Always check the conditions when you arrive and swim between the flags.
Lady Bay Beach
Live conditions and scores
Lady Bay is a tiny clothing-optional beach tucked below the cliffs between Camp Cove and South Head, inside Sydney Harbour National Park. Legal nudity has been permitted here since 1976, and it draws a relaxed, mixed crowd year-round.
The beach faces west across the harbour toward Middle Head, so mornings stay shady and the sun hits properly from midday onward. The water is calm harbour water with no surf and no rips, but there are no lifeguards either, so you swim at your own risk.
Getting here takes a bit of effort. The ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay is the easiest option, then it is a 15-minute walk along the South Head Heritage Trail past Camp Cove and down steep steps to the sand. There are no toilets, no shops, and no fresh water on the beach, so bring what you need.
The beach is small, maybe 80 metres of sand, and gets busy on warm weekends. If you want space, come on a weekday or arrive early.
What's On
Sydney Heads 4000
Saturday 11 April 2026
A 4km open-water ocean swim from Little Manly Beach across Sydney Heads, finishing at Camp Cove Beach near Lady Bay Beach in the Sydney Harbour National Park.
oceanswims.comWhat Makes It Special
- •Sydney's most well-known clothing-optional beach, legally nude since 1976
- •Calm harbour water with no surf, sheltered by South Head
- •West-facing, so afternoon sun is the pick
- •Spectacular harbour views across to Middle Head
- •No facilities at all, bring everything you need