Mackenzies Point (Bondi–Tamarama)

Mackenzies Point is the sandstone headland between Bondi and Tamarama, the rocky nose below Marks Park on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. It is the opposite end of Bondi from Ben Buckler, and it fishes differently — the point juts into deep, swell-washed water, and its southern side wraps into Mackenzies Bay, a pocket of rock and sand that the NSW Government's beach guide describes as used by fishers rather than swimmers. That gives anglers a ledge for the white-water species plus a second, more sheltered corner when the wind swings. The catch is the bait rule: the whole foreshore from the Bondi rock baths to the northern end of Tamarama is the Bondi Intertidal Protected Area, where no cunjevoi or invertebrates may be taken.

Fish the ledges either side of the point for drummer, luderick and bream in the wash, float-fishing weed or cabbage for luderick and drummer and a lightly weighted prawn or bread bait for bream, with bread berley to bring them up. At dawn and dusk, spin metal slugs or drift a ganged pilchard into the white water for tailor and salmon. In a north-easter, the Mackenzies Bay side of the point is the one to fish; in a southerly swell, the northern side facing Bondi sits in the lee. Silver trevally turn up in the berley trail on calmer days.

Tailor are 30 cm with a daily bag of 10 and 20 in possession, and Australian salmon have no minimum size and a bag of 5. Luderick are 27 cm with a bag of 10, and rock blackfish (black drummer) are 30 cm with a bag of 10 — blue drummer, which look similar, are release-only in NSW. Silver trevally are 30 cm inside a shared trevally bag of 10, and yellowfin bream are 25 cm on a bag of 10 shared with tarwhine. Eastern blue groper are protected from line fishing in NSW until 28 February 2028, so any groper goes straight back.

Bring all your bait — in the Bondi Intertidal Protected Area, which DPIRD lists as the Bondi–Mackenzies Point closure, you cannot take cunjevoi, crabs, worms, snails, shellfish or any other invertebrate (abalone and rock lobster aside) anywhere from the Bondi rock baths to the northern end of Tamarama Beach, from the high-water mark to 10 m seaward of low water. That is the key difference from Ben Buckler, at the northern end of Bondi, which sits outside this closure. Fish early, before the coastal walk fills with people, and check behind you before every cast. Bread berley works well for drummer and luderick and is easy to carry on foot.

Marks Park sits off Kenneth Street and Fletcher Street, Tamarama, with public toilets in the park, and the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk runs past the headland a few minutes south of Bondi Icebergs. Parking is on the surrounding streets and is hard to find on weekends and in summer, so walking in along the coastal path is often easier. From the park, it is a scramble down uneven rock to the ledges, so this is not a spot for prams, wheelchairs or young children. The NSW beach guide notes Mackenzies Bay does not cater for people with access needs.

The point faces east-south-east into the open ocean and catches swell from the north-east round to the south, so it fishes best on a small, clean swell under about 1.5 m and should be left alone when a big sea is running. Westerly winds flatten the sea and are the best conditions; a north-easter favours the Mackenzies Bay side and a southerly the Bondi side. Drummer and luderick need some white water, and dead flat days are slow. Dawn and dusk on a rising tide are the windows for tailor and salmon.

Sets sweep the ledges around the point without warning. Check the swell and tide forecasts, watch for at least ten minutes before climbing down, stay off wet, weedy rock, never turn your back on the water, and leave as soon as the swell builds. Waverley is not one of the declared council areas under the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016, but a lifejacket is strongly recommended — adults AS 4758 level 50S or greater, under-12s level 100 — with grippy footwear and light clothing you can swim in. Never fish alone, and tell someone your plan. If you are washed in, swim away from the rocks, float, signal and have your mate call 000; Mackenzies Bay's rock-strewn surf zone usually holds a rip, so the little beach is not an easy way out. Pick your route back to higher rock before you cast, and keep your backcast clear of the busy coastal walk.

Yes. Line fishing is allowed from the rocks at Mackenzies Point, and the NSW Government's beach guide notes the adjoining Mackenzies Bay is used by fishers rather than swimmers. The foreshore from the Bondi rock baths to the northern end of Tamarama is the Bondi Intertidal Protected Area, where cunjevoi and invertebrates cannot be taken, so bring all your bait. A NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is required unless you are exempt.

Wear one. Sets sweep these ledges without warning, and a lifejacket is strongly recommended on them — AS 4758 level 50S or greater for adults and level 100 or greater for children. Waverley Council's area, which includes Bondi, Mackenzies Point and Tamarama, is not one of the declared areas under the NSW Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016, but declarations can change, so check the signs on the coastal walk.

Tailor and Australian salmon in the white water, especially from April to August, plus luderick, rock blackfish (black drummer), silver trevally and yellowfin bream in the wash. Eastern blue groper must be released — line fishing for them is prohibited in NSW until 28 February 2028.

No. The Bondi Intertidal Protected Area, which DPIRD lists as the Bondi–Mackenzies Point closure, covers the foreshore from the northern end of the Bondi rock baths to the northern end of Tamarama Beach, from the high-water mark to 10 m seaward of low water. All cunjevoi and invertebrates are protected there year-round, except abalone and rock lobster taken under the normal rules.