Iconic walks - Bondi to Coogee

As I learned—and then experienced first-hand—no trip to Sydney is really complete without a walk along the Coastal Trail from Bondi to Coogee (which can, of course, also be done in reverse).

I started at the iconic Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club, having rented an Airbnb directly on the beach in North Bondi. The two and a half hours spent strolling along the paved walkway between the two beach communities—with numerous beaches and sights along the way—ended up being one of the most memorable activities of my five-week stay in Australia and New Zealand.

Sights included:

• Bondi Beach

• Bondi Icebergs

• Tamarama Beach

• Bronte Beach

• Waverley Cemetery

• Clovelly Beach

• Gordons Bay

• Coogee Beach

As the photos show, there really are no words to describe the striking beauty of the Australian coast—rocky cliffs, turquoise-blue waters, fauna and flora, and a steady stream of (über) attractive Australian people!

Bring water and a LOT of sunscreen. My hand actually got pretty severely burned due to the strong Australian sun. I was busy holding my phone, taking pictures, and looking at maps, and the side of my thumb and right pointer finger got crispy burnt and turned bright red. 😬

Being springtime in Australia during my mid-November trek meant the temperature was comfortable—shorts and a tee were perfect—and I certainly did apply sunscreen, but somehow the side of my finger wasn’t on my sunscreen radar… and I paid the price.

I’d say the stroll normally takes about 2.5–3 hours depending on your speed and number of stops. You could easily spend all day if you wanted to stop at various beaches, grab a gelato, or take a picnic lunch with you. I mostly walked with a few photo stops and then spent some time in Coogee after completing the walk.

A very enjoyable day—and something I would highly recommend if you ever visit Sydney!

Cole

Your Australia lover