Marked by high cliffs, deep bays and beautiful beaches, the Bondi to Coogee Walk in Sydney, Australia is one of the most iconic coastal trails in the world.
The natural landscapes found along this trek are absolutely captivating and you are treated to stunning views to the horizon.
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Following the jagged coastline, the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk passes rocky lookout points and sandy coves. For both tourists and Sydneysiders, the Bondi walk is a must-do activity!
Why Take a Bondi Beach to Coogee Coastal Walk?
As frequent Sydney visitors, we have completed the Bondi coastal walk several times. We rank the trail as one of the best walks in the world – and it’s not just for the incredible seascapes.
The Bondi to Coogee Beach coastal walk is fairly easy and can be shortened if desired. Ample public transportation makes it simple to access the trail at multiple points.
Our favorite route is completing the roundtrip trek. By ending at the famous Bondi Beach, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a celebratory drink at Bondi Icebergs!
Bondi Beach Coastal Walk: What You Need to Know
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk distance is 3.5 miles one way. As we already mentioned, it is not necessary to complete the entire stretch.
To help you plan your Bondi to Coogee Walk Route, we detail each section in our Sydney Coastal Walk Guide.
How long the Bondi to Coogee walk will take depends on your pace and how often you stop. At a relaxed stride with multiple photo stops, most people can complete the one-way walk in about 2 hours.
Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Difficulty Level
Walking coastal Sydney between Bondi and Coogee is rated as easy. There are alternating inclines and declines from the bays to the points.
You should be aware that there are many stairs, therefore, it’s not suitable for strollers (prams) or those who have difficulty with steps.
The path frequently changes from paved to dirt or rock and small portions of the walk are along the road. Those needing to rest will find several benches along the route.
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk Safety
For the most part, the path is smooth and wide. Along some portions near high cliffs there are railings and signage, and we advise you heed to those.
However, there are parts of the trail that allow you to walk right up to the edge. Practice caution at these points when taking pictures (especially selfies) and use common sense.
Bondi to Coogee Map
Use this Bondi to Coogee Walk Map PDF or view our Coogee to Bondi map on Google.
Sections of the Coastal Walk Bondi to Coogee
We have broken down the Bondi – Coogee coastal walk into the following sections:
- Bondi
- Tamarama Beach
- Bronte
- Waverley Cemetery
- Shark Point
- Clovelley Beach
- Gordons Bay
- Dolphins Point
- Coogee
Bondi Beach
Bondi is a hip seaside town and understandably a must-visit for many Sydney tourists and residents alike.
Surfers, swimmers and sunbathers all flock here for the wide, powdery sand shoreline. There are also numerous eateries and Bondi Bars along Campbell Parade, the main road that fronts the beach.
Bondi to Tamarama
The Bondi to Coogee Walk begins on the west end of the beach at the famous Icebergs ocean pool.
From here, the path leads south past interesting rock formations that have been sculpted by the sea and wind.
The trail winds around the coast and climbs a set of stairs to Mackenzies Point. From the large circular platform, there is a fabulous view north to Bondi and the coastline to the south.
The walk from Bondi to Mackenzies Point only takes about a 10-minutes. It’s usually quite busy and for many who are short on time, it is the only section they complete.
The boardwalk continues southwest past Aboriginal rock engravings and along a shallow cove.
Following the coastline around Tamarama Rocks, the path descends a set of stairs and curves past the SLSC (Surf Life Saving Club) to Tamarama Beach.
Nestled into Mackenzies Bay, this is a deep sandy beach that feels secluded along the expansive shoreline. It extends into a small grassy park, where there are covered picnic areas and facilities.
Good for surfing, beach volleyball or lounging around, Tamarama Beach also has a small café with a nice viewpoint.
Tamarama to Bronte
Continuing south, following Bronte Marine Drive, it’s just a short stroll around the point to Bronte Beach.
The long, crescent shoreline at Bronte is the biggest beach on the walk from Bondi to Coogee. It’s a great place to stop for a swim, but be mindful of rip currents and wave conditions.
The Bronte Baths ocean pool on the south end is a lovely spot for a relaxing dip in the sea water (and they are free).
The large green space beyond the beach has numerous grills, tables and green space. There are several cafes along Bronte Rd at the south end of the park, as well.
