Best Beaches in Sydney

By Meg Dye Updated Apr 23, 2019

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Introduction
Bondi Beach
Coogee Beach
Watson’s Bay
Manly Beach
Palm Beach
Tamarama Beach

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From Sydney’s beautiful harbor, with its iconic bridge and opera house, to the world-famous Bondi Beach, there are plenty of reasons why Sydney is one of the most desirable cities in the world for studying abroad. However, Bondi Beach isn’t the only beautiful beach Sydney is home to.

If you’ve got some spare time between your studies for heading to the beach, practicing your surfing and having an Aussie-style BBQ (and let’s face it, there’s always time for a visit to the beach) then here’s our guide to some of the best beaches Sydney has to offer, from the obvious to the lesser known.

Bondi Beach

Obviously, we have to start our list of the best beaches in Sydney with the most famous beach in the city, if not Australia. Bondi Beach is legendary, with tourists and Australians alike both flocking here daily to spend the day on the golden sands.

This is one of the most Instagram-able spots in Sydney for a reason; the Bondi Icebergs create a perfect backdrop for your beach selfies.

With a wide array of delicious eateries just offshore, including Harry’s Bondi which is famed for its smoked salmon and Vida Surf Store (try the smoothie bowls, they’re simply delicious), you could feasibly spend the whole day here.

When you visit, stop and take a look at the beautiful art alongside the beach - artists from all over the world take turns to create the incredible murals displayed here.

If you can surf, then you’re in luck, as Bondi has some awesome waves, so be sure to grab your board and check them out.

Coogee Beach

Coogee Beach is a few bays along from Bondi and is also hugely popular. It has golden sand and a gentler wave, which is perfect for those who are desperate for a swim in the Australian summer heat.

Between Bondi and Coogee, there’s a famous coastal walk that takes you along some beautiful beaches, including Bronte Beach and Clovelly Beach. Be sure to check out this walk at some point, as the views are amazing, and the beaches you pass are also worth a visit.

At Coogee, you’ll find the Coogee Pavilion, a lovely spot for dinner or a drink, and home to the infamous Sunday Sessions. Close by, there’s also Le Petit Cafe, an excellent spot for breakfast, and Sugarcane, a delicious modern Thai restaurant.

Watson’s Bay

Watson’s Bay is located in the South Head peninsula and is a cracking day trip for those wishing to explore beaches further away from the eastern suburb beaches. Take the South Head heritage trail and at the top of the walk you’ll get to visit the historic Hornby Lighthouse, which was built in 1858. Whale spotting is also available from South Head between May and November.

Watson’s Bay is Australia’s oldest fishing village, and diners can expect some incredible seafood here. Doyle’s on the Wharf is an excellent spot for takeaway fish and chips, but if you’d rather eat in, try Doyle’s on the Beach where you’ll find an amazing array of freshly-caught fish, plus prawns and lobster. The nearby Watson’s Boutique Hotel also has gorgeous views and a fabulous dining area and bar.

Manly Beach

Manly Beach is one of Australia’s most celebrated beaches and for good reasons. It’s an incredible surf spot, and locals hit the waves here pretty much every day, including in their lunch break. The beach is actually a National Surfing Reserve, and there are lessons available for non-surfers at Manly Surf School or Manly Surf Guide.

If you do get into the water, you’ll notice plenty of eye-catching fish, including the blue groper. For those wanting to dive, PADI courses are available. Try out The Dive Centre Manly, and get qualified in a gorgeous coral-rich area off one of the best beaches in Sydney.

Palm Beach

An hour and a half from the city center is the luxurious Palm Beach. With golden sands and beautiful blue seas, it’s an incredible beach with glorious views and fully deserving of its spot on our list of the best beaches in Sydney.

Located at Sydney’s northernmost seaside point of Barrenjoey Head, Palm Beach can be accessed via a coastal trail. At the most northerly point, the beach is excellent for surf, whereas the south end of the beach is protected and has an ocean pool which is great for swimming. The beach is 2.3km long, so perfect for those who want a seaside stroll.

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Tamarama Beach

We end our look at the best beaches in Sydney with Tamarama Beach, which is located in between Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach and can be seen and accessed via the Bondi to Coogee walk. Its nickname among locals is ‘Glamarama’, because of the typically glamorous and beautiful people that hang out here.

The beach is great for surfing, and there are often heaps of surfers in the water. Take care, as the currents can be strong at Tamarama, and it’s known as one of the more dangerous surf spots, so probably not the best place to try surfing for the first time.

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Australia