus routes like 339 or 361 go directly to Clovelly. The ride will take about 20-25 minutes.
  • Option 2 (Train + Bus):
    • Take a train from Sydney CBD (Central Station) to Bondi Junction. From there, transfer to a bus (routes like 339 or 361) that goes to Clovelly. Total travel time would be around 40-50 minutes.

3. By Bike (Approx. 30 minutes)

  • If you’re up for it, cycling from the CBD to Clovelly can be a scenic ride, especially if you go along the coastline. There are bike paths that will get you close to Clovelly Beach.
  • Fish: Eastern Blue Groper, Silver Trevally, Mullet, Yellowtail, Bream.
  • Invertebrates: Sea Urchins, and Crabs.
  • Reef Life: Kelp forests, soft corals, sponges, and schools of smaller fish like Silver Drummers and Pike.
Luke Snorkeling Nusa Lembongan

Luke

FOUNDER

Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.

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