Wedding Cake Island

Supposedly named because the breaking surf looks like icing, this rock platform is about a kilometre offshore from Coogee Beach and acts as a breaker for the mighty waves that would otherwise swamp the coastline. It’s arguably best known as the inspiration for Midnight Oil’s surf instrumental of the same name, as both Peter Garrett and Martin Rotsey were Coogee boys at one time. There’s nothing out there aside from rocks, water, seagull guano and the odd beer can left from the annual ANZAC Day paddle to the island by local surfers.

Island hop? The only way to get there is under your own steam (be careful if boating: the beachward side is part of the headland and shallow; the ocean side gets the full brunt of the waves). It’s a great spot for diving, though.