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Sirius Cove Reserve and Beach Mosman

April 28, 2021 / Beaches, Dog-Friendly Sydney, Outdoor Play, Pets, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Sirius Cove Reserve and Beach Mosman

Sirius Cove Reserve in Mosman, on Sydney’s lower north shore, is a dog and kid-friendly oasis with a calm beach, shady playground and grassy picnic space.

Sirius Cove Reserve is a dog-friendly hideaway in the suburb of Mosman in Sydney’s lower north shore. Often referred to as Little Sirius Cove, this charming natural treasure boasts a quiet beach, a playground and a large picnic area.

This peaceful paradise is an oasis for families and even for well behaved doggos. Sirius Cove is the perfect spot for both kids and dogs to enjoy a splash in the ocean.

Named after HMS Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet that arrived in New South Wales at the end of the 18th century, the reserve is located just west of Taronga Zoo. With a huge, grassy area including picnic tables, shady trees, a fenced and shaded children’s playground, drinking fountain and a toilet/shower block, Sirius Cove is a popular spot for locals to spend their weekends.

Sirius Cove beach is 250m wide and surrounded by a sandstone wall. It faces south into a deep bay that flows into Sydney Harbour. As a result of its sheltered location, the water is very calm. There is a large sandbar that extends right out from the shore, making it shallow enough for kids and dogs to walk out onto.

Unleashed dogs are permitted in the park, on the beach and in the water all day from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays this is restricted to non-peak hours before 9am and after 4pm. Dogs are permitted on-leash the rest of the time.

While these rules are in place, when we visited on a weekend at around 10am, ours was the only pooch in the park on a leash.

Sirius Cove is also a great starting point for walking trails that head to Taronga Zoo Wharf, Bradleys Head and Chowder Bay, or to Cremorne Point.

It’s also a great starting point for the walking trail going east to Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head and Chowder Bay, or going west to Cremorne Point.

If you take the Taronga Zoo Wharf trail, it will take you past the “Curlew Camp Artist’s Walk”. Curlew Camp was a famous gathering spot for artists, writers and musicians in the late 19th century.

The camp was located just around the corner of Sirius Cove, at Little Sirius Cove. The camp was ultimately abandoned in 1912 when the area was chosen to build the new Taronga Zoo.

Sirius Cove has a designated parking area, however this often reaches full capacity especially on weekends. parking then overflows into the free street parking nearby.

You can also catch the ferry to South Mosman and Mosman Bay wharves west of Sirius Cove, and Taronga Zoo wharf east of Sirius Cove and take the 20min hike to arrive at the Cove.

Buses also service the area. Check the bus timetable on the NSW Transport Info website.

Sirius Cove
Sirius Cove Road, Mosman

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Visit Camp Cove Beach at Watsons Bay, Sydney

January 29, 2021 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Camp Cove Beach

Take a dip at Camp Cove, a short stroll from Watsons Bay ferry wharf. Millionaire views and calm water make for a delightful beach outing.

Camp Cove is a wheelchair-accessible beach located on the harbour side of South Head. Its calm waters attract families, while adults love the stunning city views and underwater aquatic life – octopus, cuttlefish, frogfish and the occasional seahorse can be found in the water for divers, while there is good snorkelling round the rocks.

Parking is extremely limited and in summer this tiny beach is very popular, so if you’re intending to head here, arrive very, very early to secure street parking.

There is very little shade on Camp Cove Beach, so as well as packing your picnic blanket and towels, I recommend a beach umbrella or tent. We have a small tent that folds up in the boot of our car and is the size of a large beach frisbee.

As the water is so calm, it’s a great spot to bring a boogie board or kayak for a paddle.

There is a small kiosk at the entrance to Camp Cove Beach selling snacks and drinks. It’s a longer walk to a proper cafe however, so BYO food.

There are shower facilities, and toilets are located at Green Point Reserve at the southern end.

Dogs are prohibited at all times.

If you have time, take the South Head Heritage trail, starts at the northern end of the beach. The walk has stunning scenery and also lets visitors take in the unique history of the area.

Camp Cove Beach was a place where the local Aboriginal community found fish and shellfish. There are rock engravings in the area depicting a range of marine creatures including whales and fish, and a a rock shelter at the northern end of the Camp Cove Beach that shows evidence of habitation by the local Aboriginal people.

