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The Eastern Beaches daytrip.

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Wander around the coast from Bondi as far as Coogee, and take in the wonderful beaches which are perhaps Sydney's best known attraction. Though its lovely all year round, if it's summer, bring your bathers!

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Author: JHN

Day 1 - Sydney, Bondi

The cliffs between Bondi and Coogee are a Sydney cla**ic... sandstone, cra*hing waves, because and (hopefully) sun. Bring a hat, a bottle of water, some suncream, your bathers and sungla**es... its pretty glary! Start off by checking into your hotel - the Bondi Beach House is a cute little B&B that makes a nice ba*e. Then its off to check out the waves! Bondi Beach itself is a long strip of white sand, perhaps 50 metres deep. Summer weekend days it is caked in roa*ting bodies - thousands of locals and tourists draping themselves on the sand, worshipping the sun. Truth be told, there are many prettier beaches around - Bondi is quite built up nowadays (there are extant photos of what it looked like in the 19th century, sand-dunes running back off the beach - back then it really wa* beautiful) but still, there's somehthing archetypal about Bondi Beach - it's just so huge, and the sand's so white, the delicate curve of the bay... it still satisfies, no matter how urbanised it ha* become. Be careful if you do step in for a dip. Swim between the flags, which mark the safe parts of the beach for swimming, and where there are professional life-savers stationed to ensure that you don't drown. Bondi ha* strong rips. This is even more true of the other beaches on this walk. This area is diverse, being populated by heaps of English and New Zealanders, but there is a healthy smattering of locals, and the further from the beach, the more interesting and local it becomes. It is, for instance, the defacto capital for Sydney's Jewish community. If you fancy a spot of lunch on the beach, you could top up with supplies from the handy little Earth Food Store, which sells healthy snacks on a side street just behind the beach. Heading South, there is a spectacular cliff walk, which is highly recommended, taking you over cliffs and down into little beach-coves, and pa*t one of the most spectacularly situated graveyards you'll ever see. Head South of Bondi along the coa*t and you'll find a path, which will lead around the foreshore, over cliffs with panoramic views out over the pacific. The walk is not particularly strenuous, unless you try to walk it too fa*t in the middle of a hot summer's day. It's better to take it ea*y, and if it's too hot, rest. The way is studded with frequent jewel-like beaches, and more cafes than you can poke a stick at, so there are plenty of excuses to. Particularly noteworthy.... Bronte is a pretty beach, although beware of the rip! Clovelly is an interesting place, a concreted in bay, yet still wild to a great extent. It's a good place to go snorkelling a* the bottom is rocky and there is a profusion of fishlife. Further along you'll find Gordon's Bay, which is famous for its 'Groper' fish - bright blue and a couple of feet long. Swim out and you just might see one! The Waverly Cemetery sits high on a hill between Bronte and Clovelly, with crooked graves overlooking a cliff and a 100 metre drop sheer into the Pacific. A beautiful place. Eventually, a couple of hours stroll from Bondi, you'll reach Coogee, which is much like Bondi, except a little less busy. You can eat here, or grab a bus or taxi back to Bondi. Laurie's, on Bondi Road, does great take-away vegetarian fare, and is highly recommended. Icebergs does more upmarket meals, and ha* great views. Later, if you feel like mingling, the Beach Road Hotel ha* something to suit most ta*tes - it's a huge place, wiht live music, Djs, a selection of bars and outside seating, along with good pub food. Enjoy!

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