Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Sydney

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

Sydney’s east coast has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the whole of Australia and you can see it all on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. The walk has a combination of beautiful beaches, aggressive surf and stunning vegetation, a walk along this part of the coast is simply unmissable.

The Route

Walking

The coastal walk is around 5km (2.5 miles) in total, taking just over an hour one way by walking at a steady pace.

There are inclines, steep steps, rocks, cliff-side viewpoints and minimal street lighting in certain areas so timing is everything. The walk can be busy particularly outside of general working hours so consider this as well as daily temperature peaks for a more enjoyable experience.

Sydney has built the perfect viewing platforms for the wonderful coastal features that stretch from the Bondi Icebergs pool to Coogee beach and beyond.
The Coastal Walk passes by clifftops, parks, outdoor gymnasiums and many glorious beaches. There are places to relax, eat, drink and swim along the way. Some people run and others walk, those who require accessibility have custom built ramps, nobody misses out on Sydney’s most popular walking trail.

Bus

Bus stops are available beside most parts of the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Check out the timetable in full here http://www.sydneybuses.info/routes/362_20151024_tt.pdf
For further details of different routes, check the Sydney Buses website

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk highlights

Coogee

We started our walk from Coogee, one of the Sydney’s beach suburbs that offers a gorgeous stretch of shimmering sand and a protected marine reserve.

Coogee has steadily become one of the favorite beach areas of Sydney with locals and backpackers alike. There are many eateries, backpacker hostels and quirky shops around the area. The Coogee Pavilion offers free restrooms and changing areas should you need them.

The Coastal Walk is signposted right by Coogee beach and one of the first highlights of the coastal walk is the Coogee Baths. This is a perfect spot to cool off in preparation for the walk ahead and it is completely free to enter. The water is freezing cold and the swimming area is a part of the sea that is sectioned off by a barricade of rocks. The visible marine life in Coogee Baths includes a wide variety of fish and crustacean. They are attracted to the area because of the calmer water and surrounding rocks. The clear water and shallow depths allow unspoiled views as they pass by.

The beautiful pathway guiding you through the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk in Sydney is not only cute and colorful, it’s one of the cleanest we’ve ever seen!

Wedding Cake Island

Reaching higher ground offers a wonderful opportunity to view Sydney’s famous Wedding Cake Island, so called for the appearance of a white layer of ‘frosting’ caused by broken surf.

As the walk weaves in and out of parks, viewpoints and residential areas, there are many twists and turns and incredible hidden surprises. Exploration will add time to your walk, take some time out to enjoy the hidden treasures.

Gordon’s Bay

One of our personal favorite spots on the Coastal Walk is the wonderfully hidden Gordon’s Bay. Gordon’s Bay is a modest area offering a gathering of boats held together by a rotted wooden deck and families of crabs scrambling over neglected fishing gear. Gordon’s Bay stood out as a unique hidden oasis that is effortlessly different to the other immaculate beaches of Sydney. Minimal crowds gather here to enjoy the seclusion given by the surrounding cliffs making it a great spot to rest, refuel and soak to the sound of the delicate waves.

The coastal breeze delicately disrupts the cobwebs that gather in the bay and blow a faint scent of algae which gave the Bay the character it is renowned for.

The Gordon’s Bay Underwater Nature Trail begins here where an abundance of marine species live along the rocks and reef on the sea bed. The underwater trail is physically mapped out using concrete pillars and a chain and the full course takes around 40 minutes to complete in SCUBA gear. On a clear day, the trail can be seen while snorkeling on the surface.

Clovelly

Clovelly beach is a cross between an average beautiful Australian beach and a natural swimming pool with crystal clear water.

Clovelly Beach is one of the narrowest bays on the coast and it is a popular area with swimmers. The surf isn’t as harsh as the other beaches and there are many purpose built entry points into the water as there would be with a swimming pool. Clovelly Beach is home to the world’s first ever Surf Life Saving club, built in 1906.
Keep an eye out for the big beautiful spiders in the bushes, we spotted these just after Clovelly beach section.

Burrows Park sits between Clovelly beach and Waverley Cemetery where you can find a 22 station outdoor gym and a perfect uninterrupted spot for views of the Pacific Ocean. The park is also home to one of many bowling clubs which is a popular sport among locals, stop by and watch a match here at Clovelly Bowling and Recreation Club.

Bronte

Only when we visited New Orleans’s unique overground Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 were we overwhelmed by the beauty of a burial ground, and the Waverley Cemetery on the cliff tops of Bronte gave us the same feeling.

A combination of Edwardian and Victorian headstones align perfectly overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. It is a beautiful sight from the pathway of the coastal walk and we can’t imagine a nicer area to be at peace during mourning.
The Calga Reserve runs in front of the cemetery leading onto Bronte Beach via a structured walkway offering seating areas and panoramic views of the coastal sights on the approach to Bronte.

Locals gather at Bronte park to relax, picnic and take advantage of the free BBQ areas. Families gather for a relaxed ambiance on one of the most family-oriented beaches in Sydney.

Tamarama Beach

The Coastal Walk passes right through Tamarama, which is a beachside suburb 7 kilometres east of the Sydney. Tamarama is nicknamed Glamarama by local Aussies as it is known to attract wannabe trendsetters.

Bondi

Bondi is probably the ost famous of all of the beaches in Sydney. It is home to an array of cafes, bars and restaurants as well as fitness regimes and some of the best surf in Australia. Bondi beach is probably the most touristic. Take a dip inthe famous Bondi Icebergs swimming pool for a small fee.

Even the bushes around the Bondi area resemble surf waves.

The Sculpture by the Sea

The Sculpture by the Sea on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk.

Useful things to know

• The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk has a lot of hilly sections in some parts with some steep paths and steps to climb. Please be aware of this if you have mobility difficulties as you may want to take the bus in some sections.
• Plenty of rest areas are spread out across the walk so you can sit down, relax and enjoy the views as many times as you wish.
• There are some cafes/food and drink facilities at the beach sections of the walk, however you may struggle to find one in between so it may be a good idea to carry the essentials with you (water, sunscreen, sun hat, snacks, comfy shoes).
• Most beaches offer toilet facilities, changing rooms, picnic areas, play areas, parks, rest areas and seating.
• Tamarama, Bronte and Coogee have free electric barbecues.

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