Looking for the best thing to do in Sydney? Well, you’re in luck! Besides being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Sydney is jam packed with activities that will keep you entertained for weeks!
Whether you want to enjoy stunning views of the harbour from the deck of a boat, eat at one of the mouth-watering waterfront restaurants and bars around the place, or soak up the sun at some of the most famous beaches in the world, Sydney has it all.
However, if you’re looking the BEST thing to do in Sydney, we recommend chucking on your running shoes and taking a stroll along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, doing the Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk is a must, especially if the sun is shining!
This 6 km leisurely walk (about 2 hours) takes you along the coastline of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Featuring epic views of some of the best beaches in Australia, you’ll want to make sure you bring your camera and don’t forget your budgie-smugglers too (translation: swimming costume), as there are plenty of opportunities to take a dip in the surf or in one of the many ocean pools dotted along the coastline.
You have a few options for your walk, depending on where you want to start from and how long you want to walk for. More importantly, the decision of where you want to get your coffee and brekkie from hinges on this too!
Top Tips before you head off on your walk…
- There are filtered water stations along the way so take a water bottle with you so you can fill up and stay hydrated.
- If you drink too much water and need to go to the loo, don’t stress! There are public toilets a plenty along the walk so you won’t need to go in the bushes!
- The Aussie sun is pretty fierce so make sure you cover up and wear a hat, slip, slop, slap!
- The walk is leisurely however there are some stairs, so sports shoes work best!
Tamarama to Bondi
If it’s busy and we’re short on time, we park at Tamarama as it’s easier to get a parking spot there. Once parked, we walk down through Tamarama Park until we hit Tamarama Beach (or Tama as it’s known to the locals). From there we walk round the headland to Bondi Beach (to the left if you’re looking at the water!). From here it’s just over 1km walk, so approximately a 2 km round trip, depending on how far you walk.
This part of the coastal walk will take you around the headland and along the length of Bondi Beach; if you keep your eyes peeled you will probably see a whale or two!
Once you get to Bondi Icebergs, that’s when you’ll need to start thinking about which café you’re going to hit up for breakfast. If you’re keen to continue walking along Bondi Beach down to the north end, you’ll hit our current favourite café The Hill Eatery. If you are too hungry to go any further than Icebergs, don’t worry; there are heaps of great cafes along Bondi Beach to choose from! Bondi Massive Cafe and Trio Cafe are on the main road that runs along Bondi Beach so you’ll only be a stone’s throw from a good eggs benny.
Once you’re all fed and had your caffeine fix, head back along the beach path and find your car!
Sculptures By The Sea
The coastal walk is the most famous walk to do in Sydney. Not only does it have breathtaking views, you’re also likely to spot an Aussie celebrity or sporting star and even whales on their migration journey. You’ll want to bring your patience with you as the walk can get pretty jammed sometimes, especially when it hosts the annual Sculptures By The Sea exhibition.
Sculptures By The Sea is one of the coolest art exhibitions I’ve ever been to. As such, I make it a priority each year to get my butt down there. From the last week of October to the first week of November, sculptures are mounted along the Coastal Walk between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach and draw millions of Sydneysiders and tourists to check out the artists’ offerings. Featuring artists from around the world it’s a must do event if you’re in the area. Want another reason to check it out? It’s FREE!
Bondi to Bronte
Want to start the walk in Bondi? Head up to the South end of the beach and the path starts right next to Bondi Icebergs. Before you head off, I recommend taking a happy snap. Getting a pic of the Bondi Icebergs pool with Bondi Beach in the background captures one of my all-time favourite views. The return walk to Bronte is approximately 1-2 hours and there’s a strip of cafes on Bronte Beach that whip up a mean breakfast and coffee.
Bondi to Bronte will take you past Mackenzies Bay and Tamarama Beach, with plenty of vantage points for whale watching and the perfect holiday photo. The path is sealed and besides a few stairs it’s a pretty leisurely stroll.
Bronte to Coogee
This part of the coastal walk tends to be much quieter than the Bondi end. From Bronte you head up the hill and past the iconic Waverley Cemetery that overlooks the ocean and Clovelly Bowls Club… the perfect place to play barefoot bowls, an Aussie tradition! Call ahead if you’re planning on having a game, as you’ll need to book ahead.
The next beach you’ll come to is Clovelly. This is a great spot for snorkelling or even just a quick dip in the ocean if it’s a hot day. If you’re feeling a bit thirsty by this point and it’s nearing lunchtime you could head up to the Clovelly Hotel for a bite to eat and a cold beer. From Clovelly you’ll continue on until you hit a steep staircase…don’t let that put you off…the views from the top over Gordon’s Bay are incredible.
At this point you’ll have almost finished the coastal walk with the next stop being Coogee Beach. If you didn’t stop off in Clovelly our recommendation is the Coogee Pavillion. This place is awesome for a cold drink and something to eat. Their speciality is wood-fired pizza and fresh seafood and it’s family friendly too! As it’s the place to be in Coogee it gets super busy at the weekends so arrive early to bag a table.
There’s no wonder that this experience was voted in the top two best experiences to do in Sydney…so get your gym gear on and we’ll see you out there!