European history at Camp Cove Beach begins in 1788, when Governor Phillip and the First Fleet rested here for a night before landing at Sydney Cove. A fishery was set up nearby in 1792 to help feed the new settlement at Sydney Cove.

Camp Cove Beach
23B Victoria Street, Watsons Bay

Get more information about Camp Cove Beach.

Find the best Sydney beaches for kids.

Find more things to do in Watson’s Bay.

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Take A Dip In The Jellybean Pool in the Blue Mountains National Park

January 28, 2021 / Australia, Beaches, Blue Mountains, Bush, Glenbrook, NSW, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Jellybean Pool Blue Mountains

Enjoy a refreshing dip in the Jellybean Pool, a short stroll down the Jellybean Track in Glenbrook, at the base of the Blue Mountains. The pool makes for a perfect Blue Mountains day trip with kids, who will love swimming in the calm waters.

Located inside the Blue Mountains National Park, the Jellybean Pool is a relaxing spot to swim, watch birds or picnic on the shore. There is a large parking lot which fills quickly on hot days, and an overflow car park which has a steep walk down to the start of the trail.

From the parking lot the Jellybean Track is a 500m walk downhill to the Jellybean Pool. The walk is graded a 3 as it is steep and slippery in places with sand.

An $8 park entry fees applies – you will be charged as you drive into the Blue Mountains National Park. You can also leave your car at the Glenbrook Information Centre at the Starting at the Glenbrook entrance to Blue Mountains National Park and walk from there for a more challenging walk.

The Blue Mountains National Park is open from the first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April 8.30am to 7pm, and the rest of the year 8.30am to 6pm.

When visiting the Jellybean Pool pack sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, towels and any food and water you might need. Floatation devices are fun as the water is so flat. You will see boogie boards, pool floats and even paddle boards down there. Remember it’s a walk through the bush to get to the pool and pack appropriate footwear.

The Jellybean Track winds through the Glenbrook Gorge, past pretty mountain spotted gums, down to the river. There is a lot of birdlife in the area so keep eyes peeled for kestrels and other birds of prey, rainbow lorikeets and even blue kingfishers.

The water is shallow and perfect for littlies to paddle in safely. Up river the water gets deeper.

There are no bathrooms at the Jellybean Pool, or rubbish bins, so prepare accordingly and take your rubbish with you.

The pool gets extremely popular in summer so go early. We arrived at around 10am and it was a little busy but still plenty of parking available.

Keep a close eye on small children. Remember there are no life guards present and keep a close eye on kids in the water.

After a swim, we highly recommend the 30min drive to Red Hands Cave to see amazing Aboriginal hand prints and stencils.

Get more information on the Jellybean Track and Jellybean Pool.

Find more things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Jellybean Pool
Hours: 8.30am–7pm during daylight savings; 8.30am–6pm the rest of the year.

Distance: From the Jellybean Pool car park it’s about a 200m walk downhill including steel stairs (about a 10-minute walk).

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Visiting Greenwich Baths, Sydney

January 22, 2021 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Visiting Greenwich Baths, Sydney

Enjoy an ocean dip at Greenwich Baths. With calm water, stunning views and an onsite cafe, the Baths are the perfect spot for swimmers of all ages.

Greenwich Baths is located on the tip of Greenwich Point. Surrounded by a shark-proof net and a child-proof gate, the Baths are the perfect spot for families to relax as well as adults to swim laps in the gentle ocean water.

The Baths are ideally located in a protected inlet, so the water is calm and flat, but the surrounding views of Sydney CBDm Cockatoo Island and Iron Cove are spectacular.

Bathers pay a small fee to enter and use the facilities inside, which include a cafe, toys for sand play, sun-loungers and picnic tables. The cafe serves coffee and solid meals including fish and chips, toasted sandwiches and calamari, as well as snacks, milkshakes and gelato.

Change rooms and shower facilities are also included in the entry fee. Kids under 3 are free.

There is free parking on the surrounding streets however it is limited and there is a bit of a walk to get down to the Baths from the street. Wollstonecraft station is a short walk. Another option is the 265 bus or by taking the Sydney Ferries Woolwich/Balmain ferry route to Greenwich Point which docks metres away from the Baths.

