Sydney: Running from Bondi to Coogee Beach

Exploring Bondi, Sydney the runner’s way

So I recently visited Sydney for a short business trip and, as usual, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to run around and explore the place. While planning my trip, I chose to stay at a hotel at Bondi Junction, an eastern suburb of Sydney. The area seemed to be well connected to downtown and the main attractions, but at the same time there’s a more laid back appeal. I was not wrong. Darling Harbour and the rest of sights are only 20 minutes away by train, and Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Sydney, was within walking distance.

My first morning at Sydney was rainy, so I only went out for a very short run. Bondi Beach is massive, and even though the weather was bad, there were quite a few people running or walking their dogs there. However, it was getting colder and there was no sign of the rain stopping, so I soon decided to return to my room and hope the weather would get better.

And it did.

Throughout the rest of my days in Sydney, the sun was shinning, and the temperature was perfect for comfortable long runs.

From Bondi to Bronte Beach via Cooper Park

After a quick look at Google Earth for other places to visit nearby, I saw a “Cooper Park” located somewhere on my way to Bondi beach, so I decided to pay it a visit. It is a small park – more like a stretch of land – rich with trees and plants which accommodates quite a few tennis courts.

I ran past it, briefly consulted my GPS, and headed to Bondi Beach, which is approximately 2km away. This time the situation was different, the beach was full with people sunbathing, swimming and surfing. Plenty of runners and families walking around as well. I took the path heading south all the way to Coogee Beach, but since time was pressing, I only made it to Bronte Beach (check GPS map below). It is a medium grade pathway with some steep steps to climb. Highlight was probably the Mackenzies Point, where you can enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views of the cliffs around. Before I made it to Bronte, I passed through – the quite busy – Tamarama beach. I was determined to come back for more!

Bondi to Coogee

The next day I returned and I was ready to run all the way to Coogee Beach. I followed the same path heading south, passed from Mackenzies Point, Tamarama and Bronte. Next up is Waverley Cemetery. Now, I don’t believe I’m actually saying this, but that is an amazing cemetery (check photo below)! Not only the views from the platform are outstanding, but the largely intact Victorian and Edwardian monuments (yeah, I Wiki’ed that) themselves add something to the whole picture… Further down is Gordon’s Bay with its beautiful green waters and all those wooden boat docking structures  – photo below. Finally, Coogee Beach. Another massive beach quite similar to Bondi, filled with surfers and people hanging out enjoying the sun.

All in all, if you are ever in Sydney and have a free morning to spend, do take this run. The views are amazing, and all beaches have facilities and are connected with public transportation to the rest of the city – so even if you don’t have time for the whole route, you can still enjoy a small part of it, take a shower and go on with the rest of your day.