Controversial crowds earlier this year show that on a hot summer’s day, Bondi Beach can see up to 40,000 people flock to its fine sand beach to paddle, surf, socialise and sunbathe. That adds up to millions of visitors every year. So what exactly makes Bondi Beach so incredibly popular and beloved by international tourists and locals alike? According to the proud Bondi locals in our office, it comes down to a few different factors.
The Perfect Beach
Of course, it makes sense that a pristine beach so close to the Sydney CBD would be well-populated on any sunny day. But Bondi Beach has a beautiful curving expanse of sand that gives everyone plenty of room together with clear water for swimming, paddling and surfing. It’s not hard to love!
The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
The residents of Bondi, Bronte and Coogee are lucky to have one of the world’s best coastal paths to roam each weekend. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk spans 6 kilometres along coastal cliffs, providing spectacular outlooks over beaches, rock pools and parks along the way. We particularly love walking this track in October and November, when Sculpture by the Sea dots 100 unique artworks between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach.
Bondi Baths – The Bondi Icebergs Pool
Chances are you’ve seen the Bondi Baths – it’s one of the most famous ocean pools in the world. Known locally as Bondi Icebergs, these turquoise lanes provide an incredibly scenic place to go for a few laps. The water comes in from the ocean and isn’t heated, so winter swimming isn’t for the faint-hearted.
The Café and Restaurant Culture
We think all the biking, running, surfing and swimming that goes on around Bondi Beach is what supports the amazing café culture here, as everyone works up a healthy appetite. There are so many great spots to grab breakfast, fish and chips or a cold beer along the beach, from The Bucket List at Bondi Pavilion to Chapter One at the south end. One of our personal favourites is the Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore, for their brilliant combination of strong coffee and good books. There’s also some amazing Italian food to be found in Bondi, including Pompei's and Bondi Trattoria.
The Shopping
While the sandy shore is of course the main attraction, plenty of visitors take the chance to nip into the shops and boutiques set just back from Bondi Beach. Gould Street has a treasure chest of local designer stores – we love Circa BC for soul-enriching homewares, and Venroy for locally-designed leisurewear in cool linen. Further afield, Westfield Bondi Junction has hundreds of brands to choose from.
The People
There’s no denying that Bondi Beach is just as good for people watching as it is for swimming and sunbathing. You can certainly count the people amongst the best Bondi tourist attractions: from spotting the occasional celebrity, to the everyday characters who run, roll and walk along the pavements each day.
If you’d love to have Bondi Beach as your backyard, check out our current listings in Bondi and Bondi Junction.