BONDI TO COOGEE COASTAL WALK – DETAILED GUIDE

OVERVIEW

When visiting Sydney, most of the popular attractions and activities are in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD) and around Sydney Harbour. However, venturing out to the Pacific Ocean coastline will reward you with the incredible Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.

The four mile mostly paved trail winds along the rugged shoreline, across several pristine beaches, through parklands, and over the jagged cliffs dropping straight into the ocean. Throughout your journey you can stop for lunch at nearby restaurants, browse the names on gravestones at Waverley Cemetery, or watch the surfers at Bronte Beach.

The trail isn’t technical nor challenging but is very popular given its proximity to the city and amazing scenery. If you’re visiting Sydney, make sure to find time in your itinerary for the stunning Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.

Maddie standing in front of some street art at Bondi Beach east of Sydney in Australia.
Bondi Beach has a pedestrian walkway lined with street art.

STATISTICS AND MAP

Distance: 3.9 mile point-to-point trail.

Elevation Gain: 620 feet.

Duration: 2-3 hours depending on the number of stops made.

Difficulty: Easy. There are no technical sections, and the majority of the trail is paved and relatively flat. The trail is accessible to hikers of every age and fitness level.

Where: The trail runs along the Pacific Ocean coastline about 10 miles (and a 20-minute drive) east of Sydney’s CBD. The trail connects Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach and can be hiked in either direction.

When: The trail is accessible year-round. The trail is almost entirely exposed to the elements, including the sun and wind. So, if planning to hike in the summer heat, make sure to bring protection from the sun in the form of layers, sunscreen, and a hat. If hiking in the winter, consider a light jacket if the winds are strong.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk map courtesy of AllTrails.com.

HOW TO GET THERE

Most people will get to the beach trail by car or bus. From Sydney’s main transportation interchange, Circular Quay, the drive is about 20 minutes. 

We took an Uber from our hotel in Darling Harbour to Coogee Beach. This cost AUD $35. However, the cost and duration of the trip will likely be affected by road congestion, so keep that in mind when planning your ride. 

If you have your own car, parking is available on the streets around Coogee and Bondi Beaches. In the case of Bondi Beach, a large car park is found at the beachfront. However, seeing as this is generally done as a point-to-point hike, you’ll either need to hike or arrange transportation back to your car after finishing the trail.

If you’re looking to save some money then another option would be taking the bus. This of course will take a bit more time and planning. Buses run between Circular Quay and both Bondi and Coogee Beach. You can see the timetables here.

WHAT TO BRING

Hiking between the two beaches isn’t strenuous and you’ll have easy access to food and supplies from the nearby towns if needed. Nevertheless, there are a few considerations you should keep in mind.

Most importantly, make sure to have protection from the sun. There’s almost no shade on the trail, so I’d recommend bringing a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, and a lightweight shirt or pants to cover your extremities. 

Additionally, the entire walk takes place on the coast, so winds can sometimes be a factor in your comfort. Consider bringing a lightweight jacket or windbreaker to keep you warm.

It’s always important to have comfortable shoes when hiking. The trail doesn’t require hiking boots as it’s almost entirely paved, but you wouldn’t want to wear poorly fitting and blister inducing shoes either. We did see a few people in only flip flops, which I wouldn’t recommend.

You should bring some water with you, although there were a few drinking fountains along the path. Make sure to bring more if you’re hiking in the hotter summer months.

Coogee Beach and Goldstein Reserve as seen from drone along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk east of Sydney in Australia.
Coogee Beach seen behind Goldstein Reserve.

WHICH DIRECTION TO GO

The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk can be done in either direction. I don’t necessarily think there’s a strong reason to hike one direction over the other. If I had to choose based on our personal experience, I’d recommend going from Bondi Beach in the direction of Coogee Beach.

We completed the hike in June, beginning our day at about 9 AM. We set out from Coogee Beach in the direction of Bondi Beach. Nearly the entire duration of the walk we were facing into the sun. This made photography challenging as we kept having to turn around and face south for decent pictures. 

The hike should be easy regardless of which direction you choose to hike. You won’t shave off any steep sections by walking one way over the other.

The suburban towns of Bondi and Coogee are both decently sized, although Bondi is quite a bit bigger. So regardless of which direction you hike, you’ll still be able to start and finish your hike in an area with multiple restaurant options, amenities, and facilities.

John and Oliver wearing blue shirts along the sidewalk on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk near Sydney, Australia.
The walk runs along several suburban towns and parklands.

OUR EXPERIENCE ON THE TRAIL

Getting to the Trailhead

We had been staying at a hotel in Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Therefore we needed to find transportation to the coast for the hike. We didn’t have a rental car yet and didn’t want to deal with the hassle of the bus system with two young kids, so we opted for an Uber.

The trip to Coogee Beach only took about 20 minutes and cost AUD $35. We arrived at about 9 AM and picked up pastries and coffee at San Antonio Sourdough Bakery on Coogee Bay Road for breakfast. There were several other cafes and restaurant options located in this area.

