The Bondi to Coogee Walk is one of Sydney’s most stunning coastal trails, featuring beautiful beaches, dramatic sandstone cliffs, and panoramic ocean views.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the highlights of this iconic walk, along with practical tips on how to get there and make the most of your experience.
| Bondi to Coogee Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 6 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 2 – 3 hours (depending on stops) |
| Grade: | Easy (some steep sections) |
| Dogs: | On a lead |
Getting There
Getting to Bondi or Coogee can be tricky on sunny days, as both are among Sydney’s most popular beaches.
Public Transport
If you don’t have a car or prefer to avoid driving, public transport is a convenient option. Regular train services run between the city and Bondi Junction, with connecting buses departing from Bondi Junction to Bondi Beach.
Buses also run directly from the Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach, though travel times can vary depending on traffic.
Parking in Bondi
Bondi offers two paid parking areas along Campbell Parade, which runs parallel to the beach. However, these fill up quickly on busy days and can be quite expensive. Alternatively, there are several underground public car parks in town.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider street parking further away from the beach. Some streets offer free parking with a two-hour time limit. Sandridge St and Fletcher St, located south of the beach, are good spots to check.
Parking in Coogee
At the other end of the walk, Coogee has a couple of paid parking areas. Free parking is available at Trenerry Reserve, south of the beach, or in the surrounding suburban streets.
Highlights and Map
In this article, we’re going to focus on the following 11 highlights and landmarks:
- Bondi Beach
- Bondi Icebergs
- Mackenzies Point
- Mackenzies Bay
- Tamarama Beach
- Bronte Beach
- Waverley Cemetery Boardwalk
- Clovelly Beach
- Gordons Bay
- Dolphins Point
- Coogee Beach
Below is a map with these highlights marked from 1 to 11, starting at Bondi Beach.
This interactive map presents the entire route on Google Maps which you can load on your phone when doing this hike.
Track Notes
With five of Sydney’s most popular beaches included in the Bondi to Coogee walk, this is going to be a beautiful day out.
If you think the walk to Coogee is a bit too far, check out our Bondi to Bronte Walk article. This walk is a bit shorter but still includes many highlights.
1. Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is Australia’s most iconic beach, embodying everything you’d expect from an Australian coastal destination.
It boasts a wide stretch of golden sand, excellent swimming and surfing conditions, plenty of restaurants and cafes, picnic areas, a lively promenade, and the classic Bondi Pavilion.
With a long and rich history, Bondi Beach is a cornerstone of Australian beach culture and is even listed on the Australian National Heritage List.
It’s also worth noting that the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club holds the title of the world’s oldest surf lifesaving club, having been in operation for over a century.
From Bondi Beach, head south to Bondi Icebergs on Notts Avenue, where the walking track to Coogee Beach begins.
Notts Avenue was upgraded in recent years to enhance safety and amenities for both residents and the one million annual visitors doing the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.
As part of the upgrade, a new lookout platform was installed, offering stunning views of Bondi Beach and the ocean. Located next to Bondi Icebergs, it’s well worth a visit before you start your walk.
2. Bondi Icebergs
If you’re looking to enjoy a drink or a meal in true Bondi style, Bondi Icebergs is the place to be. This iconic swimming club features a restaurant upstairs with unbeatable ocean views.
Swimming in the Bondi Icebergs Pool is a year-round tradition, even during the winter months when dedicated locals brave the cold for their daily laps.
From Bondi Icebergs, follow the concrete walking path around Bondi Bay towards Mackenzies Point.
The views of Bondi Beach and the ocean along this stretch are breathtaking, so take your time to soak it all in.
3. Mackenzies Point
At the end of the path, a set of stairs leads up to a lookout offering spectacular views of Bondi Beach.
This lookout sits on the easternmost tip of Mackenzies Point, a headland nestled between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach.
Also on this headland is Marks Park, a large grassy area that hosts the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. Even when the sculptures aren’t on display, the park is well worth exploring, especially after its recent upgrades.
From the Mackenzies Point lookout, the walking track continues south towards Mackenzies Bay.
4. Mackenzies Bay
Situated just north of Tamarama Beach, Mackenzies Bay is a picturesque spot with a rocky shoreline.
Legend has it that the bay transforms into a sandy beach every few years when ocean currents wash up sand. Whether that’s true or not remains a mystery!
From Mackenzies Bay, continue along the walking trail as it winds around the bay and a small headland, eventually leading you to Tamarama Beach.
5. Tamarama Beach
Often nicknamed ‘Glamarama’, Tamarama Beach is known for its good but challenging surfing conditions. The beach itself is small and narrow, with several volleyball courts set up at the back.
