What You Need to Know Before Visiting Bondi Beach

Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Area: Eastern Suburbs

Undoubtedly Sydney’s most famous and busiest beach is Bondi Beach. Frequented by tourists and locals, Bondi Beach has something for everyone – a patrolled beach, rock pools, golden sand, cafes and bars, a playground, a skate park and shops.

Bondi Beach is situated just seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney CBD. It is a popular spot for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. The beach is well-known for its beautiful scenery, with tall cliffs framing the shoreline and clear blue waters. Visitors to Bondi Beach can enjoy its vibrant nightlife, with numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs located along the shore. Whether you’re looking to catch some waves or just soak up the sun, Bondi Beach is the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself.

South-facing, the beach is popular with surfers as it delivers ideal conditions for beginners as well as professionals. The beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers all year round, so make sure you swim between the flags to stay safe.

If you are lucky you may even spot a pod of dolphins or whales breaching.

There is no shade on the beach, so if you are planning a full day out, bring a beach umbrella or cabana. Alternatively, Bondi Beach Hire, which is located just above the beach offers everything you may need for a great day out, including:

Surfboards
Bodyboards
Wetsuits
Deck Chairs
Lounge Chairs
Umbrellas
Stand Up Paddle Boards

Bondi Beach at a Glance

Park / Reserve:	Yes
BBQs:	Electric
Picnic Tables:	Yes
Shade:	Sheltered Tables
Swimming:	Yes – At the beach and at swimming pools on either end
Beach patrolled:	Yes
Playground:	Yes
Cafes / Restaurants:	Yes many cafes, restaurants and bars
Toilets / Showers:	Yes
Parking:	Mainly paid parking
Water Sports:	Swimming Stand-up paddle boarding Surfing Body boarding

Download Ultimate Beach Packing List

What can you do at Bondi Beach?

If you have young children, they will enjoy:

swimming in the rockpools
playing at the playground
building sandcastles
draw pictures in the sand
make sand angels

More things to do at the beach for kids.

Older kids can:

go bodyboarding
throw a frisbee
ride a scooter or bike
go skateboarding
explore rocks for sea creatures

More things to do at the beach with family.

Teenagers will have a lot of fun:

surfing
stand-up paddle boarding
body boarding
taking photos
skateboarding
fishing

More things to do at the beach for teenagers.

Adults / parents / couples will enjoy:

eating at one of the many restaurants and cafes
sipping a cocktail while enjoying spectacular view
reading a book
picnic or BBQ
shopping
game of beach volleyball

More things to do at the beach for couples.

More things to do at the beach for adults.

IMPORTANT: If this is your first time visiting Sydney or Australia, for your safety please make sure you swim between the red and yellow flags. However, if you are surfing you will need to do that away from the swimming areas.

Photo Gallery

Learn to Surf at Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is a popular destination for anyone wanting to learn how to surf. If this is your first time, you can book surf lessons with Let’s Go Surfing – Bondi’s only officially licensed surf school.

Let’s Go Surfing offers:

Adult Group Surf Lessons – perfect for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills
Women on Waves – women-only course for those wanting to improve surfing skills
Six Week Surf Course – great for those looking to get serious about surfing
Private Lessons – for individuals, friends or groups wanting a personal instructor
Kids Surf Lessons – suitable for 7-12 year olds
Teen Surf Lessons – for teenagers 13-16 years
After School and Weekend courses – for kids aged 7+
Team Building at the Beach – Team building for anyone wishing to join in
Corporate Stand Up Paddle Board Sessions – Fun team building activity
Bucks / Hens / Birthday parties – Fun way to celebrate
School and Student Groups – Exciting and motivating surfing opportunity outside classroom

Find out more and Book at Let’s Go Surfing Website

Bondi Beach Surf Cam

For surf conditions, check out Bondi Beach Surfcam.

Bondi Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball has been part of the Bondi Beach culture for many years, with dedicated areas for volleyball courts near the Skate Park.

I remember playing in a tournament on Bondi Beach with my best friend many years ago – we had a lot of fun that day, but sadly it was my last beach volleyball game as I aggravated an old knee injury and I knew it was time to hang up my knee guards.

Whilst there is no booking system available for volleyball courts and only temporary nets can be set up, waverley council has issued the following guidelines to ensure the game doesn’t interfere with beach goers.