Bronte to Waverley Cemetery
From the south end of Bronte Beach, the trail continues up a staircase. There is a short detour to a viewpoint overlooking the Bronte Pool and Pacific Ocean, but there’ll be better one’s ahead!
At the top of the stairs, the trail follows the road for a short distance. You can choose to stay on the road past a rock wall or turn onto one of the dirt trails that lead to the top for better views.
Where the road curves west, the path continues south along the coastline through Calga Park. Stairs lead down onto a boardwalk situated between the sea and the cemetery.
The Waverley Cemetery overlooks the ocean from the top of the cliff – and the unique location makes is one of the most beautiful gravesites in the world.
Opened in 1877, it is now heritage-listed. In addition to the numerous Victorian and Edwardian era monuments, many famous Australians have been buried here.
Those interested in the historic site can detour into the cemetery, walk through the gravesites and take in the views.
Waverley Cemetery to Shark Point
At the end of the boardwalk on the south side of the cemetery, the trail again joins the road for a short jaunt past the Clovelly Bowling Club.
At the south end of the pitch is a dirt pedestrian-only path that leads back out to the coastline and on to Shark Point.
With a terrain of smooth, flat rocks, the steep cliffs are our favorite viewpoint on the entire Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.
Shark Point juts into the sea and it is possible to see both Bondi Beach to the north and Coogee Beach to the south. Note: Use caution as there are no barriers on this section of the walk!
Shark Point to Clovelly Beach
From Shark Point, walk east through Burrows Park onto the paved path. Take a detour and go down the stairs to the rocks for exploration or follow the sidewalk toward Clovelly Beach.
The path quickly comes to a fork where you can either descend to the beach or ascend a steep staircase that wraps around the end of the bay and provides spectacular views.
The long, narrow Clovelly Bay ends at the sandy Clovelly Beach, which is surrounded by a small forest of trees. The shallow bay is filled with calm, turquoise water.
On the top end of the beach there is a shaded picnic area and a small playground. On the south side, there is an ocean pool, a café and the Clovelly SLSC.
Clovelly Beach to Gordons Bay
From the SLSC the Bondi to Coogee walk continues along the shoreline and around the point, passing a parking lot.
Once around the end of the point, hop back on the inclined pedestrian path, Cliffbrook Parade, that leads past houses and into Gordons Bay.
The rock-lined shallow Gordons Bay is our favorite inlet along the trek. The cove of pale, teal water has a tiny sandy beach where small boats rest on the shore.
There are no amenities, which makes Gordons Bay feel like a natural retreat. Footpaths break off from the main trail and lead to the sea for further exploration, if desired.
Gordons Bay to Dolphins Point
Just past Gordons Bay, the path from Bondi to Coogee is briefly enveloped in forest, but abruptly ends in a neighborhood.
Walk a short distance on Major Street past the houses to Dunningham Reserve. A wide, paved path winds through the reserve directly to Dolphins Point.
However, we recommend following a path less-taken. Directly east towards the water from the last house on Major St, there is a dirt path that leads out to a rocky point.
With few visitors, the natural landscape offers a secluded spot. The trail winds around the end of the outcrop and re-joins the path to Dolphins Point.
Dolphins Point is a grassy, clifftop knoll overlooking the ocean and the Giles Baths below.
Here a sculpture commemorates the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, six of whom played for the Coogee Dolphins rugby team.
Dolphins Point to Coogee
From the Bali Memorial on the main Bondi to Coogee path, walk across the grass to the Dolphins Point lookout. In the winter months, keep an eye on the horizon for migrating whales!
Take the stairs down to the rocks below for a different vantage point. Then, go back to the trail and continue on to Coogee Beach.
Coogee is a historic suburb of Sydney that was first settled by Europeans in 1838 and many notable buildings remain.
The main street, Coogee Bay Road, runs perpendicular to the beach and is home to a plethora of shops, restaurants and pubs.
While Coogee Beach is not nearly as big as Bondi Beach, it is a popular spot for families, swimmers and surfers.
Spending time on the sand or in the ocean is one of the best things to do in Coogee. Just off-shore is the small Wedding Cake Island.
Coogee to Bondi Walk
As mentioned previously, our preferred route is the return Coogee to Bondi coastal walk.
