Bondi Beach in Sydney

21 Bondi Beach

The Peoples Beach. Ask someone to name the first beach they can think of and Bondi Beach would be a likely response. Bondi Beach is home to a diverse crowd, and Bondi does get crowded at times. Head for the Bondi Pavilion about half way across the beach. There you should find drinks and sustenance closest to the surf.

Bondi Pavilion

When its open, the Bondi Pavilion Balcony is a neat place to watch the waves, wavers and other passer-bys. There is a bar upstairs allowing you to take drinks out onto the balcony but opening times vary. The Bondi Pavilion is home to exhibits and theatrical performances, particularly during the Sydney Festival. Some are fun and some aren’t but they are often short and you can take your drinks in with you.

Surf The Waves at Bondi Beach

If you want you can try your hand at surfing at Bondi Beach. Alternatively have a splash and try your body at body surfing. If you have no inclination to get wet you can just stroll on or along side Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach Links

22 Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach

The walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach is a bit of a classic. Walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach and be greeted by fantastic scenery, beautiful beaches, cliffs and even an old cemetery (Waverley) with unimpeded views out to sea. Must make Real Estate Agents tremble at the thought of Waverley Cemetery ever being relocated - not likely. Allow three to four hours and take your time. Note the lack of fences between Bondi and Coogee Beaches so please keep a close reign on any off-spring.

Tamarama

Tamarama (Glam-arama so they say), is one of the beaches you’ll cross, has a café very close to the beach and is a good spot to rest along the way.

23 Sexy Cooge Beach

Visit Coogee Beach - the backpacking capital of the world!! Well sometimes Coogee feels like it. Apart from beach itself, Coogee has great views and walks to either Bronte/Bondi or Maroubra.

If the opportunity presents its self, have an early morning stroll on the beach and then stop for breakfast. You'll feel a million dollars, fit and ready for your day. For the best food with Coogee views head for the southern end of Coogee Beach. Be prepared to wait for a table if you arrive after 10am at weekends.

On the north side of Coogee Beach you’ll find the Beach Palace Hotel. If you can still do so without paying, climb to the top of the Hotel, get a cold drink and sit yourself down and enjoy the view out to sea and across Coogee Beach. Ah..the way life is meant to be - no worries.

For music fans the Coogee Bay and Palace Hotels cater for you with all kinds of music provided it's loud and usually involves jumping around a lot. For the brave there's a kebab shop directly opposite the Coogee Bay Hotel in Coogee Bay Road open till very late.

Hotels and pubs in Coogeee

46 Sculptures By the Sea - Bondi Beach

You could combine Sculptures By The Sea with a walk to Coogee / Bronte Beaches if its on (around November) while you're here. Apart from the art there's the improvisation. Look intensely enough at one of the exhibits for long enough and someone is bound to ask you what you think it is .....improvise from there.

Sculptures By The Sea - Bondi Beach

59 Coogee Beach to Maroubra Beach

'No one' walks from Coogee Beach to Maroubra Beach so it's all the more enjoyable for it. Annoyingly there is a house right where it shouldn't be - forcing you to take to the streets for a while. You also have to negotiate a stony beach which is not for everyone. But I like it! Maroubra Beach is relatively under developed/unspoilt depending upon your view point. Maroubra has a nice cafe right on the beach and to the north an excellent ocean pool. Unlike Coogee, with no Wedding Cake offshore (island) the surf tends to be bigger and better at Maroubra Beach, just watch out for the rips.

Walk from Coogee Beach to Maroubra Beach

63 Eastern Suburbs Explorer Buses - Sydney sight seeing

What I like about the Explorer Buses is you can hop on and off whenever you want – just wait until it’s stopped moving.. Take your iPod with you in case you hate the commentary and get off when ever you find yourself somewhere you like the look of. Two options, Sydney City and Eastern Suburbs - check the bus companies web site below for details including the route maps (right hand corner of their site(s))

Click the link below for Sydney Explorer Buses timetables and routes.

Sydney Explorer Buses

64 Diving

Diving At Shelly Beach (North Side of Sydney Harbour)

Diving off of Shelly Beach in Manly is very popular with locals and visitors alike.

Diving at Gordon's Bay and Bare Island (South Side of Sydney Harbour)

Gordon's bay (near Coogee) has a course to dive into and swim around. Gordon's Bay lies between Coogee and Clovelly and is a lovely place above or below the water. Bare Island may (near La Perouse) have some Sea Horses left. Sadly their numbers are on the decline - 6 females to every male (the males are distinguishable by their large )

Now inspired (?) you may want to learn how to:

75 Day At Royal Randwick Races - Royal Randwick Racecourse

If you happen to be here on the first Tuesday in November then its Melbourne Cup day. Melbourne has a holiday (yes to celebrate a horse race) whilst Sydney has a party. Whilst not a big racing fan or 'punter' myself it is a 'huge' day.

http://www.theraces.com.au - Rosehill Racecourse

87 La Perous

Sydney’s French connection. History La bounds at Perouse but sadly so does the container terminal on the opposite side of the bay. Still well worth the visit.
There is an historical bush walk which will take you to the La Perouse Museum, La Perouse Monument as well as the fortifications at Henry Head and the scenery around Pussycat Bay and Cape Banks.

It’s rumoured that a 'Snake Man' performs at La Perouse on Sundays - best ask the locals when you get there as sounds doubtful to me. If he does exist let us know what you think. Catch the 393 and 394 to get to La Perouse.

Map of La Perouse

88 Bare Island

A fort not a nudist colony but I doubt if anyone will object if you're brave enough to start a trend. Bare Island is a footbridge away from La Perouse.

Bare Island - More Info

90 Centennial Park

For cycling, rollerblading and even horse riding away from serious Sydney traffic - you could do far worse than Centennial Park. Centennial Park is a lovely place so please take some time out from whizzing around it to stroll around the lakes and count the number of different birds. Centennial Park has a cafes / restaurant, a Kiosk (weekends) and is home to the outdoor Moonlight Cinema during the summer.

Official Centennial Park Web site Link

96 Clovelly Beach

Clovelly is a small family friendly ocean beach in the Eastern Suburbs half an hours walk from Coogee. Extended breakwaters and gently sloping beach makes Clovelly great for swimming, snorkeling, paddling and for kids of all sizes. A relatively new cafe nearby and the Clovelly Hotel adds to Clovelly appeal.

Clovelly Hotel

Sunday nights - live music followed by a free bus to the Place Hotel in Coogee for a boogie. Alternatively, enjoy a tasty but reasonably priced lunch. The Clovelly Hotel is one of Sydney's better pubs.

Click for more information