The coastal hike from Bondi to Coogee is one of the most famous walks in Sydney. You’ll see several stunning beaches, plenty of clifftop viewpoints and, most likely, hundreds of other people. Yip, it’s popular, but don’t let that put you off the Bondi to Coogee walk. Keep reading for more information on what is easily one of the best coastal hikes in Sydney, Australia.
Bondi Beach
Packed to the brim (on a warm day at least) with all manner of Sydney’s citizens, Bondi Beach is a good place to visit whether you’re doing the Bondi to Coogee walk or not. It’s a great beach and apparently the surfing is pretty good (although I’m sure there is better surfing to be had elsewhere in Sydney). There are heaps of cafés, bars and restaurants and the whole place has a laid-back holiday vibe. It reminds me a lot of Seminyak in Bali — no wonder Australians love that place so much!
Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach
The walk to Tamarama Beach (and further along to Bronte Beach and Coogee) starts at the “pool” end of Bondi Beach. You’ve probably seen that pool (Bondi Rocks) and many others in photos — Australians seem to love their beachside pools. I guess you’re guaranteed not to run into any sharks in these pools, which could be part of the appeal. The views from the start of the track, looking out over Bondi Beach, are awesome and from there you leave the bustle behind for some more serene sections of coastline.
The track winds its way along the coastline and it’s pretty idyllic, despite the fact you’ll have to share it with a lot of other people. There are lots of places to get off the track and admire the views, especially as you get closer to Tamarama Beach, which is my favourite part of the entire Bondi to Coogee walk.
Tamarama Beach to Bronte Beach
From Tamarama Beach it’s a short walk to Bronte Beach. This is as far as a lot of people go and I can see why. It is the nicest section of the track and Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte are probably the three best beaches along this bit of coastline (closely followed by Coogee).
Bronte Beach to Coogee Beach
The second half of the Bondi to Coogee walk features more uphill (and downhill) sections than the first and the views aren’t quite as good. It’s still nice though! From Bronte Beach you’ll walk above another pool (this one is free and not quite as fashionable) and then along a boardwalk section which passes by Waverley Cemetery. We somehow ended up in the cemetery and thought we’d have to retrace our steps back to the track, but we eventually ended up in the right place.
It was getting a little dark at this point (we did this on a late April afternoon) so that may explain the worsening views, but I reckon the first section would be the best regardless. The final push to Coogee Beach is nice though and you can get some good views of the beach from the park above it. Once at Coogee you can hang out at the beach or grab a drink or bite to eat. It’s kind of like a mini version of Bondi and we would have spent longer there if it wasn’t almost dark. From Coogee you can catch a bus back to Bondi, walk back, or catch a bus somewhere else. We were staying in King’s Cross and it was an easy journey back.
The Bondi to Coogee Walk: The Details
The hike from Bondi to Coogee is around 6 km and will take anywhere from 90 minutes to an entire day (depending on how long you spend at the beaches). It’s easy for most of the way but there are some uphill sections. There isn’t much shade to speak of so take precautions (the sun in Australia is intense). You can get to Bondi Beach or Coogee Beach from the city or catch a bus or train to Bondi Junction. From there it’s a short bus ride to Bondi Beach.
Do you love coastal hikes? Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!
Jon Algie
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