Frenchmans Beach, Beach in La Perouse, Sydney, Australia

Frenchmans Beach is a small sandy cove in La Perouse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, lying below the Frenchmans Bay car park and the La Perouse headland. The beach is backed by a low seawall and a grassy reserve, with rocky shelves at either end and views across the entrance to Botany Bay toward Kurnell. A netted swimming enclosure sits at the northern end of the sand.

In January 1788 two French ships under Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, anchored in the bay beside this beach while the First Fleet was at Botany Bay. The cove and the beach took their name from that visit, and a 1825 monument on the headland commemorates La Pérouse.

The beach takes its name from the French ships of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, which anchored off the coast in 1788; the suburb of La Perouse and nearby Frenchmans Bay carry the same association. The cove lies within Kamay Botany Bay National Park, land of the Bidjigal and Gweagal people, and visitors can see the stone obelisk commemorating the French expedition on the headland above.

You can reach the beach by walking paths from Little Bay Road, with parking available nearby. It's best to arrive early in the day to find space and enjoy the beach in good light.

The surrounding cliffs shield the water from coastal winds, making swimming possible even when breezes are strong elsewhere. On days when nearby open beaches feel rough, this spot often stays calm enough for a comfortable swim.