No commercial activity/provider
No organised competition
No bookings taken
No vehicles may enter the park to unload or load equipment
Temporary nets only i.e. no permanent fixtures
Must not conflict with other beach users
Volleyball courts must be set up at the back of the beach as shown in the diagram
No more than four nets set up
Volleyball courts must not block any access points to the beach

Bondi Skate Park

Bondi Skate Park is one of Sydney’s biggest and best skate parks and is located on Queen Elizabeth Drive – the northern end of Bondi Beach.

The skate park has been a host to many skateboarding competitions including the annual Bowl-a-Rama.

Since its opening in 1991, it has drawn in large crowds of beginner and advanced skateboarders, especially since its facelift in 2004, which saw the introduction of a 10 foot deep skate bowl with 5 foot shallow.

Bondi Beach Cafes and Restaurants

Bondi Beach is a home to many cafes, bars and restaurants. With so many choices, the hard part is deciding where to go.

Some places to check out

Bondi Trattoria
34 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Tel: 02 9365 4303
Italian food including antipasti, pizzas, pasta as well as house cocktails and wine
https://www.bonditrattoria.com.au/

Good One Café
132 Warners Avenue, Bondi Beach
Healthy and nutritious meals, fresh pastries and house smoked meats
https://www.goodonebondi.com.au/

Bondi Icebergs Club
1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach
Tel: 02 9130 3120
Bistro style food including schnitzel, fish and chips, pastas and burgers
https://icebergs.com.au/

Bondi Beach Accommodation

If you are looking for accommodation at Bondi Beach, you are in luck – there is a large choice of backpackers hostels, AirBNB properties as well as hotels. As Bondi is one of the most popular Sydney destinations, make sure you book early, especially if visiting during summer months.

Some places to check out:

QT Bondi
6 Beach Road, Bondi Beach
https://www.qthotels.com/bondi-beach/

Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach
69-73 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
https://www.adinahotels.com/en/apartments/bondi-beach-sydney/

Bondi 38 Services Apartments
38 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
https://www.bondi38.com.au/

Bondi Beach Backpackers
35a Hall Street, Bondi Beach NSW
https://bondibeachbackpackers.com.au/

Shopping at Bondi Beach

If you are after a shopping experience like no other, head over to Bondi Junction, which is located approximately 15 minutes by car from Bondi Beach. Bondi Junction Shopping centre features over 300 stores and services. For more information visit the Bondi Junction website.

However, if you only want to browse local Bondi Beach stores, you will find a great selection of clothing, souvenirs, jewellery

Some stores worth checking out:

Between the Flags – Clothing and beach supplies
8/152 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
https://betweentheflags.com.au/

Bondi Surf Co – Surfboards, wetsuits and clothing
80 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

Annex – Men’s clothing
Shop 8 / 178 Campbell Parade (enter via Gould Street)
https://www.theannex.com.au/

Bondi Wash – Shampoos, body washes, cleaning products, skincare products
76 Gould Street, Bondi Beach
https://bondiwash.com.au/

Nimble Activewear – Eco conscious activewear
49 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
https://nimbleactivewear.com/

Tuchuzy – Women’s designer clothing
Shop 11 / 178 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
https://www.tuchuzy.com/

Tommy Bahama – Beach wear and accessories
146 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
https://www.tommybahama.com/

Bondi Beach to Coogee Walk

One of the most picturesque walks in Sydney is from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. The walk is approximately 6km one way and takes around 2-3 hours, depending on your walking speed.

You can make it an all day adventure and stop regularly to admire the views, take pictures, enjoy a cup of coffee or a swim at one of the beaches including Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Beach or Coogee Beach.

The walk is suitable for most ages and fitness levels, but it does have occasional steep sections with stairs. It is not suitable for prams or wheel chairs.

Sculptures by the Sea

Established by David Handley in 1996, Sculptures by the Sea has become one of the most popular annual public exhibitions in the world, attracting over 450,000 visitors over three weeks. The exhibition takes place between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach.

The exhibition usually takes place between and attracts artists not only from Australia, but also Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Iran, Pacific Islands, Spain and many more.

The exhibition generally runs from late October to early November. For more information visit Sculpture by the Sea website.

Why is Bondi Beach so famous?

