From Coogee to Bondi!

From Coogee to Bondi!Sydney, Fall 2010

Posted by Alicia Lee on 8/31/10 • Comment (1)

One Saturday afternoon my other study abroad friend and I decided we were up to the challenge of completing the Coogee to Bondi Beach walk. The walk is a combination of beaches, parks, and amazing scenery. It has been around since the 1930’s and is known as one of the hidden gems of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The walk extends for about 3.7 meters from Coogee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to Bondi south. It takes about 2 hours at a reasonably steady pace of walking without too many stops. It’s another 20 minutes from my dorm at the University of New South Wales.

Unfortunately we found out that there aren’t many defined walking pathways and at some points we literally found ourselves at the cliff’s edge. But we knew that Bondi Beach was located to the west of Coogee. So we just kept following the water in that general direction. Occasionally we also found several seating places, water fountains, picnic shelters, etc.

Along the way we passed Clovelly, Waverley Cementary, Bronte Beach, Tamarama, and Mackenzies Point. It was truly an epic journey. At Clovelly we found a sheltered beach that was popular for children and families. It was a seemingly good place to snorkel. At Waverley Cemetery we found viewed a massive graveyard that includes notables such as Henry Lawson, Victor Trumper, Lawrence Hargrave, Henry Kendall, and many more. Although when we passed it the sun was creating an eerie presence around this graveyard situated on the dramatic coastline. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be up to doing the walk at night! At Bronte and Tamarama Beach we saw another set of beautiful beaches. At Mackenzie’s Point we saw a rocky platform with a whale carved into it. Apparently whales migrate regularly along the cost. Unfortunately it was night time when we arrived at Bondi so we didn’t view much of the beach but it seemed like a popular location with shops liked up around the coast. We ate dinner at a Thai place and took a bus home. At the end of the day my feet were sore, but I felt like I had truly explored something worthwhile