A guide to the scenic Bondi to Coogee coastal walk — with Tamarama, Clovelly, Bronte and Gordon’s Bay — including practical tips for a relaxed seaside stroll.
Tamarama: small beach, big reputation
A lonely surfer bobs in the waves at Tamarama. The sign says ‘no flags, no swim’. And there are no flags today.
Tamarama is much smaller than its better-known neighbour around the headland. It also has a reputation of being somewhat more dangerous than Bondi, too. But the 8km coastal walk between Sydney’s best known beaches – Bondi and Coogee – is about discovering what’s between rather than revelling in the big names. And if Tamarama’s closed, we shall just have to move on.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
Bronte: family beach and ocean baths
Bronte comes next, and it has long been regarded as the family beach. There’s a massive park behind it, with a playground and public barbecues, while there are ocean baths cut into the coastline for those who don’t fancy taking on the surf.
Such baths are a massively underrated feature of Sydney’s coastline. There may be a string of beaches, but there is also a string of humungous swimming pools that would be the envy of pretty much any other city.
Waverley cemetery and the quieter stretch of coast
Beyond Bronte the walk temporarily ceases to hug the coast, passing through Waverley Cemetery. There are some massive family vaults here – most bearing Italian names – plus some gorgeously-carved angels and Christ figures. It’s clear that this is a prestigious place to be laid to rest, as the headland position overlooking the Tasman Sea would suggest.
Clovelly: calm water and underwater wildlife
It’s the next two bays, however, that are perhaps the most underrated on Sydney’s eastern suburbs coast.
Clovelly looks ugly, largely due to the dubious decision to concrete it in on two sides, creating a long, relatively narrow channel rather than a delicately curving bay. This does, however, make it the best of the beaches for swimming at. And this doesn’t just apply to humans.
Signs by the surf club explain what can be seen down there. The skipjack trevally is silver with a yellow stripe. The senator wrasse green with black and yellow stripes. The red morwong is salmony coloured. And, once in there, there’s an incredibly weird spiky beastie with leopard-esque spots. It turns out to be a three bar porcupine fish.
Suffice to say, to get the best out of a swim at Clovelly, bring a snorkel and mask with you. It may not be quite the Great Barrier Reef, but there’s a marvellously vivid world down there, and you can very easily get a sunburned back from spending too much time face down in the water ogling fish.
Gordon’s Bay: rock pools and sea tranquillity
The final stop before Coogee is arguably the loveliest of all, and that’s largely because there’s no beach to speak of at Gordon’s Bay. A few tin boats are stored up against the rocks, but sunbathers are notable by their absence.
Instead, a few clusters of people hang out by the rock pools. Some will go to investigate the underwater sculpture trail, some will see what life they can find in the marine reserve below. Others will just enjoy the simplicity of sitting by the sea, as nature intended, without a man-made alteration in sight.
Essential visitor information for Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
| What is the Bondi–Coogee walk length? | Approximately 8 km (one-way) from Bondi to Coogee via Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Gordon’s Bay. |
| Does public transport serve the walk? | Bondi and Coogee are both served by regular bus routes from central Sydney; taxis and rideshare are also easy alternatives. Use public transport rather than driving if possible. |
| Are there facilities along the walk? | Yes — public toilets, cafes, parks and picnic/barbecue areas are available at Bronte and other stops; surf clubs provide showers and amenities. |
| Is swimming safe everywhere? | No — beaches like Tamarama may be dangerous when flags are absent. Always follow posted signs and assess conditions before entering the water. |
| Best time to walk | Early morning or late afternoon for mild weather and smaller crowds; summer mornings offer calm seas for snorkeling at Clovelly. |
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More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Planning a visit to the Hyde Park Barracks.
- What to see at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney.
- What so see at the Justice and Police Museum in Sydney.
- Discover early colonial life at the Susannah Place Museum.
- What to expect at Calmsley Hill City Farm.
