Summer in SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
The Royal National Park, south of Sydney, has some beautiful secluded beaches.
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Hidden within beautiful Sydney Harbour, tucked away in national parks and along Sydney’s glorious coastline, you‘ll find an abundance of beautiful secret beaches. With amazing views and soft sands perfect for relaxing and picnicking, seek out these Sydney beaches that are secluded, private and worth the adventure to find.
In Sydney’s south
Little Congwong Beach, La Perouse
The short, paved walk from the better-known Congwong Beach takes you to a secluded stretch of sand in the La Perouse section of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, a 30-minute drive south of the city centre. The calm water at this little beach makes it great for a snorkel or paddling with kids. Surrounded by lush vegetation, the cove feels miles away from the city, although there’s also easy access from a nearby road if you don’t want to walk from Congwong Beach, and there is plenty of parking nearby. Bring a beach umbrella, though, as there is limited shade. Little Congwong was previously an unofficial clothing-optional beach, although this is now discouraged.
La Perouse, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of La Perouse (Frenchmans Bay on the left - Congwong Bay on the right), Sydney.
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La Perouse, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of La Perouse (Frenchmans Bay on the left - Congwong Bay on the right), Sydney.
Oatley Park, Oatley
Combine a swim with a bush walk at Oatley Park, a 30-minute drive from the city centre in the leafy southern suburb of Oatley, near Hurstville. Here the 45-hectare bushland reserve hums with cockatoos and other birds drawn to the native flowers and trees, while the paved and unpaved walks through the bush offer lovely views of the Georges River. Head to Oatley Park Castle, a quirky sandstone lookout (complete with a solid sandstone parapet) built during the Great Depression, and you’ll see a sandy beach through the trees. This is Oatley Baths, a 200m-long netted swimming enclosure with change rooms and picnic tables. Swim a few long laps of the enclosure, or simply laze on the pontoon and watch the cockatoos fly overhead.
Oatley Baths, Oatley Credit: Mark Sariban
The river beach at Oatley Baths, in the southern Sydney suburb of Oatley.
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Oatley Baths, Oatley Credit: Mark Sariban
The river beach at Oatley Baths, in the southern Sydney suburb of Oatley.
Gunnamatta Park and Darook Park, Cronulla
Four famous surf beaches make up the long stretch of sand at Cronulla, a 50-minute drive south of central Sydney. But just a 10-minute walk from the café and shopping strip at the heart of this laid-back suburb you’ll find two calm estuary beaches on Gunnamatta Bay, on the Port Hacking River side of the Cronulla peninsula. Both beaches boast plenty of shade, particularly in the morning, and the only waves are generated by passing boats, making them perfect for families with young children.
At Gunnamatta Park you can swim in the bay or the netted tidal pool, enclosed by a picturesque wooden jetty. There’s a playground in the park, as well as toilets and change rooms. A couple of minutes’ drive further south, you’ll find an even more secluded beach at Darook Park. Here trees line the narrow strip of sand, casting shade right over the water in the morning, so you can minimise your sun exposure while still having a leisurely dip.
Burning Palms Beach, Royal National Park
There are some great little beaches in the Royal National Park, an hour’s drive south of Sydney. Garie and Wattamolla beaches are the most accessible, but there are plenty of others to seek out, including Burning Palms Beach. Park at Garie Beach and walk south along the Coast Track, past North and South Era beaches, or brave the steep 20-minute walk from Garawarra Farm car park. The northern end of the beach’s headland is dotted with historic beach shacks, built by miners from nearby Helensburgh in the 1930s. Note that the surf can be strong and the beach is not always patrolled.
Darook Park, Cronulla Credit: Mark Sariban
The sheltered beach at Darook Park, on Cronulla’s Gunnamatta Bay in southern Sydney.
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Darook Park, Cronulla Credit: Mark Sariban
The sheltered beach at Darook Park, on Cronulla’s Gunnamatta Bay in southern Sydney.
On Sydney’s Northern Beaches
Store Beach, Manly
There’s a beach on the harbour side of Manly‘s protected North Head that’s so secluded it’s only accessible by water. Store Beach was originally the site where ships would unload provisions for Sydney’s old Quarantine Station, which was used to isolate arriving passengers suspected of carrying infectious diseases. Now part of Sydney Harbour National Park, the quarantine buildings have been transformed into the Q Station boutique accommodation.
You can reach Store Beach via a challenging rock hop at low tide from nearby Collins Flat Beach, but most people make their way here by boat. Hire a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre and paddle your way there in about 20 minutes. Keep an eye out for little penguins, which use the reserve as a breeding ground.
