Gaerloch Reserve
Gaerloch Reserve is a steep coastal reserve in Tamarama on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. Its standout feature is a free outdoor fitness station with calisthenics equipment, including a bench, dip bars and a step, and the reserve also leads to the Mackenzies Point clifftop lookout and stairs down to Mackenzies Bay.
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About Gaerloch Reserve
Outdoor Fitness Station at Gaerloch Reserve
Gaerloch Reserve has a free outdoor exercise station built for strength and cardio training. Its calisthenics equipment is arranged in a cluster and includes a bench, dip bars and a step. The station is signposted, so walkers can spot it while passing through, and a walking path links it to the wider Bondi-Coogee Coastal Walking Trail. Gaerloch Reserve is one of three fitness stations along the coastal trail, with the others at Marks Park and Tamarama.
Mackenzies Point and Mackenzies Bay at Gaerloch Reserve
Gaerloch Reserve is a notable stop on the coastal walk between Bondi and Bronte, and walkers coming from Bondi find the path dips downhill through the reserve before climbing back to the clifftops. The clifftop lookout at Mackenzies Point gives scenic views of the coastline, and the reserve is a popular photo spot. From the lookout, a set of stairs runs down to Mackenzies Bay, a small rocky bay set against a sandstone cliff. Surf and wind conditions deposit sand every few years and turn the bay into a beach.
Native Coastal Plantings at Gaerloch Reserve
Gaerloch Reserve is a steeply sloping area covered with dense native coastal plants, including dune fan flower, warrigal spinach and pig-face. Stage 1 of slope stabilisation works on the reserve's embankment began in April 2019, using native coastal plants and drip irrigation to hold the slope in place. This green cover of native species helps keep the cliffside stable above the coastal walk.
Facilities at Gaerloch Reserve
Visitor tips for Gaerloch Reserve
- ✓Allow about 15 minutes if you take the stairs down to Mackenzies Bay.
- ✓Wear sturdy footwear, as the path through the reserve dips and climbs steeply.
- ✓Plan a workout loop that also takes in the fitness stations at Marks Park and Tamarama.
Getting to Gaerloch Reserve
2 Gaerloch Ave, Tamarama NSW 2026. The reserve joins the coastal walk via Gaerloch Avenue.
Open in Google Maps →Nearby Tamarama
- 📍Mackenzies Bay
- 📍Marks Park
- 📍Bronte Beach
- 📍Bondi
- 📍Coogee
Frequently asked questions about Gaerloch Reserve
Does Gaerloch Reserve have outdoor gym equipment?
Yes, there is a free calisthenics station with a bench, dip bars and a step.
Is Gaerloch Reserve open all day?
Yes, it is listed as open every day from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM.
Can you walk down to the beach from Gaerloch Reserve?
Yes, stairs run down to Mackenzies Bay, though it is usually rocky and only turns sandy every few years.
Which coastal walk is Gaerloch Reserve on?
The Bondi to Coogee walk, on the stretch between Bondi and Bronte.