Greenwich Baths
Albert Street, Greenwich NSW
Cost: Casual entry adults $4.40, children under 16/students $3.40
Phone: 02 9438 5922
Hours: October 7am- 6pm, November 7am- 7pm, December & January 7am- 8pm, February 7am- 7pm, March 7am- 6pm, April 7am- 5pm
greenwichbaths.com.au

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Gordons Bay Clovelly: Sydney’s Best Beaches

August 4, 2020 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Gordons Bay Clovelly: Sydney’s Best Beaches

Gordons Bay is a secluded beach in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Teaming with sea life and protected by an offshore reef, the calm bay is a popular spot for snorkelers and divers.

Located between Clovelly Beach and Coogee Beach, Gordons Bay (sometimes referred to as Gordon’s bay or Gordon Bay) is a bit tricky to reach. Access is limited to pedestrians via the Cliffbrook Parade coastal walk or the surrounding neighborhood streets.

We entered via Thorpe Street, walking down a long flight of stairs to join the coastal walk, which you can see marked in green on Google Maps.

The coastal walk is a stunning and offers tantalising glimpses of Gordons Bay below, plus a beautiful array of native plants.

Access to the beach itself is via stairs and a ramp. The beach is quite small and is surrounded by some interesting old wooden boat ramps.

The water is calm and quite shallow at the shore, but as there are no lifeguards here, keep an eye on small children.

Inside the aquatic reserve are a wide range of fish. There are 18 species who are commonly seen including; blue gropers, stingarees, old wives, drummer, luderick, goatfish and mados. There is a legendary groper “bluey” who lives in the bay.

If you are into snorkeling or diving, try the self-guided Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail. The 600m trail takes about 40 minutes to complete. There are concrete drums linked with a chain to form the trail, and steel plaques with info on them to guide you.

We visited in winter and as it was too cold to swim, enjoyed instead climbing the rocks. There are some beautiful little caves to discover.

If you want to visit a cafe, I highly recommend nearby Gordon’s. It is a walkable from Gordons Bay and extremely kid-friendly.

Read more about visiting Gordon’s Cafe.

If you need a bathroom, the closest public toilets are south at Coogee Beach or north at Clovelly Beach.

Tips On Visiting La Perouse Beaches

February 5, 2020 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Tips On Visiting La Perouse Beaches

La Perouse is located at the northern headland of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, near Maroubra. Named after a French explorer who landed on the northern shore of Botany Bay, to the west of Bare Island in 1788, La Perouse has great walks, restaurants, historic sites and sheltered beaches.

The traditional owners of this land, the Aboriginal people, lived in this area thousands of years before the First Fleet arrived.

La Perouse Beaches

Frenchmans Bay

The most family-friendly of the La Perouse beaches, Frenchman Bay is located at the eastern end Botany Bay.

A sheltered, calm bay, Frenchmans Bay has easy access from the street and plenty of off-street parking nearby.

There are plenty of shops and restaurants located right across the road from the beach. We loved The Boat Shed, which is extremely family-friendly and located above Frenchmans Bay.

There is a reserve behind the beach with a newly-built children’s playground and public toilets.

There is very little shade on the beach, so a beach tend or umbrella are a good idea.

Be warned that the beach is not patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers.

Congwong Beach

Another calm La Perouse beach, Congwong Beach is a sheltered bay located inside the Botany Bay National Park.

To access Congwong Beach, follow the track that leads down from the car park.

Read more about visiting Congwong Beach.

Little Congwong Beach

Little Congwong Beach is a further 600m down the same track that leads to Congwong Beach. Take in and out any food and rubbish that you have with you – there are no rubbish bins available. The nearest public toilets are located at the start of the track that leads to

Once considered an unofficial nudist beach, signs at the entrance to the track leading to Little Congwong Beach now aim to deter nudity.

Get more information on La Perouse Beaches below.

Get more info on Frenchmans Bay

Get more info on visiting Congwong Beach

Read about our experience visiting La Perouse and Bare Island

Get more info on visiting La Perouse

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Tips For Visiting Congwong Beach La Perouse

February 5, 2020 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Tips For Visiting Congwong Beach La Perouse

Another calm La Perouse beach, Congwong Beach is a sheltered bay located inside the Botany Bay National Park.