Turimetta Beach, Narrabeen Head
Turimetta Beach, a 30-minute drive from Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is so secret it disappears at high tide. Low tide exposes a small stretch of sand, interesting rock formations and carvings. It’s bordered by Turimetta Head to the north and Narrabeen Head to the south, with access from the Bicentennial Coastal Walk or via the rock platform from Narrabeen Beach. Backed by steep cliffs, the beach is popular with surfers. It’s not patrolled and the surf is strong, but the south end’s large, flat rocks and rock pools are great for kids to explore.
Resolute Beach, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park Credit: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW
Resolute Beach looking towards Barrenjoey Headland, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park
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Resolute Beach, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park Credit: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW
Resolute Beach looking towards Barrenjoey Headland, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park
Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Deep in the heart of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, a 45-minute drive north of the city centre, the secluded, beautiful Resolute Beach is your reward for a steep walk along the Resolute Track. Resolute’s calm, clear water, densely forested fringes and views out to Pittwater and Barrenjoey Headland make it an idyllic spot you may have all to yourself.
The Resolute Track, which starts at the Resolute Picnic Area, passes through bushland and the famous Red Hands Cave with its Aboriginal handprints. You can also take a detour down some steep stairs to West Head Beach, which is just as secluded as Resolute, but more rocky.
Blue Pool, BermaguiCredit: Destination NSW
The scenic Blue Pool on the Bermagui coastline.
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You’ll find spectacular ocean pools dotted along the southern coastline of New South Wales. These handmade pools, fed by the ocean’s waves, are often built into the rocks near beautiful sandy beaches, can be hidden away along the coastline and are enjoyed mostly by locals. Ocean pools are great for kids learning how to swim, lap swimming and for a dip on the days when the waves are a little too big for your liking. Here’s where to find an ocean pool on the coast south of Sydney.
In the Illawarra
You’ll find many spectacular ocean pools in the Illawarra area, from south of the Royal National Park all the way through to the popular seaside town of Kiama. These include lovely pools at Coledale, Bulli, Towradgi, Port Kembla and North Wollongong.
Take the road through the Royal National Park to Stanwell Park and onto Coalcliff Beach, where the ocean pool is set against a dramatic backdrop of the escarpment.
Nuns Pool, at Flagstaff Point in Wollongong, is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to the 1830s. (The title of oldest ocean pool goes to the Bogey Hole in Newcastle, north of Sydney. It was built by convicts in 1819.) Located below the lighthouse, the Nuns Pool (formerly known as Chain Baths and used by the nuns of St Mary’s convent) sits in a small, sheltered cove and is accessed via a narrow path chiselled into the sandstone.
Further south at Kiama, the Blowhole Point Ocean Pool offers a safe swimming spot near the area’s famous blowhole, the largest in the world, on a headland near the town centre. This beautiful, hand-cut pool is an irregular shape and has a varied depth and rock bottom – it was also once a men-only bath. You can also take the 15-minute walk around Kiama Harbour from the blowhole to Black Beach Reserve. Here you can do 50-metre laps in the Olympic-size Continental Ocean Pool.
A 15-minute drive south of Kiama is the tiny coastal town of Gerringong. Head down to Gerringong’s Werri Beach for a swim at Ourie Ocean Pool, at the southern end of the beach. This rectangular pool, carved into a flat rock shelf, has a smooth concrete bottom and is perfect for a summer’s day dip.
Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
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Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
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Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
From the Illawarra to the Shoalhaven
Drive an hour further south into the Shoalhaven region and seek out Huskisson Sea Pool at Huskisson. This coastal town has a rich shipbuilding heritage, which you can explore at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum after your swim.
A 45-minute drive south of Huskisson brings you to Mollymook, where you’ll find the South Coast’s famous Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool on the headland south of the beach. There’s also a lovely ocean pool at Ulladulla, a five-minute drive further down the coast.
On the Sapphire Coast
One of the state’s most famous ocean pools is found at Bermagui, a little over five hours by car from Sydney, on the Sapphire Coast. Bermagui’s Blue Pool is revered as one of the prettiest, filled with azure-hued water fading to turquoise and green. At 50 metres long it makes for a great lap-swimming pool and there’s also a shallow wading pool, ideal for kids, just next to the pool.
One of the southernmost ocean pools on the NSW coastline is the Aslings Beach Rock Pool, a hidden gem carved into the pink-and-white cliffs at Aslings Beach in Eden, a six-hour drive from Sydney. It’s only a short walk from town, but its low profile makes it hard to spot from further down the beach. Make your way over the rocks from the beach and take a dip at low tide before the waves have a chance to deposit any seaweed.
Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
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Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.
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Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.