A Guide to Sydney Harbour Beaches #2

In my last blog I went through 13 harbour beaches in Sydney Northern Beaches. Let's continue and I will go through more harbour beaches in Sydney Lower North Shore.

Again, all these photos were taken by me and no photoshops were needed (they are just naturally beautiful).

Chinamans Beach is named after the Chinese market gardens near the beach in the 1800s. Despite the racist name, it is now one of the most expensive localities in Sydney. Ironically it attracts many wealthy Chinese immigrants, who either don't understand English well enough to know the offensive connotation, or maybe they bought their multimillion dollar trophy homes here as a defiant act to reclaim the area.

Anyway, the beach and the adjacent park is a tranquil haven. It is less busy than the nearby Balmoral Beach. However, as it is located right opposite to Clontarf Beach, similarly the water may not be as clean.

My rating: ★★★

Balmoral Beach and the adjacent Edwards Beach are the crown jewels of Lower North Shore in Sydney. The two beaches are connected and most people just call it Balmoral. Here the sand is white and soft, and the water is usually calm and clean. There is a U-shaped swimming enclosure favoured by kids jumping into the water. The boatshed next to it offers boat and kayak rentals. The rotunda, built during the Great Depression time with government grants, is a local landmark and a popular spot for wedding photos. There are also many fine dining restaurants, posh cafés and a (overpriced) fish-and-chips shop next to the beach.

The major drawback is that Balmoral attracts people all over Sydney and can get very crowded especially on summer weekends, and the traffic and parking is horrendous during the peak season. So if you do plan for a visit, please do not drive. Take bus 114 from St Leonards train station or Crows Nest metro station, or bus 238 from Taronga Zoo Wharf, and it will bring you directly in front of the beach.

My rating: ★★★★★

Cobblers Beach is one of the three official nudist beaches in Sydney. The beach itself is small and disappears during high tide, but there is a lawn for sunbathing just above it. It is northwest facing and enjoys plenty of afternoon sun. Because it is tucked away in a bay, the water can sometimes be stale. But most other time it is a beautiful beach especially if you enjoy baring it all.

To get there, catch bus 111 from South Mosman Wharf or Mosman Junction. Once getting off at the Middle Head Oval, there is either a 5-minute steep shortcut (not recommended unless you are fit) or a 10-minute walking track down to the beach.

My rating: ★★★★

Obelisk Beach is another official nudist beach near Cobblers in the Middle Head. This is the gay beach while Cobblers is straight. However, the distinction between gay and straight is becoming blurred these days. Often women, families, anglers, or Asian tour groups venture into the beach (as if they are visiting the zoo), and then the gays would put their swimming briefs back on or go to Cobblers instead. A new walking track has just been built around the beach recently, making the area more accessible and less secluded. So Obelisk is less "natural" than Cobblers by comparison.

The condition of Obelisk Beach (and most other beaches) depends highly on the weather, wind and current. It can be paradise one day and hell the next, with rubbish and bluebottles (Portuguese man o' war) invading the beach. Luckily in such case, Cobblers is usually fine (and vice versa) as they are on the opposite side of the harbour.

My rating: ★★★★

Chowder Bay Beach and the adjacent Clifton Gardens Reserve is popular with people having barbeques and playing with their dogs. It is also popular with divers and there is a seahorse breeding program on the swimming net. There is a long jetty with many people fishing from it. I have never swum here though, the anglers and their baits do not make this beach very appealing for swimming, and then there are many other amazing beaches nearby.

Again, catch bus 111 all the way to the Chowder Bay terminal and the beach is just down the stairs.

My rating: ★★★

Taylors Bay Beach is a tiny beach along the Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay walking track. I don't think anyone would swim here. It is probably more for boats and dogs and rock fishing.

My rating: ★

There are two beaches in Bradleys Head, a small one next to the amphitheatre facing the city, and a bigger one facing east is named "Bradleys Head Fishing Spot" on Google Map. I cannot find the proper names for these two beaches on any map. Both are not suitable for swimming as there are many sharp rocks and strong water current. But the view is magnificent.

My rating: ★★

Athol Beach is in Bradleys Head towards the Taronga Zoo Wharf. The beach has a great view and is frequented by many boats. It can get quite busy on the weekends, kind of ruining the ambience.

My rating: ★★★

Whiting Beach is on the other side of Taronga Zoo Wharf. Again it is popular with party boats and it can get noisy and rowdy on summer weekends. There are also frequent ferries coming in and out next to the beach. Otherwise it is a pleasant beach with city view.

My rating: ★★★

Sirius Cove Beach is definitely not suitable for swimming unless you are desperate. During low tide, the muddy sea floor is exposed and it can get a bit smelly. Many owners unleash their dogs and let them swim here.

My rating: ★★

Hayes Street Beach is located in Neutral Bay next to the ferry wharf. It is well hidden away from the public. The only access is via a staircase underneath an apartment building (there is a sign though). With its proximity to the CBD and ferry wharf, the water here is usually polluted and not suitable for swimming. However, on a good day, many locals would have a quick dip here before or after work.

My rating: ★★

This concludes the second blog covering all harbour beaches in Sydney Lower North Shore. In the next and final blog, I will cover the beaches in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs, so stay tuned.