Explore the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk: Beaches and Scenic Views in Sydney

Everything You Need To Know For This Famous Coastal Walk

One of the most famous walks just outside of Sydney is the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee or in the reverse direction. Its official name is the Waverley Coastal Walk which you will see on signs along the path.

On the day we decided to do this walk, we started in Bondi and walked toward Coogee. Part of the reason for this was due to the Sculptures By The Sea art exhibition that was taking place. It required a one-way flow of traffic during a significant part of the walk, so our choice was made for us.  

But while we were walking, we decided that this was likely a better approach no matter the day, since the pathway is less crowded going towards Coogee. And after speaking with some locals, they advised that Bondi can be super busy in the afternoon.  This blog will detail our walk along this famous coastal walk and highlight everything you will see along the way.

Highlights of the Bondi to Coogee Walk

Things To Know About The Bondi To Coogee Walk

✦ The walk is just over 6 kms long and can take between 2-3 hours. The completion time really depends on your individual preference and how many stops you make along the way. We did the walk in about 2 1/4 hours – that was leisurely and with many stops for pictures.

✦ There is very little shade on the actual pathway. So plan accordingly with a hat, sunglasses and lots of sunscreen. The sun is very strong in Australia so don’t ruin your holiday by not using adequate coverage.

✦ There are several kiosks along the way where you can purchase refreshments. And there are places to fill water bottles as well so make sure to bring your own refillable bottle.

✦ We recommend starting your walk in the morning to avoid the hotter part of the day and also to avoid the larger crowds that gather in the afternoon. This is a very popular activity in Sydney.

✦ If you have limited time you can decide to do just a portion of the walk. There are points in each of the towns where you could stop if you wanted. 

✦ It is important to know that the path has several areas with steps so it is not considered an accessible walk. There is only one section that can be accessed by a wheelchair and that is in Bondi.

What To Expect On The Bondi To Coogee Coastal Walk In Sydney

We headed to Bondi by Uber from The Rocks area in Sydney around 9:30am in the morning and it took approximately 20 minutes. You can also take public transportation to Bondi – train or bus but we wanted to get there a little quicker so we chose the Uber option.

Denis required a coffee, so we had a little stroll down the main street and saw many shops and cafes. It looks like a usual beach town and even reminded us of the main street of Fort Lauderdale.

Bondi Beach

Once we were ready to go, we crossed the street to the huge beach, and it was already becoming quite busy.  The long expanse of beach is really gorgeous and lived up to the hype of the pictures that we had seen previously. We were visiting in late October and it was very windy and slightly cooler in the morning, but that didn’t stop people from enjoying many activities on the sand. 

We saw a lot of people participating in exercise classes, beach volleyball, soccer and sunbathing. And of course, being a popular surfing location, there were many out in the water catching waves as they crashed onto the shore.

We walked down to the water’s edge and enjoyed the fresh sea air on our faces and took in the amazing surroundings. This entire park area is truly beautiful. 

✅ If you are looking to have a more in-depth look at Bondi Beach, check out this 5-star rated walking tour that provides history and insight into the area from a local. And it includes an option to add on the Coastal Walk.

Once we had our fill of the beach, it was time to find the start of the walk. At the far end of the beach is the famous Bondi Icebergs Club. It is here that you can see the popular ocean pool that almost looks like it is built into the sea.

At the time we visited, there was lap swimming going on, and we loved seeing the sea crashing all around the pool as people swam along, intent on completing their exercise routine.

Icebergs also had a nice venue for dining but since we were starting our walk here, we weren’t quite ready to eat yet so we continued on past to start the actual trek to Coogee.

If you go to the entrance of the Icebergs Club, you will see the path that is the start of the walk. It is a very obvious path that hugs the coast.

The day we completed this walk, we were fortunate to see a wonderful art exhibition called Sculptures by the Sea. This is an annual, free exhibition, every Fall, where participating artists install artwork along the pathway and also a large grouping of pieces in Hunter Park.

In some place there was art integrated into the surroundings, and in others , there were stand-alone pieces. Some were quite unusual, and others we found to be interesting and elaborate. The art spanned along a lengthy section of the coastal walk so we could check out many pieces, and it enhanced this famous walk all that much more.

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Several bays along the way, such as MacKenzie’s Bay, just before Tamarama Beach have signs indicating that the surf can be very rough and there are unsupervised strong currents, so it is not advised to swim in these locations.

Tamarama Beach

This is a lovely beach known to have great surf so depending on the day, you will likely see surfers here. There is also a lifeguard on duty, but it is advised to stay within the designated area labelled with flags. 

The beach has beautiful white sand and plenty of space to spread out for sunbathing. It is very picturesque, with large rocky cliffs leading down to the water. There is also a park area with grass in the rounded part of the bay and a kiosk for refreshments.

