Description

Bare Island is a tiny island 12km (7.5mi) South of Sydney, in the Suburb of La Perouse, NSW Australia. It is only 10 metres (3ft) from the shore, connected to the mainland by a wooden boardwalk. The island has no sandy beaches, its shoreline consists mainly of flat rock platforms.
The island contains a historic fort, which is closed to public access except for authorised tours. The shoreline is open to the public.
Access to the island is via a short walk across a wooden boardwalk.

Name

Bare Island was unintentionally named by Captain James Cook in 1770 when he sailed through Botany Bay on the Endeavor. He described it as 'a small bare island.'
The suburb around Bare Island is known as La Perouse, named after a french explorer who landed on Botany Bay west of Bare Island in 1788, just days after the British First Fleet decided the area was unsuitable for settlement and moved onto Port Jackson.

Bare Island Map

View South Sydney Beaches - Australia in a larger map

Toilets

Grassy picnic area on hill above island. No tables.

At least 2 good restaurants in area - Danny's Seafood - Great seafood restaurant overlooking the water & The Boat Shed Cafe - is on the sand at Frenchmans Bay.

Good selection of fast food close to Bare Island

Bare Island is a popular fishing spot. Fishing is possible from the rock platforms on each side of the island, though the East side is probably slightly better. Catches here include Bream, Snapper and Mulloway.

The area around Bare Island is worth exploring by foot. To the West of the island it is possible to walk along the shore and beach to Yarra Bay, while coastal hiking to Botany Bay heads and beyond is possible to the East.

Bare Island is the most popular scuba diving site in Sydney. The narrow entry channel between the island and the mainland is protected in all but the roughest conditions, making the dive suitable for beginners and night divers. More info on dive sites at Bare Island at Michaelmcfadyenscuba.info (external link)

History

Bare Island Fort - A concrete fort was completed in 1885. In conjunction with fortifications on Botany Heads, the fort was built to defend the entrance to Botany Bay from attack, the biggest concern at the time being a russian invasion. The fort, which takes up most of the island, was decommissioned in 1902 and has now been declared a historical site. Tours through the fort are available every Sunday from 1:30pm. Details Here. (external link)