11 Best Snorkelling Spots In Sydney

Explore a vibrant collection of coral reefs and underwater marine life with the most exhilarating snorkelling in Sydney.

Forget the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney’s coastline is peppered with world-class waters that demand a mask and fins. From enormous schools of fish and spectacular sponge gardens to sea turtles and the odd wobbegong, snorkelling in Sydney rivals anything you’d find on an overseas holiday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Australian Traveller (@austtraveller)

1. Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly

What it offers: At least 160 fish species spanning tropical, protected (like sea dragons) and temperate varieties.

Getting there: Walk over from the southern end of Manly Beach along its scenic walkway. If you’re driving, secure a spot at the ticketed Shelly Beach car park.

a signage of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly

Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve is located off the northern coast of Sydney. (Image: Destination NSW)

Being a fully protected aquatic reserve has its benefits and Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve near Shelly Beach has reaped the rewards after a decade of sanctuary.

an aerial view of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly

Appreciate the beauty underneath Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. (Image: Destination NSW)

Sheltered from the ocean swell on most days, this epic spot to go snorkelling in Sydney provides serious diversity with everything from large schools of mullet and trevally to small harmless sharks such as dusky whalers and wobbegongs. You might even see a hawksbill turtle if you’re lucky.

a freediver diving beneath Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve

Lush underwater sanctuaries at Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve will take your breath away. (Image: Destination NSW)

On Shelly Beach itself you’ll find bathrooms, showers and electric barbecues plus The Boathouse Shelly Beach, which dishes up a delicious breakfast and lunch and a range of killer cocktails. If you fancy sitting back and letting an expert take the lead out there, try Eco Treasures who offer a two-hour guided snorkelling tour that includes a nature walk and all your gear.

a crested horn shark at Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly

Stumble upon a crested horn shark. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Clovelly Beach, Clovelly

What it offers: Sensational snorkelling for beginners due to its protected waters, plus plenty of gropers and young fish varieties, rock lobsters and prawns.

Getting there: There’s free on-street parking around the beach in addition to a carpark on the southern side that’s about 100 metres from the water.

an aerial view of Clovelly Beach, Clovelly

Clovelly Beach is one of Sydney’s best kept secrets.

The underwater topography is quite dramatic under the lip of the Clovelly Ocean Pool’s edge, located on the southern side of this hot spot. Big boulders harbour giant cuttlefish and sponges.

waves crashing to rocky ridges on Clovelly Beach

Walk along the edge of the rocky ridges at Clovelly Beach. (Image: Andy Wang)

If you’re up for a bit of a journey (strong swimmers only and only attempt when glassily flat), you can explore more of the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve by snorkelling around the point to Gordons Bay. Along the way, you might come face to face with the region’s famous 1.2-metre blue grouper Bluey.

Take a break away from the city noise at Gordons Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)

Clovelly is a reassuring place for novices and there’s great facilities nearby including Sea Salt, a cafe steaming up great coffee, food and booze, picnic tables, a toilet block and showers.

Bask in tranquility at Clovelly Beach. (Image: Andy Wang)

3. Fairlight Beach, Fairlight

What it offers: Beginner level snorkelling due to its shallow slope from the beach towards the water making it super easy to enter. There’s also sea slugs and a variety of fish species.

Getting there: There’s limited street parking on Woods Parade. Otherwise, walking from Manly Wharf along Fairlight Walk takes just under 15 minutes.

a view of Fairlight Rock Pool, Fairlight Beach, Fairlight

Plunge into the Fairlight Rock Pool next to the beach.

Being so close to the shore, the long, protected reef on the North Harbour side of Manly makes Fairlight a great introduction to snorkelling for kids. You can swim out a fair distance and still be in three or four feet of water before the shelf ultimately drops off. Look out for kelp fish and John Dory. Snorkelling is at its best in the morning and afternoon with a favourable northerly wind.

