Snorkeling Gordons Bay at Coogee, 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 where you can see stunning sea kelp, the distinctive Eastern Blue Groper’s, and an array of marine life. Gordons Bay is located a short walk from the popular coastal town of Coogee and Clovelly Beach, in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs, NSW.

Pros

  • Relatively Sheltered bay
  • Diverse marine life in a small area
  • Short walk from Coogee & Clovelly
  • Free to snorkel

Cons

  • Wave and current conditions vary
  • Visibility can vary
  • No Coral Reef
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Snorkeling Gordons Bay, Coogee

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Snorkel Snaps

Blue Groper swimming amongst the Kelp Forests
Blue Groper swimming amongst the Kelp Forests
Sea Kelp, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Sea Kelp scattered throughout the sea bed
Luderick School, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Luderick School feeding on the shallow rocks
Blue Groper, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Vibrant Blue Eastern Groper
Red Morwong, Gordons Bay, Coogee, Sydney
Red Morwong
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Where is Gordons Bay?

The popular snorkel spots is located in the coastal town of Coogee, on the Eastern coast of Sydney city centre and below Bondi Beach. The snorkel spot is located on the Bondi to Coogee walking track and is part of the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve.

Snorkel Spot

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Highlights

Coral Reef Icon

No Coral

Thermometer Icon

2-3 Meters Average Depth

Australian Mado Icon

Ok-Good Visibility

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Easy to Medium Difficulty

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Cafe’s nearby

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Free to snorkel

Sea Urchin Icon

Sea Urchins Present

Jellyfish Icon

Jellyfish can Be Present

When:

Who:

Tour Cost:

Star Rating:

Cost:

December 2024

Luke

Free

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Snorkel spot, Gordons Bay, Sydney, NSW
Gordons Bay Snorkel Spot Entrance
Snorkeling Gordons Bay
Snorkeling Gordons Bay
Snorkeling Gordons Bay
Snorkeling Gordons Bay
Snorkeling Gordons Bay
Snorkeling Gordons Bay

Where to enter the water

Enter at the boat ramp

Snorkel spot, Gordons Bay, Sydney
Boat ramp entrance to snorkel spot

Marine Life

Eastern Blue Groper, Gordons Bay
Eastern Blue Groper in the vibrant waters
Luderick School, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Luderick School feeding on the shallow rocks

Safety Tip:

Sea Urchin, Gordons Bay, Sydney
Sea Kelp, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Sea Kelp scattered throughout the sea bed
Sea Plants, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Sea Plants growing on the rocky coastline
Sea Urchin, Gordons Bay, Sydney
Sea Urchin
Blue Groper, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Blue Groper swimming throughout the rocks
Blue Groper swimming amongst the Kelp Forests
Blue Groper swimming amongst the Kelp Forests
Blue Groper, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Blue Groper in the shallows
Blue Groper, Gordons Bay, Coogee
Vibrant Blue Eastern Groper

Top Tip:

Red Morwong, Gordons Bay, Coogee, Sydney
Red Morwong

Summary

Tour Guide Options

It is free to snorkel at Gordons Bay, at Bronte-Coogee nature reserve.

Best Snorkel Spot

In my opinion, the best snorkel spot was to the right of the boat ramp entrance where I saw multiple Blue Gropers swimming between the kelp and rocky seabed.

Eastern Blue Groper, Gordons Bay
Eastern Blue Groper in the vibrant waters

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.

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Popular Marine Life

Eastern Blue Groper Wrasse Icon

Eastern Groper Wrasse

Stripey Icon

Stripey

Sergeant Major Damselfish Icon

Damselfish

Old Wife Icon

Old Wife

Black Spot Goatfish Icon

Black-Spot Goatfish

Australian Mado Icon

Australian Mado

Grey Mullet Icon

Grey Mullet

Australian Stingree Icon

Common Stingree


Rare Marine Life Icon

Rare Marine Life

Giant Cuttlefish Icon

Giant Cuttlefish

Octopus Icon

Common Octopus

Stingray Icon

Stingrays


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What I Saw

(Seen on December, 2024)

Eastern Blue Groper WrasseRed Morwong
Australian MadoRock Cale Fish
Crescent WrasseRough Leatherjacket
Black-Spot GoatfishEastern Hulafish
Neon DamselfishTarwhine
StripeyBlack Sea Urchin
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NSW Snorkel Reviews

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Sydney Things to Do

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Frequently Asked Questions

By Public Transport:

  1. Train and Bus:
    • Take a train to Central Station in the city.
    • From Central, transfer to Bus 372 or Bus 370 toward Coogee.
    • Get off at Coogee Bay Road (near Arden Street).
    • From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk (around 700 meters) down to Gordon’s Bay, following the signs to the bay.
  2. Direct Bus:
    • Alternatively, if you’re coming from Bondi Junction, take Bus 393 or Bus 394 directly to Coogee Beach.
    • After reaching Coogee, walk for about 10 minutes to Gordon’s Bay.

By Car:

  • If you’re driving, head towards Coogee from the city. From Anzac Parade, take Carrington Road and follow it to Coogee Bay Road. Gordon’s Bay is located between Coogee Beach and Clovelly Beach.
  • There’s limited street parking near the bay, so arriving early is a good idea, especially on weekends.

By Foot:

  • If you’re already in Coogee, you can take the Coastal Walk from Coogee Beach to Gordon’s Bay. It’s a scenic, short walk along the coast that takes around 10 minutes.
  • Fish: Bream, Snapper, Garfish, Dusky Flathead, and the iconic Eastern Blue Groper.
  • Invertebrates: Octopus, sea urchins, and crabs.
  • Coral & Kelp: Rocky areas with kelp forests and soft corals.
  • Occasional Larger Creatures: Juvenile barracuda, kingfish, and smaller stingrays.
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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