The city of Sydney has over 70 beaches alone; even locals haven't been to all of them. You can start getting a taste of some of the gorgeous beaches and coves by doing the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Or better yet the Coogee to Bondi Walk, as we think there are quite some benefits to doing it that way around, more on that below.
The coastal walk is a 6 km (3.7 miles) trail along the coast of the Tasman Sea, winding over rocks and cliffs, past big beaches and small coves allowing you views of surfers, as well as strong turquoise waves crashing against the rocks. You will get to see six beaches, Coogee Beach, Gordons Bay, Clovelly Beach, Bronte Beach, Tamarama Beach, and the famous Bondi Beach. The walk will take you around 1.5 hours, depending on your speed. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as there are some up and down steps.
How to get to Coogee Beach
You can either take a public bus or an Uber, depending on how much time you bring and what level of convenience you prefer. Our Uber ride from Rushcutters Bay took 15 mins and cost AU$21.
Two fantastic reasons to end and not start your coastal walk in Bondi
You can cool off after the walk and go swimming in the world-famous Icebergs Club Rock Pool at Bondi Beach (more about that amazing experience in its own activity). You also get the chance to experience Bondi beyond its beach.
Stroll along the promenade, take a bite at one of the outdoor restaurants and discover the Bondi Markets, generally open every Saturday for fresh produce and Sundays with food and drink stalls, live music, as well as clothing, jewelry, and craft stalls.
At what time of day is it best to do the Coogee to Bondi coastal walk
I highly recommend to start your coastal walk in the morning hours for the following three reasons:
- you will avoid the hottest time of the day
- you will have great lighting
- you will get the chance to enjoy lunchtime at Bondi Beach
What does between the flags mean
While walking along the coast and passing different sized beaches, you will notice the yellow and red lifeguard tent on the beach and red and yellow flags in the sand. This zone is indicating the area of the ocean thought to be safe to swim by the lifeguards on duty. If you do not see any flags, the beach is not being patrolled by lifeguards.
As the ocean and waves in Australia are very powerful, compared to other countries, being a lifeguard is a big deal and an achievement. The Australian Lifeguard Test is among the most demanding in the world.
At the same time, the waters outside the flags are open for surfers. Thus this division of beach allows everyone to get the most out of their beach visit.
