Sydney/Bondi Beach

The closest ocean beach to the centre of Sydney (7 km), Bondi Beach has become synonymous with Sydney's beach lifestyle and is very popular with tourists, daytrippers, backpackers, residents and all Sydneysiders.

Bondi Beach is famous for its glistening ocean, pristine sands, reliable surf and seaside spirit. Its laid back coastal lifestyle, cafe culture, boutique shops and thriving, eclectic community is equally enticing.

Bondi has become a favourite of the "barmy army" of British tourists, who annually gather on its sands for a Southern Hemisphere Christmas in the sun. Bondi is home to numerous youth hostels with backpackers who congregate mainly in the summer months. It is not uncommon to hear Norwegian, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish or Spanish while walking across the beach or through the cafes.

Bondi Beach is a very welcoming and tolerant community; topless sunbathing is acceptable and gay and lesbian couples displaying affection can be seen.

See the crowds, the waves, the water, the sand, the sunbathers, the teens and tweens showing off, the tourists with long socks and shoes straight off the tour coach next to the skimpily clad sunbathers. It is all part of the Bondi Beach Scene.

If you see past the crowds, the beach itself is actually naturally scenic, and there is an esplanade running along the beach front and along to the rocks either side.

There are often displays in the historic Bondi Pavilion. It's usually free and worth a quick look around.

• Swim. There are two sets of flags at the centre and at the north of the beach. Bondi Beach is a fantastic place to cool off in the summer. There are change rooms and showers in the pavilion, access is free. There are lockers for hire.
• Walk
  • Bondi to Coogee Walk - a coastal walk from Bondi (at the bottom of Notts Avenue, off Campbell Parade) to Tamarama, Bronte and all the way to South Coogee. Surely one of Sydney's most popular, spectacular walks. It's easy to get to, walkable by a person of average fitness, and no shortage of places to stop off for a coffee or a cool drink along the way. If you have mobility issues, a pram or young children, it may be a challenge.
  • Bondi to Manly Walk - links all the existing coastal and harbour-side walking tracks between Australia’s two most famous surf beaches, Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. For its entire length the Bondi to Manly Walk is on public land, with the vast majority of its 80 kilometres on existing well-made and well-maintained bush walking tracks.
• Surf. The southern end of the beach is reserved for surfers. There is one surf school, Let's Go Surfing or you can rent surf boards and body boards, as well as wetsuits. A cheaper option (although a bit further away from the beach) is Sydney Surfboard Rental and Hire.
• Bondi Icebergs. A popular rock swimming pool with restaurant and bar facilities upstairs that look over the entire beach. It is named for the brave swimmers who compete here in the winter months. Opening hours: M-F: 6AM-7PM, Sa-Su: 6.30AM - 6.30PM. Entry $4 Adults/$2.50 Children/Seniors. (Many other Sydney beaches have rock pools with no charge for access, including nearby Bronte and Clovelly.) 
• Scuba Dive at North Bondi. Meet the protected Blue Groper and visit the Cathedral Cave. Rent scuba gear from Dive Bondi at 198 Bondi Rd. PADI dive certification is available: Open Water is $425, Advanced Open Water is $375.

Bondi is a food lover's delight. There are countless cafes and restaurants on the streets around the beach, many with great views. If you're looking for something quick and easy, there are kiosks on the beach, and a cafe in the pavilion with plenty of tables on the wide promenade.

Unless you have a particular place in mind, there is usually no need to book in advance. Just walk around and find somewhere you like, or grab fish and chips and eat on the beach. Some of the more popular breakfast places fill up on weekend mornings, as do some of the more popular restaurants on Friday and Saturday night.

• 🌍 Bondi Trattoria, 34b Campbell Parade, ☏ +61 2 9365 4303, info@bonditrattoria.com.au. M–Th noon–3PM, 5–8PM; F noon–3PM, 5–8:30PM; Sa noon–3:30PM, 5–8:30PM; Su noon–3:30PM, 5–7:30PM. A fusion of Australian and Italian cuisine, in a relaxed and ambient setting. (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 Pompei's, 126 Roscoe Street, ☏ +61 2 9365 1233. W Th 5PM–late; F–Su noon–late (closed M Tu). A bit pricey, but the gelato is rich, creamy, and absolutely die for. They also serve authentic Italian pizza. Go during the day to avoid the crowds, which are a nightmare at night. (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 Harrys Bondi (Harry's Espresso Bar), 136 Wairoa Ave (off Campbell Pde at the northern end of the beach, past the school), ☏ +61 2 9310 2180. M–F 6AM–3:30PM; Sa Su 6:30AM–4PM. This tiny combined espresso bar, cafe, and general store is a little out of the way but is always busy, and for good reason. This is the place to go for a gourmet coffee experience. They offer toast and sandwiches, and a selection of pastries and cakes. (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 Bondi Surf Seafoods, 128 Campbell Pde, ☏ +61 2 9130 4554. The Bondi Beach Fish Shop is the place to go for that dubious local speciality, the deep fried Mars Bar. Fans of the bar counsel caution: no matter how strong you think you are, restrict yourself to one deep fried Mars Bar daily. (updated Aug 2023)
• 🌍 Oporto Bondi, 152-162 Campbell Pde, ☏ +61 2 7203 5245. No, it's no ordinary Oporto, it's the first Oporto established in 1986 by António Cerqueira. Somewhat disappointingly, it doesn't have anything uniquely Bondi, but it's a chain – what can you expect? (updated Aug 2023)

It is quite possible to go to Bondi Beach on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and not bother with any of that sand or water. The two biggest bars in Bondi are the Beach Road Hotel and Hotel Bondi. Both are excellent places to catch the finals in a cricket match or have a few drinks with your mates. Another great bar is at the previously mentioned Bondi Icebergs, it has a great view of the beach and relatively cheap drinks. Make sure to take some form of ID that proves you live outside a 5km radius as this is a club and club rules require that you be a member if you reside within 5km.

Of course, if you want to be "seen" then go for Ravesi's on the corner of Hall St and Campbell Parade. It attracts the beautiful people... or at least those who think they are beautiful.

Always swim between the red and yellow flags, which mark the safest areas and are patrolled by lifeguards. The beach is closed when surf conditions are too dangerous. At the northern end of Bondi Beach is a rip nicknamed "the Escalator" and at the southern end is a particularly strong rip nicknamed "the Backpacker's Express" that looks deceptively calm and may carry unwitting victims out to sea. The natural instinct is to swim against the rip, but this is extremely tiring and it's best to escape it by raising one hand to alert rescuers (see Australia for more information).

While there are shark nets in the summer, a siren will sound if a shark is spotted, and you should leave the water. Scary, but drowning is still a far more likely danger than a shark attack.

Try the other Eastern Suburbs beaches, some within walking distance. Cronulla Beach is over the Georges River further south. Sydney's Northern Beaches stretches north from Manly to Palm Beach.