There are showers and toilets on the beach, plus there’s an ocean pool to relax in once you’re done bobbing for sea life.

panoramic views of Fairlight Beach from Balgowlah Heights

Balgowlah Heights offers panoramic views of Fairlight Beach.

4. The Basin Campground, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

What it offers: An inland lagoon filled with calm conditions and an array of fish and sea life.

Getting there: You can bushwalk in from West Head Carpark and camp at the Basin or get the ferry across from Palm Beach.

Avoid the crowds and head to The Basin Campground on the eastern shores of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on Pittwater. Upstream, the estuary is protected by a shark net so you can watch the tides go in and out along the seagrass beds with little worry. There are plenty of smaller tropical species in the warmer months but also keep your eyes peeled for seahorses, small cuttlefish and schools of rays.

The campground sells ice and firewood if you choose to stay overnight at this Sydney snorkelling winner and there’s also toilets, cold showers, picnic tables and barbecues to take advantage of while you’re visiting.

The Basin at Pittwater in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Admire underwater sceneries at the inland lagoon of The Basin Campground. (Image: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW)

5. Bare Island, La Perouse

What it offers: Shallow depths and awesome visibility that attract eager divers, plus rarer fish species including pineapple fish and red Indian fish, and octopus.

Getting there: It’s located at the south end of Anzac Parade and there’s street parking but be prepared to lug your gear down to the water because it’s not exactly close.

an aerial view of Blak Markets on Bare Island, La Perouse

Traverse the stilted walkway to Blak Markets on Bare Island, La Perouse. (Image: Destination NSW)

You might recognise Bare Island from Mission: Impossible 2 (that motorbike zooming onto the island scene) but snorkelling here is a much more calming experience.

In its tranquil conditions, nooks around the island’s less-exposed coves are ideal for both beginners and the more experienced. On any one day you might come across sea slugs, sponge gardens and pineapple fish or perhaps an octopus or two. Keep an eye out for one of the resident turtles, though they’re hard to spot.

What you will always find, however, are shops, a children’s playground and public toilets right near the island.

an aerial view of Bare Island, La Perouse

Spot resident turtles on Bare Island, La Perouse. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell, Botany Bay

What it offers: Stingray spotting plus sea dragons, seahorses, octopuses and a variety of fish species.

Getting there: Once you get to the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, which offers plenty of parking, walk north along the beach until you arrive at Captain Cook’s Landing Place near Silver Beach.

colourful coral reefs in Kurnell, Sydney

See colourful coral reefs beneath the calm waters of Kurnell. (Image: Destination NSW)

At Botany Bay’s southern entrance, Kurnell is perhaps the most underrated snorkelling location in Sydney, harbouring the largest congregation of weedy sea dragons, which looks a lot like a seahorse, in Australia.

a weedy seadragon located in coastal waters off Kurnell in South Sydney

Kurnell is home to diverse marine species like weedy sea dragons. (Image: Destination NSW)

Captain Cook’s first stomping ground is one of the most diverse underwater communities on the city’s coast, home to moray eels, Port Jackson sharks and loads more. Occasionally, you may be surprised by an Antarctic fur seal or two, too.

a blue groper in coastal waters off Kurnell, Sydney

Dive into the depths of Kurnell to spot more sea creatures. (Image: Destination NSW)

Try Silver Beach for an easy entry point. There are a bunch of cafes and restaurants to be found along Captain Cook Drive which is within walking distance from Captain Cook’s Landing Place.

an aerial view of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell, Botany Bay

Explore beneath the vast seascape of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Freshwater Beach, Freshwater

What it offers: Blue gropers, large schools of fish and other fish varieties.

Getting there: A walk north up the hill from Manly, Freshwater Beach is found on Ocean View Road and there’s a carpark plus some street parking.

an overhead shot of Freshwater Beach, Freshwater

Witness the ripples gently hitting the rocks on Freshwater Beach. (Image: Aaron Birch)

There’s really nice snorkelling off Freshy but the caveat is that you really have to check sea conditions to make sure waves aren’t breaking heavily on the rocks. Look out for a southerly, too.

