Cobblers Beach

1 Review
Tags: Australia, NSW, and Sydney
No
No. However an ice cream boat visits regularly in summer
Yes. Paid parking is available at Middle Head lot
Nudity is optional

The Good

  • Tranquility and Nature: Cobblers is nestled within Sydney Harbour National Park and offers stunning views of the surrounding beauty. It is peaceful here even on a busy day and feels worlds away from other nearby chaotic beaches.
  • Great Community Feel: For a beach in a huge city it has a relaxed community feel and regulars here will point you in the right direction. It feels like most people know each other (in a good way).
  • Legally Designated: There is no funny business here. It is a well known nude beach and people are here for the authentic nude beach experience. You'll find seasoned regulars and plenty of newbies - perfect choice for your first nude beach experience.
  • Ice Cream Boat: Such a cool novelty but so enjoyable on a hot day to enjoy a freezing ice cream for the boat that visits regularly.

The Bad

  • Limited parking: Parking is limited and expensive at $4 per hour. It is much easier to catch a bus, walk or even Uber if you can.
  • Lack of Facilities: There are no toilets or facilities at the beach. Apart from the ice cream boat you won't find any nearby food or drink options either.
  • Small Size: The actual beach area is small which can lead to overcrowding on busy days. You might find yourself setup on a large rock or grass instead (which honestly isn't the worst)

The Naked Truth

Cobblers Beach, a well-known nude beach in Sydney, certainly has a reputation to uphold, and it doesn't disappoint. The beautiful scenery, coupled with a welcoming and friendly community, makes this legally designated nudist spot one of the most authentic in the region. Here, you'll encounter folks from all walks of life, and the ambiance caters to both the active and the laid-back beachgoers – paddle boarding and snorkeling are popular activities. Regularly touted as Australia's best nude beach, Cobblers Beach certainly earns its accolades. While it may not boast the iconic views of Sydney Harbour like nearby Lady Bay Beach does, it makes up for it with a more relaxed vibe and equally stunning natural beauty.

Insider Tip

Come here early to get your perfect spot on the sand, the rocks or the grass. Lots of options!

Who's Here

A diverse crowd of couples and families, both young and old. Mostly locals.

Beach Surface

Sand and some large rocks

Access Difficulty

Medium. A short 10-15min walk is required and it can be steep in places
Booking.com
Booking.com

Photos

Small but mighty! Cobblers can get busy.
Small but mighty! Cobblers can get busy.

The trail starts here
The trail starts here

High tide means not much sand here
High tide means not much sand here

The grass area at the entrance is a great spot to lay your towel
The grass area at the entrance is a great spot to lay your towel

This sandy section can get busy
This sandy section can get busy

  • Small but mighty! Cobblers can get busy.
  • The trail starts here
  • High tide means not much sand here
  • The grass area at the entrance is a great spot to lay your towel
  • This sandy section can get busy

Our Visit

Matt & Megan
Nude Beach Map. Visited 2023

We visited Cobblers Beach on a scorching summer’s day during a long weekend in Sydney. Despite the small beach being packed, several friendly couples offered to move their belongings so we could find a spot on the sand. This gesture perfectly encapsulates the welcoming and friendly community vibe here. We settled onto the sand and admired the surrounding views. The beach, nestled within a national park, feels like an oasis in the midst of this bustling city, a stone’s throw away from one of the world’s busiest harbours!

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Cobblers Beach is one among several nude beaches in Sydney, each exuding a unique vibe. This place caters to the purists; we didn’t witness any ‘funny business’ here. The beach was populated with couples, families, and groups enjoying the sun sans clothing. There was a younger vibe than we had anticipated and surprisingly, many beach-goers were actively engaged in paddle boarding or snorkeling. Obelisk Beach is nearby and attracts almost a completely different demographic. While the sand was the most popular spot, some people preferred to sit on flat rocks with their camp chairs, and others favoured the large grassy area above the beach. Technically, nudity is allowed only on the actual sand, but on crowded days like this one, nudity seemed common in the close vicinity of the beach.

Engaging in conversation with the locals was a delight; they were extremely welcoming but also respectful of our privacy. Since there are no facilities on-site, make sure you bring your food and drinks. Be ready for the occasional visit from the ice-cream boat, which approaches the beach on busy days. The ringing bell signals its arrival and prompts everyone to wade out for a cold snack or drink. This unique feature isn’t something we’ve seen anywhere else.

Cobblers Beach is a favoured spot for early morning swims, as the sun rises over the water opposite the beach. We reckon you might need to arrive early to secure the perfect spot on a long weekend – but even though we didn’t, we managed just fine. The beach also hosts several activities throughout the year, including the Sydney Skinny, a charity event promoting body acceptance, held in March. Although there were a fair number of visitors on boats anchored offshore, they didn’t seem intrusive, and we noticed that most of them were also naked, seemingly partaking in the nudist ethos, not just taking in the view!

The journey from Sydney’s CBD to Cobblers Beach offers some of the city’s best views, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. After a ferry ride across the harbour, it’s a short bus trip or an Uber ride away. Once you’ve been to Cobblers Beach, every other textile beach in Sydney might feel overwhelmingly crowded. While Balmoral Beach nearby offers some dining options, accommodation in this part of Sydney is primarily limited to AirBnbs, which can be pricey. Staying in the city is probably your best bet.

In conclusion, Cobblers Beach is the best beach we’ve visited in Sydney! We’d recommend skipping tourist hotspots like Bondi or Coogee Beach and embracing the nude beach vibes on Sydney’s northern beaches. It’s a fantastic opportunity to interact with more locals and immerse yourself in nature. Lastly, Cobblers Beach doesn’t have surf, making it a more relaxed experience than most coastal beaches.

Questions? Comments? Add your thoughts or photos below!.

Map

Booking.com

Getting There

Cobblers Beach is located in the Sydney Harbour National Park and getting there is quite straightforward.

By Car: If you're driving, you can reach the beach by heading towards Mosman. Take the Military Road and then turn onto Middle Head Road. Follow it to the end where you'll find a paid parking area at the Middle Head car park. Beware that parking is pricey here at $4 per hour and the lot fills up quickly. From there, it's a short 10-minute walk down a steep path to the beach.

By Public Transport: Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo and then catch bus 238 to Middle Head. Alternatively, you can take a bus directly from the city (bus 244) to Middle Head but it is a little longer. From the bus stop, it's a 10-minute walk down to the beach. Plan your trip with Sydney transit here.

Remember to wear good walking shoes as the path to the beach can be steep and uneven.

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User Comments

1 Review on “Cobblers Beach”

Overall rating
  • Tycho

    There are toilets at the sports oval above the beach. But as the review mentions that is a 10-15 minute walk up the path from Cobblers.

    I’ve been to Cobblers quite a few times. It’s a fabulous beach!!!

    Reply

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