You can choose to take the steps down and walk along the beach or you can stay on the upper level and walk around the beach with a view from overhead. We walked on the beach as there were more art installations in this area.

✅ If you don’t want to do the full walk but still want to experience the area, you can go with a tour guide that will get you to each of the significant points along the way. This highly rated private tour gives you all the best stops for sightseeing, exploring and relaxing.

Bronte Beach

The next section of the walk is very easy and flat since it is a sidewalk on the edge of the main road. 

It won’t be long before you come to one of the larger beaches – Bronte Beach. It is also a very common place for surfing but again the currents can be quite rough so it is important to watch the signs. 

There are more services here including a lifeguard station, refreshment kiosk, several cafes and a large picnic area on the grass with tables and electric BBQs.

One of the most notable activities here is the Bronte Baths, which reminded us of the ocean pools we saw in São Miguel, Azores.

This amazing ocean pool at the southern end of the beach dates back to 1887, and interestingly, when it first opened, the hours were segregated. Women could use the pool between 10:00am-4:00pm, and men used it outside these hours plus Sundays and public holidays.

Nowadays you will see it is open to everyone and a pretty popular location. And why not? Who doesn’t enjoy swimming in a gorgeous infinity pool, carved into the sandstone cliff, that looks off into the Pacific Ocean?

The pool is quite large at 38 metres and has a divider part way through to allow lane swimming, separate from leisure swimming.

Look Out Point and Waverley Cemetery

The path continues and eventually turns into the Sesquicentenary boardwalk for half a kilometre over top of the Calga Reserve. The wooden boardwalk is very well maintained and also has a few sections with stairs.

There are several lookout points along this part of the route that provide incredible views. They are wonderful spots to stop, rest and really take in your surroundings. 

Also along this area is the Waverley Cemetery. It dates to 1877 and is rather large with 100,000 people buried there.  We love old cemeteries and this one even has some notable people buried here including Australia’s first prime minister and Australia’s first Olympic gold medal swimmer.

There are many poets and authors among those resting in this stunning location. There are heritage walking tours of the cemetery which are available to those interested in the history. 

Clovelly Beach

As you continue towards Coogee, you will come to Burrows Park which houses the Lawn Bowling Club and other sports playing fields. It is very flat along this section that leads you to Bundock Park where Clovelly Beach is located. 

This was probably our least favourite area. It has a large narrow bay that is edged with massive concrete pads. This is likely to help with the erosion since the water is very rough here. But the large concrete area unfortunately takes away from the natural beauty of the area.

However, it certainly doesn’t stop people from laying out to sunbathe on the hard surface.

There are many services here including a large pool and a shallow beach at one end that would be good for families. 

Gordons Bay

At this point, it is the toughest part of the walk. There are multiple steps and some steep inclines necessary to reach Gordon’s Bay.

The viewpoints are beautiful since the water has a different colour here due to the reef located within the bay. This reef has been designated an underwater nature trail.

The underwater trail is 620m long and marked with concrete drums and chains for people to dive within. On clear days it can also be viewed by snorkelling. The entire area offers a glimpse at the diverse marine plants and animals living on the reef. 

The beach is very small and most people lounge on the rocks surrounding it. Again a very picturesque location – just a little more challenging as you make your way up and down the path surrounding the bay.

Coogee Beach – Pavilion and Promenade

Once you come out of Gordon’s Bay you are in the final stretch of the walk and it is much easier on the path with parkland along the sea.

You will first come to Coogee Bay, and that’s when you will see the enormous beach. This area has been built up with many restaurants and shops. And the whole area around has lots of places to sit down on benches or in the park area for picnics. 

At this point, we were ready to have some lunch so we went to the Coogee Pavilion since it seemed the easiest and most convenient. They have several establishments in the building. We chose to sit up on the top level with an outdoor patio.

It is a busy spot and the atmosphere is fun. We found the food and service lacking but they have a captive audience there so perhaps good food isn’t necessary.

But regardless, we enjoyed our lunch and drinks which we thought we deserved after the effort of the walk.

FAQs

What Is The Bondi to Coogee Walk Distance?

The Bondi to Coogee walk is just over 6 kms.

Bondi to Coogee Walk Map

This is a map showing the major points along the walk that you can put into your GPS.

Where Is The Bondi to Coogee Walk Starting Point?

If you are starting your walk in Bondi, head up to the Icebergs Club at the south end of the beach. From there it is easy to see the pathway leading down along the coast.

Is The Bondi to Coogee Walk Difficult?

The pathway is mainly gentle with occasional steps and inclines. The only section that is more challenging is the area around Gordon’s Bay where there are many steps and some steep inclines.

The Final Word…Walk Along the Bondi to Coogee Coast

We were so glad that we took a half day to do this beautiful walk. Being outdoors in the fresh air, taking in all the views of the famous beaches and exploring this coastal area was a highlight of our time in Sydney. Be sure to add it to your plan as one of Sydney’s main attractions.