When it’s calm, park up in the car park, stroll down to the beach and walk around the swimming pool and enter at the inflow (keep the rocks to your left). There are loads of schooling fish such as king fish to keep you focused.

There are public toilets at the beach plus an eight-lane saltwater ocean pool at the north end. You’ll also find a feed at one of the cafes that overlook the beach.

an aerial view of beachgoers on Freshwater Beach, Freshwater

Laze around the cream-coloured sand of Freshwater Beach. (Image: Adam Krowitz)

8. Chowder Bay at Clifton Gardens Reserve, Mosman

What it offers: Decorator crabs and sponges plus loads of fish species, seahorses, barnacles and oysters.

Getting there: Travel by car and park along Chowder Bay Road to avoid having to pay for metered parking at the public car park at Clifton Gardens.

A colourful world of underwater life can be found shacked up along the jetty, sea floor and pylons at Chowder Bay, accessible via Clifton Gardens Reserve. Navigate its slow-paced waters to spot decorator crabs, Eastern Fiddler Rays, large schools of fish, two species of seahorses and the zebra-striped Old Wife Fish.

There’s also a bunch of shellfish to sniff out. Once you’re done, take a carefree dip in the netted area, one of Sydney’s best secret swimming spots. You’ll also find a children’s playground, toilet block and barbecues in the area.

9. Malabar Beach, Malabar

What it offers: Two shipwrecks, octopuses, a smorgasbord of fish species and the occasional ray.

Getting there: There’s some street parking along Dacre Street and Bay Parade but if you can’t find a spot, try the parking bay on Fisherman’s Drive.

a pathway at Malabar Headland National Park Coastal Walk

Follow beach route from Malabar Headland National Park Coastal Walk.

Protected by cliffs at either ends, Malabar Beach offers family-friendly snorkelling in Sydney. It also draws the diving crowd thanks to its two individual shipwrecks which crashed in 1931 and 1955. While diving does offer the ultimate vantage point, snorkelling can provide glimpses of the historical sites.

But if it’s action you seek, you’ll be far more impressed by the vivid sea life dotted with fish and larger scene-stealers. Change rooms, public toilets, showers and a fenced playground are all located nearby.

Fiery hues paint the sky over Malabar Beach.

10. Oak Park, Cronulla

What it offers: Gropers, cuttlefish, octopuses and a variety of rays — if you’re lucky.

Getting there: There’s on-street parking along Ewos Parade. Once you’ve found a spot, head down the Esplanade Walkway on the Cronulla Peninsula.

As pretty as Oak Park is, flipper straight towards the crescent-shaped wall to find some of the best snorkelling in Sydney.

You’ll lose yourself in the fascinating sponge gardens as well as a plethora of vividly hued fish species. Stay alert for rays too, though they’re quite challenging to find (making it all the more fun), and don’t be surprised to catch a groper shuffling at your tail.

The park itself features public toilets, barbecues, a small playground, showers and change rooms.

11. Wattamolla Beach, Royal National Park

What it offers: A picture-perfect waterfall as an idyllic backdrop plus schools of fish, Port Jackson sharks and a rainbow of sponges.

Getting there: Once you’re in the Royal National Park, follow the signs to the Wattamolla Beach parking areas. It’s about a 400-metre walk to the water from there.

people enjoying at Wattamolla Beach, Royal National Park

Go frolicking on Wattamolla Beach. (Image: Dee Kramer Photography)

Snorkelling in Sydney doesn’t get much prettier than this. Wattamolla Beach at the southern tip of the city offers still, clear waters in a sheltered lagoon for novices to explore.

