Free admission
Precinct open daily
Walking tracks open sunrise to sunset
Click here to view alerts and disruptions for Chowder Bay
Highlights include charming eateries with views of Sydney Harbour as well as easy access to Clifton Gardens Reserve – an idyllic picnic spot featuring a beach and play equipment. A network of scenic trails and roads link Chowder Bay to Taronga Zoo, Balmoral Beach and the neighbouring precincts of Headland Park – Georges Heights and Middle Head / Gubbuh Gubbuh.
By car: Drive along Middle Head Road, Mosman until the road intersects with Chowder Bay Road at the HMAS Penguin roundabout. Turn right at the roundabout and continue along Chowder Bay Road to arrive at the precinct.
By bus: The 111 bus service operates to the precincts of Headland Park. It runs between Chowder Bay and South Mosman Wharf every 30 minutes, seven days a week. To travel to the precincts of Headland Park from the CBD, board the 100 service (QVB to Taronga Zoo), alight at Mosman Junction and transfer to the 111 service to complete your journey.
For travel back to the city, board the 111 service at Headland Park, alight at Mosman Junction and transfer to the 100 service. It runs every ten minutes during the day and every 20 minutes during early morning and late night. For further information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website.
By ferry: Sydney Buses operate the 238 services, which collects passengers who arrive by ferry at Taronga Zoo’s Athol Wharf from Circular Quay. Walk four kilometres along the coastal walking track that links Athol Wharf to Chowder Bay via Bradley’s Head (Note: The gate for this walking track at Chowder Bay is open from sunrise to sunset). For further information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website.
By private boat: Vessels (including water taxis) can drop off visitors at Chowder Bay Wharf. The wharf is open to the general public from 6am to 6pm and is strictly for set-down, pick-up and delivery of goods. It cannot be used for long-term mooring or parking vessels. Function or restaurant guests requiring afterhours access to liaise with restaurant or venue directly. Maximum vessel length 8 metres.
Click here to view alerts and disruptions for Chowder Bay.
Paid and accessible parking is offered along Chowder Bay Road between 8am and 10pm daily. Parking meters accept coins (Note: No change facilities available) and MasterCard or Visa (Note: Minimum transaction amount is $4). Hourly and daily rates apply, and there is a surcharge on the weekend (Note: parking rates and time limits are subject to change). Subject to sign-posted time limits, parking is free of charge for motorcycles and drivers with Mobility Scheme Permits.
Parking permits issued by Mosman Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are not valid in Harbour Trust parking areas.
Public toilets, including an accessible toilet, are located near Drift Café and at Clifton Gardens Reserve. Many areas of Chowder Bay are accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers; however, there are some uneven surfaces and bushwalking tracks include stairs and low to medium inclines. Further, Bungaree Walkway, which links Chowder Bay to Georges Heights, features steep stairs, unsuitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers.
The Harbour Trust maintains public toilets at Chowder Bay, and these facilities are listed on the Department of Health’s National Public Toilet Map. The toilets available at this destination are listed below:
Chowder Bay is patrolled by rangers from 7am to 4pm and by security personnel from 4pm and 7am. In the event of an emergency, dial 000 or 112 if mobile reception is poor. To contact a ranger during an emergency, call 0432 750 714 (7am to 4pm). Alternatively, to contact a security officer, call 0433 631 572 (4pm to 7am).
For your own safety, and to protect the park’s flora and fauna, please remain on the dedicated walking or bike tracks when exploring the bushland and observe the following rules, enforceable by our rangers:
Conditions of entry: Do not feed wildlife; keep dogs on a leash; do not litter, dump rubbish or leave dog waste; do not camp overnight; do not erect gazebos or marquees (without a permit); do not operate remote-controlled vehicles (including drones); do not smoke, light fires or use portable barbeques; remain on dedicated bush tracks; do not play amplified music (without a permit) or create excessive noise; do not undertake commercial activities (without a permit); do not hold private functions (without a permit); do not disturb plants, soil and rocks; do not climb walls, fortifications, sculptures or cliffs; do not ride or use skateboards, roller-skates, in line skates or similar equipment on Harbour Trust land. For further information, see: Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT) Regulations 2021
Chowder Bay Wharf: The wharf is available for water taxi services and for the arrival or departure of members and guests attending functions, restaurants, or venues at Chowder Bay and for the general public. The wharf is open to the general public from 6am to 6pm and is strictly for set-down, pick-up and delivery of goods. It cannot be used for long-term mooring or parking vessels. Function or restaurant guests requiring afterhours access to liaise with restaurant or venue directly. No fishing is allowed from the wharf. Maximum vessel length 8 metres.