Due to its deep and strong rip currents, Tamarama isn’t the best spot for swimming. Instead, it’s perfect for sunbathing, a game of volleyball, or simply relaxing by the shore.
Just behind the beach, Tamarama Park offers excellent BBQ and picnic facilities, along with a modern cafe and a toilet and shower block.
From Tamarama Beach, follow the main track south towards Bronte Beach.
6. Bronte Beach
Bronte Beach is a family-friendly stretch of sand, backed by a spacious park with excellent BBQ and picnic facilities.
If you’re feeling hungry at this stage of the Bondi to Coogee Walk, the row of cafes along the road next to Bronte Park is the perfect place to grab a meal or a coffee.
Or, for the ultimate beachside experience, pick up some fish and chips and enjoy them in the park with the beach right in front of you. It doesn’t get much better than that!
From Bronte Beach, follow the track south towards Waverley, passing Calga Reserve, where a scenic boardwalk begins.
7. Waverley Cemetery Boardwalk
In 2009, a 550-metre-long wooden boardwalk was opened to the public, curving around the expansive Waverley Cemetery.
This section was the missing link in the Bondi to Coogee walking trail, transforming it into a seamless, uninterrupted coastal path.
Officially named the Sesquicentenary Boardwalk, it was built to commemorate Waverley Council’s 150th anniversary and came with a price tag of $2.5 million.
Walking along this boardwalk is an adventure in itself, with the ocean stretching out below. Several viewing points with benches are dotted along the way, offering visitors the chance to soak in the panoramic views.
8. Clovelly Beach
The boardwalk ends right at the start of Clovelly, a vibrant and charming beachside suburb. Here, you’ll find a lawn bowls club, a family-friendly beach, and a large parking area.
Swimming at Clovelly Beach is fantastic, though conditions can get rougher closer to the open ocean, particularly when the wind picks up.
Just around the corner from the Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club is a spacious car park, which also doubles as a great spot to relax and take in the ocean views.
9. Gordons Bay
The next stop is Gordons Bay, but getting there requires a steep climb up Cliffbrook Parade. This challenging passage from Clovelly to Gordons Bay isn’t for the fainthearted, so take your time and pace yourself.
Nestled between Clovelly and Coogee, Gordons Bay is a small, secluded oasis. Unlike other spots along the trail, it has no car parking facilities and is only accessible via the coastal path.
Gordons Bay features a tiny strip of sand, though it’s hardly a traditional beach. Much of the area is taken up by racks of boats from the local fishing club, giving the bay the feel of a quiet fishing village in remote Greece.
Beyond fishing, Gordons Bay is a favourite among divers and snorkelers, who come to explore the Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail. This 600-metre trail consists of concrete-filled drums linked by a chain, with steel plaques along the way providing fascinating information about the marine environment.
10. Dolphins Point
The main walking trail continues around Gordons Bay to Dolphins Point, a scenic peninsula just north of Coogee Beach.
Before reaching Coogee, it’s worth pausing at the Bali Memorial, dedicated to the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings.
Near the memorial stands an old portico, the former entrance to the Giles Gym and Baths. Although the complex was demolished in 2000 due to its age, the area remains a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing.
From Dolphins Point, the walking trail leads into Coogee via Dunningham Reserve.
11. Coogee Beach
At the northern end of Coogee Beach, you’ll find the popular Coogee Pavilion. Whether you’re craving a meal or a cold beer, this is the perfect spot to relax for a while.
Alternatively, head straight into Coogee and settle into one of the many cafes, or grab some fish and chips to enjoy on the beach or in the park.
Coogee Beach is a lively and iconic 400-metre stretch of sand, nestled within the beautiful Coogee Bay.
Goldstein Reserve, the green area behind the beach, is equipped with plenty of tables, barbecues, picnic shelters, and shady trees. A long promenade runs between Coogee Beach and the reserve, perfect for a leisurely stroll.
At the southern end of the beach stands the iconic clubhouse of the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, established in 1907.
More Coastal Hiking
One of the perks of living in Sydney is that there is no shortage of coastal hikes, with the Bondi to Coogee walk being the most popular.
Some of these coastal and Harbour walks are connected, and together they form the 80 km long hike between Bondi and Manly, an incredible coastal adventure.
If you’d like to add another section to the Bondi to Coogee walk, consider starting in Watsons Bay and do the Federation Cliff walking Walk to Bondi.
Otherwise, in Coogee, you can continue the coastal trail to Maroubra Beach, from where you can continue on to the Malabar Headland.