Got plenty of experience under your belt? Venture further into the ocean as you hunt for harmless wobbegong and Port Jackson sharks, rays and a myriad of brightly coloured sponges and sea squirts. Make a day of it by bringing lunch and enjoying it in the nearby picnic area where you’ll find barbecues and toilets.

people enjoying swimming at Wattamolla, Royal National Park S

Have a picnic with your family at Wattamolla Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

Keep reading our epic list of things to do in Sydney for more inspiration.

Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

Hotel stays have quietly become my thing. Long before I became a travel journalist, I was booking staycations just for a change of scenery. Some had charm, some had character, some had neither. Once, I even stayed in a hotel directly opposite my own apartment – partly for the novelty, partly because I wanted to see my life from a different angle.

For me, hotels represent a kind of mystery – I find myself wanting to know what these buildings contain. Many of them are designed with intention: lighting, materials, scent and sounds that often reflect the city they sit in. Time seems to gently pause in these spaces, which have increasingly become the destination itself for modern travellers.

It only felt fitting for the first hotel in this series to be in my home city and at the hotel that’s been at the top of my list: Capella Sydney.

A sandstone heritage building and palm trees

Capella sits within an Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building.

An email with a hotel program from the “Culturist Team” lets me know this will be a luxurious stay. There’s a guided walk around the Botanic Gardens, a weaving workshop and a Sydney contemporary art tour – the kind of addition that signals a hotel that’s tuned into the finer details, and one that’s not surprising given that Capella’s ethos centres on delivering personalised, immersive experiences.

Capella opened in 2023 within a transformed Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building in Sydney’s CBD that was originally designed by renowned Scottish-Australian architect George McRae. I often walk past this building and once attended an event inside – I distinctly remember being surprised by how beautiful it was. Bar Studio, Make Architects, and stylist Simone Haag were engaged to sensitively adapt the building for contemporary luxury while honouring its past, in collaboration with Heritage NSW and the City of Sydney.

When I arrive, I’m greeted by three different staff members along the way to reception. There’s a lovely subtle scent, which I later learn combines notes of bergamot, green tea leaves, peony, freesia, vetiver and cedarwood. This hotel strikes such a beautiful balance between grandness and intimacy, with large floral bouquets, contemporary artworks, impressively high ceilings that give it an international feel and quieter nooks to unwind in. Each space is unique, but they’re all unified by a warm, textural and layered design.

Sydney has been deserving of a hotel of this calibre for quite some time, with many of the accommodations in the city looking and feeling dated.

A modern hotel reception with high ceilings

The design strikes the perfect balance between grandness and intimacy.

I have a treatment booked at the hotel’s Auriga Spa prior to check-in. The space is ultra-luxe, moodily lit and intimate, featuring timber joinery, green walls and a sleek design that’s so perfect it almost transports me to Japan. I opt for the Replenish Beauty and LED Facial – a strategic choice with a TV segment on the horizon, and a hopeful bid to look extra fresh for the camera.

The treatment begins with me sitting in the softest robe of my life, wearing slippers and sipping chamomile tea. I’m then whisked away to my private treatment room, which has its own bathroom, a large skylight and a small Japanese-style garden. The treatment is extremely relaxing and moves through cleansing, exfoliating, massaging (arm, head, neck and face) and LED Light Therapy. There’s so much attention to detail – even at the end, the facialist puts my slippers back on me, while I’m still lying down.

Spa treatment room with a massage bed, featuring timber walls and a serene Japanese-style garden visible through a window.

A treatment at Auriga Spa might be the best way I’ve ever started a hotel stay. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

While this treatment certainly hasn’t had a Benjamin Button effect, my sister seems to think I’m glowing, so I walk away happy, or at the very least, zen.

Auriga Spa has a sauna, steam room, ice fountain and a beautiful indoor heated swimming pool. There’s also “experiential showers” – new to me, but essentially it combines water flowing from different places, changing temperatures, mood lighting, gentle sounds, and a subtle lemongrass scent.

