The walk from Bondi to Coogee is probably the best way to discover the beautiful coastline of Sydney’s suburbs. The walk passes through five beautiful beaches (Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, and Coogee) alongside scenic cliffs, parks, and rock pools.
Bondi to Coogee Walk Distance
The complete walk, from Bondi to Coogee, is around 6 km and should take under 3 hours to complete at a comfortable pace. The terrain is paved and mostly flat but with some inclines and steps. The walk is easy enough for people of all ages, including kids.
We do recommend that you wear comfortable sneakers for the walk, and also don’t forget to carry:
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle (you can also buy water at the beaches, but it’s better for the environment if you carry and fill your own)
- Flip-flops, a towel, and a swimsuit (in case you decide to jump into the water)
- A light jacket (it can get windy along the coast)
For the sake of simplicity, the entire walk can be divided into four parts, each ending at a beach:
- Bondi to Tamarama
- Tamarama to Bronte
- Bronte to Clovelly
- Clovelly to Coogee
Bondi to Coogee Walk Map
Here’s a quick look at the map of Bondi to Coogee Walk, along with its elevation profile. The map is in two parts because we took a break at Bronte Beach for lunch.
As you can see, the walk from Bondi to Bronte is quite easy, whereas the section between Bronte and Coogee is a bit more challenging.
Should you walk from Bondi to Coogee or Coogee to Bondi?
A few websites suggest starting the walk at Coogee and ending at Bondi. That’s a good suggestion because you finish at Bondi, the most iconic and biggest beach along this coastal walk.
However, you could also start at Bondi and finish at Coogee, as we did. Also, if you start at Bondi you can choose to end your walk at any of the beaches, such as Bronte Beach, in case you don’t feel like completing the entire walk. At least this way you would have already seen the best beach along Sydney’s coastline.
We also found the walk from Bondi to Coogee to be more relaxing as you tend to get away from the crowds at Bondi, and also because we were in no rush or urgency to get to Coogee.
Best time to start the walk
As the walk is relatively short, you can start it in the morning or afternoon. However, we would say that the best time to start from Bondi is between 11 AM and noon. This allows you to break your walk at Bronte for lunch, and reach Coogee in the afternoon/evening depending on your pace.
Before we dive into the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, here’s a quick video of the highlights that follow.
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Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk Starting Point
We started our coastal walk from Bondi Beach. You can arrive at the beach either by taxi or bus. If you arrive by car, there is limited parking at Bondi Beach. However, keep in mind that if you bring your car, you’ll need to take a taxi or bus back from Coogee to Bondi to collect your vehicle.
Once you reach Bondi Beach, the walk starts from the right side, towards the Bondi Icebergs Swimming Pool.
Bondi to Tamarama
The first part of the coastal walk runs between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach. At the very start of the walk are the rock pools of the Bondi Icebergs, perhaps the most photographed swimming pool in Australia. We spent a considerable time standing here, taking pictures of the pool and beach. You can also choose to visit the swimming club.
From the Icebergs, continue walking down Notts Avenue and then slip into the paved section of the coastal walk. Continue along the coastal walk as it twists and turns, leaving Bondi Beach behind.
Keep looking back to admire the beauty and size of Bondi Beach as you approach Mackenzies Point. From here on out, Bondi disappears but Tamarama and Bronte beaches appear on the horizon. With beautiful rocky cliffs, this section of the walk s simply gorgeous!
Take a break at Tamarama Beach and admire the view of the surfers from the cliffs.
Tamarama to Bronte
The short walk from Tamarama Beach to Bronte Beach is the easiest part of this walk. When you arrive at Tamarama Beach, walk down onto the beach and then back up from the other side. Then follow the pedestrian path along the main road that leads you to Bronte Beach.
Once you reach Bronte Beach, cross the beach and head up Bronte Road. Most of the restaurants are located along this road. We grabbed lunch at Bronte Belo, a nice Brazilian restaurant.
After lunch, we lounged around and lay on Bronte Beach Park admiring the surfers and the kids playing at the Bronte Baths. It was amazingly relaxing!
Bronte to Clovelly
Good thing that you fueled up because the walk from Bronte to Clovelly is the longest section of the walk. There are also a few steps and inclines along the way. Although not as scenic as the sections before, this part of the walk does have a few highlights.
To get back onto the walk, you need to walk along Calga Pl. If you head down towards Bronte Bath, you’ll run into a dead-end.
As Calga Pl bends around the corner, follow the steps that continue along the coastal walk.
Just after the steps is a large grass patch that offers scenic views around the coastline. From here, head down onto the boardwalk and walk along the cliffs staring into the deep blue waters. You can spot whales from this boardwalk. Sadly, we didn’t.
At the end of the boardwalk is the Waverley Cemetery, a massive oceanside cemetery, established in 1877, that is home to the tombs of many prominent Australians.
Just after the Waverley Cemetry, comes the Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club, one of the most scenic clubs that I’ve ever seen! Perched upon a cliff, with stunning views of the sea from its grounds, the club is breathtaking.
Just after the Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club, you arrive at Clovelly Beach. This oddly shaped beach is as deep as Bronte is wide.
Clovelly to Coogee
On the other side of Clovelly Beach, the coastal walk towards Coogee continues on its final stretch.
For the most part, the last section of the walk goes around Gordons Bay, a picturesque and protected aquatic reserve. There is a steep section of steps along the route, so keep that in mind. In the centre of the bay is a small beach.
As you exit Gordons Bay and through the beautiful suburban houses, you’ll arrive at a Dunningham Reserve on the northern headland of Coogee Beach. This large grassed area is a great place to relax next to the beach and admire the views. Don’t forget to visit the Giles Bath, Dolphin Point and the Bali Memorial while you’re here.
You can walk across to Coogee Beach or Goldstein Reserve, the park behind the beach. There are plenty of spots to relax and celebrate the end of the journey.
There are plenty of restaurants and bars around Coogee Beach. The Coogee Pavilion, with its rooftop bar, is probably worth checking out.
Bondi to Coogee Walk
We hope that you found our guide for the Bondi to Coogee Walk helpful. At the very least, we hope the photos inspire you to undertake this stunning coastal walk when you’re in Sydney.
If you enjoyed these photos, do check out our photo gallery from Sydney.
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