The beach is accessed down a 100m path down stairs from the La Perouse Loop Road. Little Congwong Beach is located a further 600m down the track. Look for the sign at the south end of Cann Park. The beach can also be accessed from the carpark on Anzac parade, opposite Endeavour Avenue

In the past Little Congwong has been known as an unofficial nudist beach, however there are signs at the entrance to the beach trail that state clothes must be worn.

Public toilets are available on Anzac Parade near Cann Park, around 50m from where the beach track begins.

There is no drinking water available at the beach. Drinking water available via bubblers at the amenities block, plus from taps in Cann Park.

Take all rubbish with you as there are no bins on the beach.

While the best food option is to take a picnic down to the beach, if you want to buy food there are shops and cafes around 100m from the track beginning, on Anzac Parade. We loved The Boatshed.

There are no lifeguards or lifesavers patrolling the beach, so be safe when you go.

There is also very little in the way of shade on the beach so take down a tent or umbrella with you.

There is free three-hour parking available at Cann Park and near the entry gates on Anzac Parade.

To reach the beach by public transport, take bus L94 or 394 to La Perouse from Circular Quay, Martin Place, or Hyde Park via Maroubra Junction. Visit Transport for NSW for details.

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Enjoy the history of La Perouse and Bare Island

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Milk Beach Sydney: Australia’s Best Beaches

January 14, 2019 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Milk Beach is located at the base of Hermit Bay in the Sydney National Park, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. A small, isolated beach, Milk Beach is known for its breathtaking views of Sydney in the distance.

The beach has calm water thanks to protection on both sides, its gentle waves making it great for kids to splash around, or for bringing novelty pool floaties.

There is a rock shelf to the right of the beach which is often full of sun-seekers but is also great for little rock pools. Watch out for sharp barnacles if you wander this way.

Also to the right of the beach is a large rock pool area that is great for wading in – it is only around ankle deep.

To the left of the beach are rocks that are great for climbing on and around, and a gorgeous wave rock feature.

Milk Beach is great for snorkelling, so BYO flippers and goggles.

There are no cafe or toilet facilities at Milk Beach so bring a picnic lunch and visit the bathrooms at either Nielsen Park or Shark Beach if needed. There are picnic tables in the park area behind the beach.

While Milk Beach can be reached by taking the Hermitage Foreshore Walk, the easiest way is to park on Vaucluse Road as near as possible to Strickland House. Walk down the driveway entrance to Strickland House, pass the house and keep walking down the track to the right and you will reach the beach.

Parking is limited so if you’re heading there on a weekend, consider taking a bus. The 325 stops nearby.

Milk Beach
52 Vaucluse Rd
Vaucluse
Get Directions

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Tips For Visiting Maroubra Beach and Mahon Pool

June 12, 2018 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

The beachside suburb of Maroubra is 10km south-east of Sydney’s CBD. It’s less developed than its neighbours Bondi and Coogee, giving it a more relaxed vibe than its popular cousins. Maroubra Beach and nearby Mahon Pool are a beautiful part of Sydney, making for the perfect day out in any season (ok, maybe not when it’s raining …).

Tips For Visiting Maroubra Beach and Mahon Pool

Maroubra Beach

“Maroubra” comes from the Aboriginal word meaning “like thunder”, which is the perfect name for this beach with giant waves that pound the shore. One of Sydney’s most popular surfing spots, Maroubra is also one of only two National Surfing Reserves in Australia.

The beach has two surf life saving clubs and is patrolled year-round by lifeguards.

Maroubra is less sheltered than other beaches, with can result in bigger waves. Swim between the flags only, as the waves can be dangerous. If you or your family aren’t strong swimmers, consider visiting another nearby more sheltered beach.

Despite its strong waves, Maroubra is still an excellent beach for families.

The kilometre-long sandy stretch of beach has a wide, flat path running adjacent to it, bathroom facilities at the surf club, a large, nautical-themed fenced playground and excellent skate park.

We were really impressed with the skate park and kids in it. There were a lot of younger kids from ages 3 to about 10, then teenagers and even a few adults, all skating in the park. The older skaters took a lot of care around the younger kids, which was so great to see.

There’s also a free outdoor gym, free BBQs, outdoor showers, changerooms and bathrooms.

A cafe-kiosk on the beach provides an excellent location for sitting in beanbags and enjoying the waves. You can also walk across the street to the strip on cafe and restaurants that are located on Marine Parade, directly opposite the beach.