Downtown Sydney known as the Central Business District and the Pyrmont Bridge over Darling Harbour as seen from our hotel.
The view from our hotel in Darling Harbour.
Coogee Beach

We took our pastries down to Coogee Beach and ate them on the semicircle rainbow steps. Maddie and Oliver played in the sand for an hour while Shirlee and I walked the waterfront promenade finishing our coffee and taking in the views.

On the other side of the walkway was a wide-open park shaded by Coogee Beach’s Norfolk Island pine trees. A few picnic tables were located here, and it would be a great place for breakfast before venturing off on the trail.

We finally set out on the path, which hooked to the right and gently ascended the north side of Coogee Beach. Over our right shoulder was a great view back toward the town of Coogee and its stunning beach. The walkway then led through a beautiful grassy park known as Goldstein Reserve.

On our right was an optional detour. A narrow dirt trail cut through a tunnel of Coastal Banksia and eucalyptus trees to Koojah Cliffs. This was an opportunity to get closer to the cliffside and witness the power of the Pacific Ocean. After less than a quarter mile the detour lead back to the main trail.

Gordon’s Bay, Clovelly Beach, and Burrow’s Park

A few minutes later we approached our favorite section of the trail, the secluded Gordon’s Bay. A short but steep ramp led between several battered rowboats and took us down to the water. Oliver wandered off to explore the shoreline while Maddie and Shirlee searched for sea glass on the bay’s narrow patch of sand.

After exiting the bay, the path ascended past a large car park where the kids gravitated towards an ice cream truck serving delicious soft serve cones. 

Feeling reinvigorated, we marched on to Clovelly Beach. Here was a small playground, some basic facilities and what appeared to be an unmaintained saltwater pool built into the rocks.

Maddie licking an ice cream cone with an unmaintained salt water pool along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.
Maddie enjoying soft serve by the salt water pool at Clovelly Beach.
Burrow’s Park and Waverley Cemetery

Yet another ascent back out of the bay brought us to Burrow’s Park. The park is home to some sports fields, an outdoor gym, and a recreational bowling club. We don’t see much outdoor bowling in Minnesota, so we watched some of the locals in a heated game of their own.

The next landmark was not something that we were expecting. The cement path transformed into a boardwalk and passed by the rolling hills of Waverley Cemetery. On one side of the boardwalk were rows of gravestones while on the other side was the ocean pounding against the cliffside.

The boardwalk led past the cemetery and up to Lookout Point. Several people were stopped here for lunch and to soak up the views of the rugged coast.

Bronte Beach and Tamarama Beach

Two twin beaches were waiting for us as we left Lookout Point. First was Bronte Beach, a rather large beach that is very popular with surfers. Bronte Beach has restrooms and if hunger strikes there’se also some cafes on the nearby streets as well.

Just past Bronte Beach was the smaller but, in our opinion, more impressive Tamarama Beach. The path descended steeply from the cliffs down to the beach where there was a quaint café whose customers were enjoying coffee and treats on bean bags set out on the grass.

As the trail continued north we were constantly turning around for sweeping views of Tamarama Beach. Soon the trail brought us to Marks Park, a large grassy peninsula where we caught our first glimpse of Bondi Beach.

Bondi Beach

Just before reaching Bondi Beach sits the iconic Bondi Icebergs Club. The club is home to an oceanfront pool and high end restaurant. It’s an amazing location to sit down for a meal or drink after finishing up the 2-3 hour walk.

The Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club as seen from drone along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk east of Sydney in Australia.
Bondi Icebergs Club.

Bondi Beach is a large urban and crescent shaped beach located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. It’s one of the most famous beaches in Australia and is known for its vast stretch of golden sand, lively atmosphere, and clear blue waters.

Some of the more interesting features of Bondi Beach are the old-school skate park and street art lining the pedestrian walkway. There’s also no shortage of restaurants in the vicinity. We ate a delicious Italian meal at Bondi Trattoria as it was one of the first restaurants we came across after finishing the Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk.

FINAL IMPRESSIONS

If you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of central Sydney, look no further than the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This hike will take you along Australia’s beautiful coastline and feature several stunning beaches, jagged cliffs, and continuous views of the Pacific Ocean.

We found it easy and affordable to get to and from Coogee and Bondi Beaches from central Sydney. The hike itself was not a demanding, but was almost four miles. We completed the walk during the winter on a sunny day, so conditions were very pleasant.

It was also really nice having quick access to the coastal towns for convenient cafes, restaurants, and shopping. This wasn’t so much a “hike” as it was a casual stroll along plenty of beaches, playgrounds, sculptures, and climbing rocks to keep Oliver and Maddie busy for hours.

The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk is the perfect way to spend a day outdoors enjoying Australia’s natural scenery and definitely belongs on every Sydney itinerary.

Coogee Beach as seen from Goldstein Reserve along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk on a sunny day near Sydney.

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