You could easily spend the better part of a day at the spa and pool, even if you’re not a guest.

The indoor heated swimming pool with glass ceiling at Capella Sydney.

Guests outside the hotel can use the spa and swimming pool. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

I’m escorted to my room, drunk on relaxation, but I make sure to take note of how noisy the hallways are – answer: dead quiet. My room is 50 square metres, which is huge by hotel standards, but particularly for one in the CBD. It feels like a high-end apartment with floorboards, a freestanding bath and a seating/dining area. My eyes are immediately drawn to the line-up of macarons waiting for me on the dining table.

I’m thrilled to see the mini bar armoire includes a small wine fridge stocked with Minuty Prestige Côtes de Provence, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Handpicked Wines Pinot Noir, and Moët Grand Vintage. Not that I plan on using it (I simply could not justify the prices) – but it’s a nice extra that makes the room feel that much more luxurious. The drinks lineup reads like a who’s-who of local favourites – Young Henrys, Maybe Sammy cocktails, Four Pillars gin and Archie Rose gin. Snacks include Tyrell’s chips, Pringles, Natural Confectionery lollies, and a Carman’s oat bar.

Some small touches I appreciate that some hotels don’t offer: the option to choose your housekeeping time, an iron that actually works well, a Bluetooth speaker, the beloved wine fridge, aluminium water bottles and a bathroom without a glass door or screen that awkwardly exposes you. The one downside is that some of these rooms don’t offer much in the way of a view.

A modern hotel room with a monochrome paletter.

I stayed in a Premier Room which was elegant and relaxing. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

4:30pm is Swill Hour – a daily tradition that nods to the historical “six o’clock swill” in Australia. This one-hour event takes place in the Living Room and invites guests to gather and enjoy each other’s company with a signature cocktail in hand. This afternoon’s tipple is a Eucalyptus Gimlet, a clever, herbaceous little cocktail, by the multi-award-winning Maybe Sammy Team, served on coasters depicting drawings of the historic building. The canapé of the day is a tomato and stracciatella tart. I noticed several staff members chatting with guests like old friends, asking how their adventures earlier in the day went – clearly remembering previous conversations from earlier visits.

Dinner is booked for 6:30pm in Aperture – arguably the most beautiful area of the accommodation. It’s decorated with Australian flora and features a kinetic sculpture hanging from the roof that opens like flowers, with softly changing lights. Tyler, who is serving us, clearly admires the Capella brand, speaking enthusiastically about the other international properties he’s been to and sharing how he sometimes brings his five-year-old daughter here to use the pool.

Interior of Aperture at Capella Sydney, featuring lush greenery and a striking ceiling-mounted sculpture.

The scale of Aperture gives it an international feel.

I kick things off with a basil melon margarita – a winning recommendation – before tucking into the best prawn toast I’ve ever had. For mains it’s crispy Ōra King salmon and spaghetti with mud crab.

When I arrive back at my room, there’s a vegan leather journal on my bed with a note that says: “The ritual of journaling allows us to pause, reflect and focus.” This is part of the turndown service, and my slippers are neatly lined up next to my bed. Will I journal? No. Do I think it’s a nice touch? Yes.

Brasserie 1930 at Capella Sydney, where Art Deco elegance meets contemporary Australian cuisine.

Brasserie 1930 boasts Art Deco elegance.

The next morning, I make the predictable choice of smashed avo for breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Brasserie 1930. There’s also a buffet brimming with all the usual suspects.

Afterwards, I head to the pool to relax for a few hours before the 11am checkout. Despite my earlier resolve not to journal, I find myself reflecting nonetheless – an irony not lost on me – on my 21st hotel stay in Sydney. I write this with growing assurance that great hotels don’t just provide a place to stay; they create memorable moments, thanks in large part to fantastic staff. Kudos to the hiring manager.

Next stop: The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart!

The 11 best snorkelling spots in Sydney