We walked up the hill to try Pool Cafe, located across the road from Jack Vanny Reserve. The cafe is excellent. Delicious food, fast service, cute wall art and really fun vibe. Highly recommend. Note there is no kids’ menu, but lots of food kids will eat.

Pool Cafe is located at 94 Marine parade Maroubra. Get more info on the Pool Cafe here.

Free parking is available behind the beach and in its side streets. The parking closest to the beach is 4 hours, side streets unlimited. There are also car parks north of the beach at Jack Vanny Reserve and at South Maroubra Beach.

In the middle of the beach is a large Rubix cube. While this may look like an art work it’s actually a storm water drain cover. The Rubix cube is popular for climbing.

If you have time, go exploring. South of the beach lies Arthur Byrne Reserve and headland, Broadarrow Reserve is to the west and Jack Vanny Memorial Park, Mahon Pool and the rocky headland are situated to the north.

Mahon Pool

The spectacular Mahon Pool is located 500 metres north of Maroubra Beach, up a steep-ish hill. Enter via Jack Vanny Reserve. Follow the path and steep steps leading down from the reserve to the pool.

Mahon Pool was carved into a rock flat in 1932, a 30-metre pool where you’ll find waves crashing over the sides at high tide. Visit at low tide to enjoy the pool with calm water (and plenty of fish inside!).

There is a free car park, toilet block with showers and change rooms located at the top of the reserve.

The rock flat is a great place to climb rocks up to the headland. An excellent view of the coast is available year-round, and migrating whales can be spotted from here between June and July.

Jack Vanny Reserve
15R Marine Pde
Maroubra

Get more info about Maroubra Beach here and here.

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Balmoral Beach Sydney: Sydney’s Best Beaches

March 5, 2018 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Balmoral Beach Sydney is our absolute favourite beach. There is something special about this quiet beach in the north shore suburb of Mosman. Despite its popularity, Balmoral still feels like a quaint seaside town, with low rise properties, lack of giant hotels, and just the right amount of quaint cafes to dine at.

Balmoral Beach Sydney

The little harbour beach of Balmoral has been a popular spot since well before the colonisation of Australia in 1788. Local Aborigines lived in the area before they were displaced by white settlers (you can find their cave preserved near the entrance to the oval).

In the late 1880s artists, including Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts, were lured to Balmoral by it beauty and set up camps at the water’s edge at the foot of Awaba Street and nearby Sirus Cove.

Today, Balmoral Beach Sydney is even more popular than ever. A huge draw is its calm water, making it the prefect beach for families.

Balmoral is technically two beaches, split in the middle by Rocky Point Island. South of the island is Balmoral Beach, with an enclosed swimming area and playground, and north lies Edwards Beach, where you’ll find the heritage-listed 1920s Balmoral Bathers Pavilion, which houses the Bathers’ Pavilion Restaurant.

A wide esplanade runs behind both beaches, perfect for scooting, pushing prams and wheelchairs, walking and walking dogs.

Behind the esplanade, adjacent to the bridge that joins the path to Rocky Point Island, is the Balmoral Beach Rotunda, popular for weddings as well as for kids to play in. We recently discovered a statue of a dog named “Billy” near the rotunda. It was erected a few years back to recognise the work of a local street sweeper, Cliff “Inky” Williams, and his canine companion, a dog called Billy.

There are plenty of shady spots for a picnic at Balmoral Beach Sydney, or you can choose a local face for dining in and takeaway.

How To Get To Balmoral Beach Sydney

The easiest way is to hop on a ferry at Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo and catch a connecting bus. You can plan your trip here.

If you drive, prepare for a parking battle as the beach gets very popular particularly on weekends. Parking near the beach costs $7 an hour, but you can park in the backstreets for free.

Or bring a picnic hamper and relax in the pretty parklands next to the beach. Getting to Balmoral Beach is easy by public transport. Hop on a ferry at Circular Quay and glide across the sparkling harbour to Taronga Zoo in Mosman for a connecting bus. The total trip takes about 30 minutes.

While we love scooting and exploring on foot, you can also learn to sail or hire kayaks, sailboards and stand-up paddleboards from the Balmoral Surf School.

There are plenty of changing and bathroom amenities available at Balmoral Beach.

Find more Sydney beaches to visit here.

Check out some of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.