Sydney is arguably one of Australia’s most visited cities, and for good reason. With an array of landmarks, fine museums and galleries, exceptional dining experiences, a thriving shopping scene, several tourist-friendly facilities, and fantastic transportation system, this city has it all. Among the most well-visited spots here is Bondi Beach, which appeals to water sports enthusiasts, ardent surfers, laidback loungers, and beach bummers. Glittering, golden sands carpet the beach’s crescent-shaped expanse, which is peppered with camera-toting tourists having a whale of a time. Plus, an array of seafront cafes a stone’s throw away add to the beach’s popularity. Here is a guide to Bondi Beach, Sydney.
1. Things to do / Highlights
While Bondi Beach is ideal for typical beachy activities like sunbathing, swimming, and sand castle-making, there’s also some other stuff you can do here.
Go surfing
Wade through the waves of the Pacific Ocean, the perfect playground for ardent surfers. You don’t even need to bring bulky surfboards when you travel since you can rent them at the beach. However, don’t underestimate what appears to be a gentle surface. The waves here can get somewhat challenging. Regardless of whether you’re a rookie or an expert, surfing here will be a pretty exciting experience. Let’s Go Surfing provides some excellent training sessions and guided surfing experiences if you’re still quite new to the sport.
Head to Bondi Icebergs
Right at the southern end of the beach is an ocean pool that almost gives off an infinity pool vibe - but not quite. It is large and brimming with people at all times! The admission here costs about 5 USD per head.
Catch the sunrise from Bondi Beach
You’d think that 6 am is early for the beach, but not when it’s Bondi Beach. Tons of people flock here to catch a view of the sunrise! Grab a front-row seat on the shore if you can manage and wait for the sun to paint the sky in multi-hued colours, before ascending to its full glory. Don’t expect peace and quiet, though - there’s tons of chatter, owing to the massive crowd at the beach.
Explore the market scene
Every Saturday, you’ll find Bondi Farmers’ Market, where you can pick up fresh produce, artisanal food products, exquisite cheeses, homemade jams, and even freshly picked flowers. The market is open from 9 am to 1 pm, but try to go as early as possible to get the best pick. Sunday mornings and afternoons are for the pop-up Bondi Market. An array of little white huts set up to sell everything from handmade jewellery to vintage clothing. The pop-up market is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
Hike down Bondi to Coogee
This is probably one of the most popular coastal walks you have to take. It treats hikers to gorgeous views of towering sandstone cliffs and waves washing up on glittering shores. It is an approximately 6-km-long (3.5-mi) hike that can take anywhere up to 2.5 to 3 hours. The paved walkway makes it a suitable hike for all age groups.
2. What to eat
Pea Pancakes for @crazal & @adamfreeland #bondi @willandcocoffee
Posted by Porch and Parlour on Thursday, 12 February 2015
Porch and Parlour
You’ll find this restaurant at the beach’s northern end. Its decor oozes a freshness that resonates and adds to the cosiness of the atmosphere. While the food here is every bit a visual and gustatory treat, the drinks are the ideal accompaniment to kick back and enjoy Bondi Beach’s vibe. Their Bees Knees Tea, turmeric latte, or alcoholic beverages such as tinned craft cider and beer and the special Porch Mimosa made of prosecco and cold-pressed watermelon juice are worth trying. Plus, the green pea pancake, kingfish and trout ceviche, veggie burger, and charred octopus make for quite a yummy bite.
Icebergs Dining Room & Bar
If you want to skip swimming in Bondi Icebergs, head up to Icebergs Dining Room & Bar to relish a lavish lunch accentuated by brilliant views of the beachfront from the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The place is Italian-inspired, and it is a pretty pricey affair. It is not the usual beach-side shack, but a rather more posh dining place, so be sure to dress up. Try the pasta with blue swimmer crab or prawns with a side of negroni, spritzes, or one of the classic cocktails. End your meal on a sweet note with the excellent rhubarb panna cotta or passionfruit pavlova.
The Bucket List
This place is perfect if you want to down a cocktail while enjoying spectacular views of the beach. Grab a seat at the outdoor courtyard and you’re pretty much set for a groovy time. You can wash down the tacos, salads, and burgers with some of their yummy mojitos. We hear that their passionfruit mojito has quite the kick and flavour!
3. Travelers tips
Plan your beach trip area-wise
The beach can be broadly categorized into three areas, each offering different sorts of experiences. North Bondi Beach is the most popular for families because kids can enjoy a swimming pool and a playground. Mid-Bondi Beach is the main attraction for tourists because of its proximity to many beach shops where one can rent umbrellas and beach chairs. Lastly, South Bondi Beach is a hit among surfers and is where you will find Bondi Icebergs. Plenty of surfing schools operate on this side of the beach.
Keep an eye out for your belongings
Remember that Bondi is hugely famous. On a typical summer day, you will find up to 40,000 people crammed here, so make sure to take care of yourself and your belongings and don’t simply leave them unattended.
Go on a weekday
If possible, plan your Bondi outing on a weekday - the fewer the crowd, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the beach’s beauty.
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4. How to get there
Get an Opal Card
Opal Card is a payment card that you can purchase at any public transport centre and is used to make seamless payments to the metro, train, ferry, or bus. All you need to do is recharge the card with money as and when required. These top-ups can be made at public transport stations or certain gas stations and convenience stores. Opal Cards make journeys a lot easier and economical.
Bus
Plenty of these run at regular intervals from the Central Business District (CBD) and is approximately a 30-minute journey. Bus no. 333 will take you from CBD to the beach directly. Else, there’s also bus no. 380.
Train
You can catch the Eastern Suburbs line from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Junction, which is a 10-minute bus or cab ride from Bondi Beach. Look out for bus no.333 to get to the beach.
Uber
Uber works very well across Sydney, so you can hitch yourself a ride. Else, go for GoCatch Cabs, Australia’s local equivalent for Uber. Both of these are said to be cheaper than taking a taxi.
Parking information
Although visitors prefer to steer clear of the beach with private vehicles due to Sydney’s maddening traffic and the enormous crowds, if you’d still like to, you’ll find limited and metered parking at Queen Elizabeth Drive Car Park at a rate of about 3 to 5.5 USD per hour. About a minute or two away from the beach is also Park Drive South Car Park that also observes the same parking charges. Else, use the OSCAR app - it functions like the Uber app and helps connect you to the nearest empty parking lot.
5. Bondi Beach information
Bondi Beach
Address: Queen Elizabeth Drive, Sydney, New South Wales 2026, Australia
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Department of tourism: Sydney
Bondi Beach and Sydney Sights
Duration: 207 minute
History
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