Bondi Beach is an Australian icon and one of the worlds most famous surf beaches. Being the closest beach to the city (only 8km) it is a popular relief for sydneysiders looking to spend their weekend basking in the sun.

Topless sunbathing (or as the locals know it - sunbaking) and swimming are common place, and the standards of dress are almost as relaxed in the many cafes and restaurants, T-shirts, shorts and thongs (Sandals) are the usual attire.

Thousands of tourists each year flock to Bondi to celebrate Christmas day and New year on the beach, with the Bondi Pavilion providing an excellent source of entertainment, from live music, exhibitions and festivals on quite a regular basis.

Bondi to Coogee Walk (6km allow about 2 hours)

In its entirety the walk continues all the way to Maroubra Beach and is known as the "Eastern Beaches Coastal Walk" - here's just a snip-it for you. This popular walk heads south from the promenade of Bondi Beach. It is mostly level or gently sloping and combines coastal views with swimming opportunities and cafes.

From Bondi...
At the South end of Bondi you pass by the Bondi Iceberg's Club, members swim summer and winter without fail.

The path leads you up to Mackenzies Point where you can enjoy views of both North and South Bondi. On the headland you will see a chimney in the middle of a golf course. On the other side of the chimney there is a rocky platform with a whale carved into it - this is one of the many Aboriginal rock carving sites identified around Sydney.

The next beach you come across a small beach known as Tamarama renowned for being one of Sydney's gay beaches it is full of beautiful bronzed people. Before diving into the warm water watch out, the surf can be quite rough. On the main street you'll find some excellent little cafes.

As you follow the coast you come to Bronte a beautiful beach hemmed in by a bowl-shaped park and sandstone headlands. Unfortunately Bronte Beach also tends to have rough surf and a treacherous rip at times, however there is a good ocean pool and plenty of cafes.

Waverley Cemetery is situated on dramatic coastline and has some amazing ocean views. Dominated largely by white marble headstones this graveyard is home to many famous Australians, such as Henry Lawson, Victor Trumper, Lawrence Hargrave, Henry Kendall and many more. Guided tours are conducted at various times for more information view the web site here.

Clovelly provides a sheltered beach that is safe for children and popular with families, there is a good pool for swimming and snorkelling.

Gordons Bay is a popular scuba and snorkelling spot. Finally as you turn the next headland you have reached Coogee.

Coogee is a haven for backpackers, the hub of the area is the Coogee Bay Hotel. Its nightclub Selena's frequently has first rate Australian and overseas bands. Coogee has started to move away from the fish and chip cafes and now you will find many upmarket restaurants and boutiques.