Ocean pools on the eastern beaches: Sydney itinerary

Duration: 4 km along the cliffs, ~4 h (≈ 3 h 7 min: moving and stop time only)
Who it suits: Everyone
Transport: walk
Start: Clovelly Beach
Finish: Wylie's Baths
Pace: moderate pace
Best time: a weekday morning, when the water is calm
Budget per adult: almost free, a small fee at Wylie'sPrices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026

Getting there

Bus from Bondi Junction to Clovelly. A bus back to the city leaves from Coogee. Pay with a bank card.

The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.

1. Clovelly Beach~40 min at the stop
A narrow inlet that behaves more like a pool than a beach. Concrete edges, a mask and a local blue groper called Bluey.
Tip: Lifeguards patrol in summer. Snorkel gear hires from the beach.
Open on the map ↗
↓ walk · 12 min · 0.7 km
2. Gordons Bay~35 min at the stop
The next bay on the path. An underwater trail of drums on a chain. The club boats sit on the shore like a small harbour.
Worth knowing: The bay between Coogee and Clovelly is a marine reserve for shore dives. The walk around it is part of the coastal path.
Tip: No lifeguards. Leave the seafloor where it is. This is a reserve. Further along, Barzura at 62 Carr Street by Coogee Beach is open Monday to Saturday 7:00 to 21:00, and Sunday until 20:00.
Open on the map ↗
↓ walk · 18 min · 1.2 km
3. Giles Baths~30 min at the stop
The free ocean pool at the south end of Coogee. Concrete, rock and the people who live two blocks away.
Tip: Entry is free. McIver's Ladies Baths are next door, and they are for women only.
Open on the map ↗
↓ walk · 12 min · 0.7 km
4. Wylie's Baths~40 min at the stop
A timber deck over the ocean, open since 1907. People come to lie on the boards after the free pool.
Tip: A small entry fee. There is a kiosk on the deck. A bus back to the city leaves from Coogee.
Open on the map ↗

Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.