There are many reasons why Bondi Beach is so popular and famous

Close proximity to Sydney CBD
Beautiful white sandy beach
Safe place to swim as the beach is patrolled
World class surfing
Top restaurants, cafes and bars
Bondi skatepark
Bondi Icebergs swimming pool
Coastal walk
Awesome shopping
Ideal for picnics and BBQs
Dolphins and whales can be seen
Great weather all year round
Easy to get to by car and public transport
Annual events including City to Surf, Sculptures by the Sea, Festival of the Winds, Flickerfest
Reality TV shows such as Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vet

Is Bondi the busiest beach?

As Sydney’s most instagrammed beach, Bondi Beach was named as one of top 10 beaches in the world (according to number of # posts). It is therefore not surprising that Bondi Beach is one of the busiest Sydney beaches. Is spans across 1km and can pack up to 40,000 visitors in one day.

Is it safe to swim at Bondi Beach?

Bondi Beach is safe for swimming, providing you follow the rules and swim between the flags. The beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers, so if you find yourself in trouble, raise your hand and they will come and get you.

Most days, you will find decent waves, so if you have small children or are not a strong swimmer, you may wish to swim at Bondi Icebergs, North Bondi Children’s pool or Wally Weekes Tidal Pool.

Under no circumstances should you swim at night, as there are often currents and the beach is not patrolled.

Are there sharks at Bondi Beach?

Sharks are a natural part of any ocean and Bondi Beach is no different. Sharks can occasionally be spotted by helicopters and drones in which case swimmers and surfers are alerted and the beach is temporarily closed.

ABC News published a video which shows how close sharks come to surfers off the coast of Bondi Beach. Watch the video.

The last serious incident at Bondi Beach was in 2009, when a surfer Glen Orgias was attacked by a great white shark at the southern end of Bondi Beach.

Whilst it is rare to hear of a shark attacks in Sydney, given the number of people that swim and surf at our beaches, it is wise to follow Shark Smart guidelines, which recommend swimmers and surfers should:

Tell an on-duty lifesaver or lifeguard if you see a shark.
Stay close to shore when swimming.
Stay out of the water with bleeding cuts or wounds.
It’s best to swim, dive or surf with other people.
Avoid swimming and surfing at dawn, dusk and night – sharks can see you but you can’t see them.

According to SharkSmart not all sharks are dangerous to humans and nearly all shark bites in coastal waters are attributed to just 3 species

Great white sharks
Bull sharks
Tiger sharks

NSW Department of Primary Industries has invested millions of dollars in a shark management strategy, trialling new technology such as drones, smart drumlines, shark listening stations and shark nets to protect beach goes while minimizing harm to marine life.

Learn more about staying safe at Shark Smart website.

What is Bondi Beach weather like?

Bondi Beach, just like the rest of Sydney is subtropical oceanic and enjoys a sunny climate with mild winters and warm to hot summers.

During winter (June – August) average temperatures range between 8 degrees C – 17 degrees C and during summer (December – February) temperatures generally range from 18 degrees C to 26 degrees C, but can occasionally climb up to 35 degrees C and above (although this is rare)

Water temperature during summer is usually between 22 degrees C – 24 degrees C.

Where can I watch Bondi Rescue TV Show?

Bondi Rescue TV Show has done a great job educating visitors about the importance of following safety precautions when swimming at the beach, such as Bondi.

You can see many of the episodes on Bondi Rescue YouTube Channel.

You can also watch Bondi Rescue on Channel 10

How far is Bondi Beach from Sydney?

Bondi Beach is approximately 9km from Sydney CBD, which takes about 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by public transport.

Getting to Bondi Beach

By car

Bondi Beach is best accessible via Campbell Parade. However, depending on the time of the day and day of the week that you are travelling, you may find it difficult to get parking.

Weekends and summer months are particularly busy, so if you are heading to the beach it’s best to get there early.

Where to park on Bondi Beach?

There is limited street parking, which generally allows up to 2 hours or you can park at

Bondi Beach Parking
Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach

Wilson Parking
180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

By public transport

Depending on where you’re coming from, you can catch a ferry or a train and then a bus, which will take you directly to Bondi Beach.

To plan your trip, visit https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip

Accommodation near Bondi Beach

Booking.com

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Ivana Katz is a Sydney based website designer and travel blogger. Having her own business has given her the freedom to explore the world. She believes travel is the best teacher and her passion for adventure, writing and photography has taken her and her son to some amazing places, including Hawaii, Canada, Fiji, Greece and Czech Republic. Ivana’s favourite thing about travelling is learning, discovering hidden gems and creating memories. She loves nothing more than inspiring other women to chase their dreams and explore the world with their families and friends.