When short on time, we’d actually just start in Coogee. That’s because we would rather end our trek in Bondi, where there are more things to do!
We usually like to go in the afternoons, except in the summertime when it’s better early in the morning to beat the heat. From Sydney, we take a bus to Coogee, which terminates right at the beach.
However, instead of immediately hopping on the trail, we walk into town and grab lunch to go.
Coogee to Clovelly Beach
We start the walk from Coogee Beach to Dolphins Point, where we find a place to eat our lunch and scan the horizon for whales.
From here, we take the first dirt path out to the natural rocky outcrop for more views and exploration.
Emerging from the rugged clifftop onto Major Street, we make the short walk along the street and then descend into Gordons Bay.
If we are not on a schedule, we like to spend some time by the water and exploring on the rocks before continuing on to Clovelly Beach.
Clovelly Beach to Waverley Cemetery
At Clovelly Beach, we usually stay on the elevated path to Burrows Park. We walk straight through the grassy park to Shark Point, where we like to stand on the rocks and stare out to sea.
We walk north along the rocky ledge to the Clovelly Bowling Club and then north to Waverley Cemetery.
Waverley Cemetery to Bronte
Our preferred route is on the cliffside boardwalk, with a detour into the cemetery at the mid-way point. Once past the cemetery, we follow the road to Bronte Beach.
Being a long stretch of shoreline, it’s nice to take off our shoes and walk this portion on the sand!
Bronte to Tamarama
Continuing to Bondi, we follow the path to Tamarama Beach, but bypass both the beach and the park and stay on the trail.
The walk from Tamarama Rocks to Mackenzies Point never ceases to amaze us with the unique geological features and stunning coastline.
From Mackenzies Point, we join the crowds and complete the final section of the Coogee to Bondi walk.
Tamarama Beach to Bondi
In Bondi, we usually linger by Icebergs, watching surfers and swimmers before walking down to the beach.
On our beach stroll, we pass by the Bondi Skate Park and then peruse the street art along the parking lot wall. If it’s the weekend, we check out any events or visit one of the markets.
Regardless of what day it is, we always finish our walk with a celebratory pint at one of the bars with a view. Cheers from Coogee to Bondi!
More Coastal Walks Near Sydney
Although Bondi to Coogee is by far the most popular, there are other Sydney coastal walks. Two that we love are from Spit to Manly and the Watsons Bay Walk.
Looking for an outlined free walk to top Sydney attractions? Check out our Self Guided Walking Tour!
Essentials for the Bondi to Coogee Walk
Before setting off, you want to make sure you are prepared for your trek with the following!
Bondi to Coogee Trail Necessities
Don’t forget to pack the basics! You will need comfortable walking shoes – use our tips for the Best Travel Shoes that will fit the bill.
You will also want to make sure you are prepared for the weather. Bring a refillable water bottle, high SPF sunscreen and/or a wide-brimmed hat.
Australia is gorgeous! For high-quality photos, bring an actual camera (rather than just your phone). We travel with a DSLR Canon Rebel, which takes beautiful pictures and is a fantastic budget camera.
As you make the walk from Bondi to Coogee, we recommend wearing a small day pack where you can stow your necessities. Read our tips for the Best Travel Day Bags.
Travel Tips for Planning a Trip to Sydney
A trip to Sydney requires a bit of planning – but we have all the guides that will help you prepare for your vacation to Australia!
Need tips for things to do in Sydney? Check out our 3-Day Sydney Itinerary – which includes our top spots for Sydney’s Best Craft Beer as well as an amazing Day Trip to the Blue Mountains!
Visiting other top destinations in Australia? Good on ya! Get ready with our detailed guides and insider tips.
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What To Pack for your Sydney Trip
Packing for a trip to Sydney is never a fun task, but we make it as easy as possible with our Packing Tips.
In addition to our Ultimate Travel Packing List, we share heaps of advice on the Best Packing Hacks. Just don’t forget your Free Packing Checklist!
Australia Travel Insurance
If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.
Sydney Trip Organization
As you get ready for Australia, staying organized is key. We recommend using our Printable Travel Planner to stay on top of all the details of your vacation to Sydney!
Start planning your trip to Australia! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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