Where to stay at Clovelly Beach
A narrow, sheltered bay between two rocky ridges, more ocean pool than surf beach. Great for snorkelling and calm swims. Nowhere to sleep in Clovelly itself; the nearest beds are over the hill towards Coogee.
There’s no hotel or hostel at Clovelly itself. The closest places to stay are Little Coogee Hotel and Coogee Studio Apartments, on the ridge between Clovelly and Coogee: an 11-minute walk to the sand, with a 40 m climb home. When we checked, they were $100–$116 a night. The north-Coogee hostels are 20–22 minutes away.
At a glance
- 8 km south-east of the CBD
- bus from the city · no train
- patrolled all year
- snorkelling · 25 m saltwater pool
A calm bay with no beds beside it.
Clovelly is a small beach at the end of a narrow bay between two rocky ridges. A breakwater at the mouth keeps the water calm, and concrete promenades with steps run along both sides, so it works more like a big ocean pool than a surf beach.
When we checked, nobody ran a hotel or hostel in Clovelly; the Clovelly Hotel is a pub. The nearest places to stay are on the ridge towards Coogee and along the north end of Coogee Beach, and every walk to Clovelly crosses that ridge.
Where to stay
Every place on the map, closest first. Real businesses; nobody paid to be here.
| Map number | Place | Price a night | Walk to the sand | Climb home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coogee Studio ApartmentsApartments | $100–200 | 11 min walk · 862 m | 40 m |
| 2 | Little Coogee HotelHotel | $100–200 | 11 min walk · 892 m | 40 m |
| 3 | Coogee Sands Hotel and ApartmentsApartments | Not checked | 19 min walk · 1,528 m | 45 m |
| 4 | Coogee Beach HouseHostel | Under $100 | 20 min walk · 1,582 m | 50 m |
| 5 | Mad Monkey Coogee BeachHostel | Under $100 | 22 min walk · 1,780 m | 50 m |
How we measure. Times are walking times, not driving: the walking route from each property to the nearest edge of the sand, at an easy 4.8 km/h. Climb is the uphill on the walk home, rounded to 5 m. Prices are bands from one nightly rate on Google Maps on 9 October 2026.
Which end of the beach?
The bay
Steps lead down from the promenades into calm, clear water. It’s a popular snorkelling spot, and home to a large blue groper the locals call Bluey. It’s in the Bronte–Coogee Aquatic Reserve, so you can’t fish for groper or collect sea life.
Snowdrop Fairy / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia
The south side
The lowest platform holds a 25 by 6 metre saltwater pool. Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1906, and the big free car park are on this side.
Ben Prater / Pexels
The beach and park
The small beach is at the head of the bay, with Bundock Park right behind it: playground, barbecues and picnic shelters. A ramp on the northern side gives wheelchair access to the water.
Ben Prater / Pexels
The coastal walk passes Clovelly on its way from Bondi to Coogee; Gordons Bay is just south.
Dr Jorge Reyna / PexelsKnow before you go
How do you get to Clovelly?
From the city. There’s no train. Buses run from the city to Clovelly. Plan the trip on the Transport NSW trip planner.1,2
From Coogee. Walk north on the coastal path past Gordons Bay, or over the hill by the streets: about 1.5–2 km from the north end of Coogee Beach.3
From the airport. About 13 km by road. Most people with luggage take a taxi or rideshare.
Is Clovelly Beach safe?
Is Clovelly patrolled? Yes, all year. Randwick Council lifeguards patrol Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra all year round.4
Is Clovelly good for kids and older swimmers? It’s one of the calmest swims on the coast: the breakwater shelters the bay, and the council describes it as particularly popular with families and older swimmers. Watch the edges of the platforms when there’s swell.5
Shark nets Randwick’s shark nets are at Coogee and Maroubra, not Clovelly.6
Water quality after rain Stormwater runs into the bay after heavy rain. Check Beachwatch for the daily pollution forecast before you swim.7
With kids
Calm water behind the breakwater, and patrolled all year. Bundock Park, behind the beach, has a playground, barbecues and picnic shelters. A ramp on the northern side gives wheelchair access to the water.
The catch
- Nowhere to stay in Clovelly itself. Every bed on this page is over the ridge towards Coogee.
- Small. On a hot weekend the promenades and the little beach fill up.
- Not a surf beach: if you want waves, go to Bondi or Maroubra.
Quick answers
Can you snorkel at Clovelly?
- Yes. It’s a very popular snorkelling site, with plenty of sea life and a resident blue groper called Bluey.5
Is Clovelly Beach patrolled in winter?
- Yes. Randwick Council lifeguards patrol Clovelly all year round.4
Is there a pool at Clovelly?
- Yes: a 25 by 6 metre saltwater pool on the lowest platform on the southern side.5
Are there hotels in Clovelly?
- Not when we checked. The closest is Little Coogee Hotel, an 11-minute walk away on the ridge towards Coogee.
How far is Clovelly from Sydney CBD?
- About 8 km south-east of the CBD.1
Nearby beaches
Also close: Bronte (north on the coastal walk).
Ranked in: the best Sydney beaches for kids (#1), the calmest Sydney beaches for toddlers (#3), the best Sydney beaches for swimming (#1), the best Sydney beaches in winter (#4), the best Sydney beaches for snorkelling (#3).