Bondi Beach vs Coogee Beach: which is better? It’s a question that has stumped the world’s greatest philosophers for centuries. Coastal engineers, beach bums and sea-horse whisperers alike; all have tried and failed to conclusively settle the age-old debate: Bondi or Coogee, Coogee or Bondi? Coogee connoisseurs will tell you their laid-back surf spot is the essential Aussie seaside experience, while Bondi buffs insist theirs is the better beach. We took a deep dive to find out more about what each has to offer, and explore how you can enjoy the best of both worlds. First up… Bondi!
Bondi Beach
Located around four miles east of central Sydney, Bondi Beach is a vision of golden sand, azure blue seas and hot bods with mahogany tans and gleaming white swimwear. Bondi is a lively place (one of Australia’s top tourist destinations in fact), drawing in a mixed international crowd, from seasoned surfers to serious party people and novice paddle-boarders to professional people-watchers. Visitors can expect a sublime mix of hipster cafés, cool indie boutiques, golden sands and more fun leisure pursuits than you can shake a very large boomerang at.
Spend lazy mornings soaking up the famously louche café culture: fabulous flat white in one hand, oven-warm cinnamon bun in the other, long afternoons on the beach, and lively evenings exploring the district’s many bars and clubs. There are also plenty of opportunities to get active on the beach: you absolutely have to get into the water but, if you don’t fancy plunging straight into the surf, there’s always the famous Bondi Icebergs club, which boasts a picture-perfect seawater swimming pool hewn into the very cliff face *and* a cocktail bar. Or come over all Keanu Reeves in ‘Point Break’ and rent a surfboard with a Sydney pass from Go City. Find out more about the pass and bag yours here.
Bondi Beach in Brief
- Bondi Beach activities: swimming, surfing, scuba diving, sunbathing and paddle-boarding.
- Bondi Beach shopping: cool indie couture and lifestyle brands are the order of the day here. Get your chic on along trendy Gould Street, where favorites include Tuchuzy, Jac + Jack, and Playa by Lucy Folk.
- Bondi Beach bars and restaurants: Hotel Ravesis for sundowner cocktails, Promenade for dinner-with-a-view, Sonoma Bakery for your morning caffeine fix.
- Where to stay in Bondi: Bondi Beach backpackers (££); The Baxley Bondi (£££); QT Bondi (££££)
Coogee Beach
Just a few miles south along the windswept Sydney coast, Coogee is an altogether more laid-back affair, eschewing party vibes for long, chilled days on the sand. That’s not to say it doesn’t get busy here – it does – but it’s way less cartoonish than its more famous sibling. That’s probably because there tends to be a higher proportion of locals to tourists here: whereas the opposite is true of Bondi. The name Coogee derives from the old Aboriginal word for ‘smelly place’, but don’t let that put you off because a) it’s not! And b) this little crescent of golden sand, with its gentle rolling surf and parks with towering pines, is arguably even prettier than Bondi.
Not to be outdone, Coogee also boasts its own historic ocean baths in the shape of the beautiful McIver Baths, Wylie’s Baths and Ross Jones Memorial Pool at the southern end. You can take in fine views of Wedding Cake Island and the natural Giles Baths rock pools from up on Dolphin Point, Coogee’s northern headland. Scuba, snorkeling, surfing and swimming opportunities are also excellent here, with a rich marine world that includes sharks, rays, seahorses and more.
Laid-back Coogee may be, but there’s also a vibrant bar and restaurant scene here, from fine dining to that most essential of Coogee Beach experiences: fish and chips on the beach.
Coogee Beach in Brief
- Coogee Beach activities: scuba, snorkeling, swimming, surfing, sunbathing and sunset strolls.
- Coogee Beach shopping: the main artery of Coogee Bay Road is where it’s at for clothes, homeware and department stores. Venture into its offshoot lanes for indie bakeries, cafés, boutiques and more.
- Coogee Beach bars and restaurants: A local favorite here since 1873, Coogee Bay Hotel is great for casual beers on the beach. Try Mimi’s at Coogee Pavilion for Mediterranean-style fine dining with beach views, and Costi’s for some of the freshest fish and chips in town.
- Where to stay in Coogee Beach: Little Coogee Hotel (££); Coogee Bay Hotel (£££); Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach (££££)
Bondi vs Coogee: Which is Better?
As to which of these sandy Sydney spots is best, well, we’re going to cop out and leave it up to you to decide. In short though: if you like quiet(ish), laidback and achingly pretty, Coogee may be your best call. If however you prefer people-watching, late-night partying and a more frenetic pace in general, it’s likely Bondi will be more your bag.
Now for the good news: the quite excellent Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk means you can enjoy the best of both worlds, and everything else in between! This unchallenging 3.5-mile cliff-top trail weaves its way all the way from Bondi to Coogee (and vice versa) and can be done at a leisurely pace in around two hours. Or, heck, take the whole day and pause at its many beautiful viewpoints, beaches and picnic spots along the way. Incurable Insta addicts will be in clover thanks to ocean vistas dotted with colorful fishing boats, cute seaside cafés with striped deckchairs, and gorgeous natural rock pools and bathing spots to snap.
Don’t miss route highlights that include:
- Bondi Icebergs: swoonsome ocean pool and club by Bondi Beach.
- Marks Park: check out the ancient Aboriginal rock carvings here, just south of Mackenzies Point.
- Bronte Beach: a lovely park, more baths and rock pools, and plenty of cafés make this a fine spot to pause for lunch.
- Waverley Cemetery: a final resting place with a view if ever we saw one, this heritage-listed cemetery contains many well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian monuments as well as the graves of many historical figures who helped shape Australia.
- Clovelly Beach: home to a pretty promenade, sheltered bay for swimming and a large beer garden.
- Gordon’s Bay: lined with cute fishing boats, this stunning bay has an underwater nature trail that’s great for diving and snorkeling. It’s also (whisper it) prettier than both Bondi and Coogee beaches!
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Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.
