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
Cons

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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

Snorkel Review
Highlights

No Coral

2-3 Meters Average Depth

Ok-Good Visibility

Easy to Medium Difficulty

Cafe’s nearby

Free to snorkel

Sea Urchins Present

Jellyfish can Be Present
When:
Who:
Tour Cost:
Star Rating:
Cost:
Gordons Bay, located within the protected Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, NSW, is a popular snorkeling spot just 40 minutes from the city center. The sheltered bay is home to abundant marine life, including the iconic, protected Eastern Blue Groper.
Accessible from a boat ramp, the bay offers calm, shallow waters. The rocky shoreline, vibrant vegetation, and diverse marine species make it an ideal spot for underwater exploration. As part of a conservation area, Gordons Bay also plays an important role in preserving Sydney’s coastal ecosystem, providing a great snorkeling experience.




Where to enter the water
The entrance to the bay is through a walkway which leads down to a boat ramp. There can be waves that roll into the boat ramp, and the boat ramp can be slippery and sharp, so be careful upon entering. Once you enter the water the sea bed is made up of large rocks, vegetation, and sea kelp.
Enter at the boat ramp

Marine Life


There are many different marine species you can spot snorkeling. Within a few minutes I had seen an Eastern Blue Groper swimming and feeding on the rocks. There were small schools of fish in the shallow waters, and smaller fish swimming close to the kelp. I didn’t see any larger marine life but you can see stingrays in the bay.
Safety Tip:
A few safety tips include wearing flippers, as it is a large bay and flippers will make it easier to swim. There are sea urchins in the rocks and flippers will protect your feet. Entering and leaving the water via the boat ramp can be difficult with the waves, take your time, look out for barnacles and sea urchins.








Top Tip:
Footwear such as flippers and ocean shoes will help navigate the waters as the currents can be strong, and protect your feet from the sharp, rocky sea bed and boat ramp. The snorkel spot is a pleasant walk to Coogee or Clovelly.

Summary
Gordons Bay is a good snorkel spot if you’re staying in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, such as Bondi and Coogee. The rocky shoreline and patches of kelp are home to a range of marine life.
The nature reserve is home to the Eastern Groper Wrasse, and Small fish – Lumerick, Tarwhine.
The bay is generally protected from large waves, but be sure to check the wave weather forecast. Snorkelling in my opinion is best at high tide as the entrance is safer and the water will likely have less sediment. The boat ramp entrance isn’t the easiest and can be sharp, slippery, and hit by waves.
It is great to combine a snorkel with the nearby snorkel spot at Clovelly Beach. Another popular snorkel spot is Cabbage Tree Bay, but slightly further based in Manly, Sydney.
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.

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.

Popular Marine Life

Eastern Groper Wrasse

Stripey

Damselfish

Old Wife

Black-Spot Goatfish

Australian Mado

Grey Mullet

Common Stingree

Rare Marine Life

Giant Cuttlefish

Common Octopus

Stingrays

What I Saw
(Seen on December, 2024)
Eastern Blue Groper Wrasse | Red Morwong |
Australian Mado | Rock Cale Fish |
Crescent Wrasse | Rough Leatherjacket |
Black-Spot Goatfish | Eastern Hulafish |
Neon Damselfish | Tarwhine |
Stripey | Black Sea Urchin |

NSW Snorkel Reviews

Sydney Things to Do

Frequently Asked Questions
Gordon’s Bay, located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, is a popular spot for snorkeling due to its clear waters and vibrant marine life. Here’s how to get there:
By Public Transport:
- 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.
- 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.
Once you arrive, you’ll find a small, sheltered beach that is ideal for snorkeling. The underwater environment around Gordon’s Bay is part of the Gordon’s Bay Aquatic Reserve, making it a protected and pristine area to see Blue Groper’s and fish.
It is free to snorkel in Gordon’s Bay, entering from the beach. We’re not aware of any snorkel tours that operate at Gordon’s Bay.
Snorkeling at Gordon’s Bay offers a rich underwater experience in the protected Gordon’s Bay Aquatic Reserve. While the bay is shallow (1-5 meters), you can still see a variety of marine life, including:
- 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.
Though you won’t encounter huge animals like sharks, or whales, Gordon’s Bay is perfect for exploring marine life in clear waters. Best visited on calm days with a low wave, and good visibility.
The protected bay near Coogee on the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney is a popular snorkel spot and if living or visiting the Bondi/Coogee area, the best snorkel spot nearby. However, in our opinion Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve is our top pick and best snorkl spot in Sydney, located in the Northern Beaches suburb of Manly, a short 25-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay (Harbour).

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.
New South Wales Snorkel Reviews
