A beautiful place to enjoy scenic harbour beach swims with views of Fort Denison, Chowder Bay is also a convenient rest point on the coastal walk between Taronga Zoo and Balmoral. There's a shark net, playground, picnic tables and plenty of grass, as well as good eating options in the former army barracks.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sydney attractions

1. Taronga Zoo Sydney

0.72 MILES

A 12-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, this forested harbour hillside is full of kangaroos, koalas and similarly hirsute Australians, plus numerous…

2. Obelisk Beach

0.78 MILES

An isolated gay and nudist beach surrounded by bushland in the Middle Head section of Sydney Harbour National Park. It loses the sun quickly in the…

3. Balmoral Beach

0.94 MILES

The beachy enclave of Balmoral faces off with Manly across Middle Harbour, and has some good restaurants and a beaut swimming beach. Split in two by an…

4. Cobblers Beach

1.09 MILES

A nude and secluded beach on the other side of Middle Head from its partner in crime, Obelisk.

5. Nielsen Park

1.14 MILES

Something of a hidden gem, this gorgeous harbourside park with a sandy beach was once part of the then 206-hectare Vaucluse House estate. Secluded beneath…

6. Middle Head

1.22 MILES

Offering super harbour views and a look straight out to sea between North and South Head, this bushy headland is riddled with fortifications, some dating…

7. Shark Island

1.34 MILES

Little Shark Island, off Rose Bay, makes a great picnic getaway. There's not a lot here except for toilets and drinking water – and at 250m by 100m, you…

8. Cremorne Point

1.36 MILES

Cremorne Point (technically Robertsons Point; Woolwarra-jurng to the Eora people) is a beaut spot for a picnic on grassy Cremorne Reserve, or for a swim…