L'Heritage is an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a traditional French menu with matched wines in a heritage setting. The bistro is set within a historic naval building featuring high ceilings and panoramic views. Plus, the venue now serves takeaway food and beverages from Wednesday through Sunday.
Housed in the Submarine Miner’s Depot, a heritage naval building from the 19th century, Ripples offers Modern Australian dining as well as cocktails and wine in a historic, waterfront setting with views of Sydney Harbour and Clifton Gardens Reserve.
Housed in the Submarine Miner’s Depot, a heritage naval building from the 19th century, Ripples offers Modern Australian dining as well as cocktails and wine in a historic, waterfront setting with views of Sydney Harbour and Clifton Gardens Reserve.
Land’s Edge Foundation offers harbourside accommodation, guided group tours and curriculum-based field studies to adventure-seeking families, schools and community groups. Plus, their not-for-profit education centre, Saltwater School, offers private tours, seasonal activities for families and gear hire (kayaks, paddle boards, snorkelling).
Enjoy a leisurely coastal walk that links Chowder Bay with the other precincts that form Headland Park – Georges Heights and Middle Head. As you journey along the Mosman Peninsula, you’ll enjoy iconic views of the ocean, harbour and CBD, all framed by local plant life. This is scenic, 3km route has a moderate difficulty.
Feeling ambitious? Embark on the 80km Bondi to Manly Walk! This massive network of public tracks spans the foreshore between two of Sydney’s most iconic surf beaches. There are pit stops at Headland Park including Chowder Bay.
One of Chowder Bay's Kookaburras has been granted the ability to answer your burning questions about the area! keep an eye out for the bright blue kookaburra signs to kickstart a conversation. Wondering what to ask? Start with some basics like "what's there to do here", "where can I eat", "where's the toilet" and "what's the history of this area".
Head to Clifton Gardens Reserve for a snorkel or swim. Prefer to keep your head above water? You can kayak along the scenic foreshore. An ideal spot for picnics, Clifton Gardens Reserve also features lawn, a shaded playground, sheltered seating and barbeques.
Explore Australia’s rich naval history with a guided cruise from our friends at the Naval Historical Society of Australia. From picturesque vantage points around the harbour, you'll hear fascinating and lesser-known stories about naval activities during times of war and peace, bringing this rich history to life.
Bush regenerators conserve the area’s native flora including eucalyptus forest and scrub containing banksia, kunzea, hakea and an endangered subspecies of Acacia terminalis (sunshine wattle). This vegetation is a habitat for long-nosed bandicoots, water dragons, blue-tongue lizards, ring-tailed possums and green tree snakes. Kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, currawongs, pacific white face herons and dollar birds can also be found locally. Chowder Bay is also a popular haunt for seals (pictured), and the area is also visited by penguins and whales.
Gooree traditionally served social and ceremonial purposes and also provided shelter, food and water. Other traditional names for the area include Taliangy, which refers to the stretch of water between Chowder Bay and Obelisk Beach. Meanwhile, the name Chowder Bay dates to the 1830s when whalers made fish chowder from local oysters and pipis.
A key landmark is the former Submarine Miner’s Depot, a nineteenth century naval building that houses restaurants and other local businesses. It is the only remaining mine laboratory in Australia and the most intact facility of its kind in the world.
[Image caption: Chowder Bay and Clifton Gardens, circa 1878-79, National Library of Australia]
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and Owners of the lands, waters and sky of Sydney Harbour, including the extraordinary places we manage and protect. Today, the homelands of the Borogegal, Birrabirragal, Cammeraygal, Gadigal, Gayamagal, Wallumedegal and Wangal peoples host destinations under our stewardship. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.
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