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Clifton Gardens Boat Hire — Mosman’s Quietest Family Beach by Boat
Netted swim area, sheltered anchorage, BBQs on the beach. The family-friendly Middle Harbour stop. From $300/hr.
🏖 Netted swim
👨👩👧 Family-friendly
⚓ Easy anchorage
💰 From $300/hr
⭐ Trusted by 970+ Sydney events · 137 vessels in our fleet · No booking fees · Honest pricing
Clifton Gardens (also called Chowder Bay beach) is the family-perfect Mosman beach — netted swim area, picnic-friendly grass, beach BBQs, and a small wharf for tying up at. Reach it by boat in 25 minutes from CBD wharves, anchor in the sheltered bay, and walk ashore for a BBQ or picnic.
From a $300/hr 4-hour BYO cruise for 14 friends with a Chowder Bay swim stop, to a $1,000/hr luxury motoryacht family day for 18 — Boatique books the full Sydney Harbour fleet. Quotes back in under an hour.
Find Your Perfect Boat
Clifton Gardens is in Chowder Bay (Middle Harbour entrance). Most CBD-based boats reach it in 25 minutes. Boats based at Mosman, The Spit, or Balmoral reach it in 10-15 minutes. Family-friendly catamarans with safety nets on the bow work especially well.
Send your guest count and date — we’ll come back with 3 boats and pickup options.
Why Clifton Gardens for a swim stop
🛡 Netted swim area
Shark net around the swim area — the only protected swim beach in the central harbour. Parents relax.
🌳 Picnic grass + beach BBQs
Grass picnic area above the beach, public BBQs (gas, no setup). Walk ashore from the boat for a picnic + boat lunch combination.
⚓ Sheltered anchorage
Chowder Bay is sheltered on all but a hard north-easterly. Easy anchorage in 4-6 metres.
🚢 Wharf tie-up option
Small public wharf at Chowder Bay — some boats can briefly tie up for guest pickup or drop-off (charged per minute, captain confirms availability).
How a Clifton Gardens cruise day looks
Typical day: pickup from King Street, Rose Bay or Mosman wharf around 11am, cruise to Chowder Bay (25-45 min depending on pickup point), anchor in the bay 1-2pm for BBQ lunch on board + walk ashore, then cruise back via Athol Bay and Middle Head. 4-hour cost: ~$1,500-2,500 all-in for 14 guests with BYO drinks and partner-catered BBQ.
Send us your date and guest count — we’ll send a fixed quote in under an hour.
Half day · BYO BBQ
From $1,200/4hr · BYO
4-hour cruise with Clifton Gardens swim stop. BYO drinks, BBQ on the back deck or ashore.
Family day · catered lunch
From $2,200/5hr · Most popular
5-hour family day with Clifton Gardens swim stop + Athol Bay cruise back. Catered lunch, BYO drinks, kids in the safety nets.
Luxury motoryacht
From $800/hr
Climate-controlled saloon, plated lunch in the dining area, anchor at Clifton Gardens for the swim, easy on hot days.
Real Clifton Gardens cruises we’ve delivered
Kid’s 7th birthday · 14 guests · catamaran
Pickup from King Street, anchor at Clifton Gardens for swim + ice-cream, parents on the boat, kids in the netted swim area.
Family farewell · 18 guests · luxury motoryacht
Three-generation cruise, plated lunch in the saloon, swim stop at Clifton Gardens, easy for elderly guests.
Hens day-cruise · 16 guests · sailing cat
Lunch + swim at Clifton Gardens, sunset return through Middle Harbour.
Visitors from overseas · 8 guests · charter cat
Tour of the central harbour ending at Clifton Gardens for an afternoon swim and walk ashore.
Frequently asked questions
Can any Sydney charter boat reach Clifton Gardens?
Yes — Clifton Gardens / Chowder Bay is a short cruise from CBD wharves (25-30 min). Mosman-based boats reach it in 10 minutes. All major catamaran and motor yacht operators include it as a standard anchor stop.
Is Clifton Gardens beach safe for kids?
Yes — netted swim area, lifeguard on duty in summer (Dec-Feb), shallow sandy bottom. The safest swim stop in the central harbour.
Can we BBQ on the beach?
Yes — public gas BBQs on the grass above the beach. Bring meat, salads, drinks. Most groups use a combination of boat BBQ + beach BBQ for big lunches.
Are there toilets at Clifton Gardens?
Yes — public toilets at the beach. Also a small kiosk in summer.
Can we tie up at the Clifton Gardens wharf?
Briefly — small public wharf, tie-up by arrangement (captain calls ahead or radios). Most boats anchor and use the tender for any walk-ashore.
What’s the best month for Clifton Gardens swim stops?
October to April for water temperature. The bay is sheltered year-round, so even in winter a sunny lunch on board with the kids ashore is a popular family day.
Where does the boat depart from?
Depends on the boat — most common pickups are King Street Wharf, Rose Bay, or Mosman / Chowder Bay (closest). Boats can reposition to other harbour wharves for a small fee.
Can we stay overnight?
Most operators don’t allow overnight anchorage in Chowder Bay (it’s a busy daytime anchorage). Bantry Bay or further into Middle Harbour is the standard overnight option.
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