Coogee Beach, Australia
This post has been a long time coming. Sydney, Australia is an incredibly special place to me.
In this post I am going to stick to talking about running in this beautiful location with a highlight on my favorite running route while I lived there in 2014.
Of all the places I have traveled and lived nothing has ever felt more safe than my running in Australia. In other posts I share my experience running in other parts of Australia, but it is the same experience every place I have been in the country. I felt incredibly safe.
I lived in Coogee Beach, which is a coastal town about 20 minutes south of Sydney. From Coogee I would run the Bondi Coastal path nearly every single day. This path is a popular spot and you’ll be one of many out enjoying the beautiful ocean views.
My Favorite Run in the World: The Coogee to Bondi Coastal Path
Coogee Beach
Coogee Bay Road ends with this magnificent outlook to Coogee Bay. This is where we will start our run. Head to the ocean and turn left along the path. As you look North you’ll see the path going up the cliff. Follow and enjoy your introduction to the incredible amount of ups and downs you are about to encounter.
Gordons Bay
It’s the bay with all the boats! As you leave Coogee you continue on the paved path through this little bay, up and down some steep slopes, and be on the lookout for little lizards. Continue to follow the path and up the hill you’ll end up in Clovelly.
Clovelly Beach
Clovelly is a small yet busy beach spot. At this stop you’ll see the ocean pools Australia is known for, people surfing, families, people playing volleyball and a little glimpse at what coastal life looks like in the suburbs of Sydney.
Image from Time Out
From Clovelly to Bronte
As you run through Clovelly continue to follow the path along the ocean and it will lead along a big field. I often saw kids playing rugby and enjoyed getting glimpses into life in Australia. If you want to do some more exploring walk through the field towards the ocean and you will catch another great view. As you run North you will get to the corner of Waverley Cemetery, take the stairs closest to the ocean. Unless they are closed from wave damage in that case run through the cemetery. This section of the run along the cemetery was one of my favorite segments of the run. The stairs made it feel like I was running in the ocean and it was just the most beautiful view.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery along this path! This is not a path meant for speeding workouts but for wandering and embracing the day.
Bronte Beach
As you leave the cemetery section you run through almost a small park where the path runs into the road but there is a section dedicated to runners and walkers . As you turn the corner and approach the beach the path here split into upper and lower sections (both end in the same spot). I always prefer to be as close to the ocean as possible so I take the lower route. Just beware here it is more narrow and more leisuresly beach goers meander through this way. This section is a popular beach area so just be aware of the activity going on here. After you take in the beautiful beach scene you run up the stairs at the other end and on to Tamarama.
Tamarama Beach
I mean by this point, have you ever had such a breathtaking run? I don’t just mean all the ups-and-downs but take in that ocean view! This spot has a very convenient bathroom right as you come down into the beach area.
Tamarama to Bondi
Throughout this section it gets a little narrow so again be considerate of all the other people using the path. More up and down! Don’t your quads feel great! Along here you’ll see people relaxing out on the rocks, using the workout equipment along the path and as you get closer to Bondi you will see more and more places to stop and take pictures.
Bondi Beach
You made it! Well almost, at this point you are at the lookout point just to the south of the beach. You can see the sand and are ready to get there. You still have a lot to see. As you follow the busy path you will encounter a lot of people and a lot more stairs. The rocky path will turn into a boardwalk and there you are at the Bondi Pools. Follow that path until…there you are, Bondi Beach! Take it all in the beautiful salty air, the beautiful people, it is a site to see. Congrats you got there, now take a break. Jump in the ocean, grab a smoothie, lay out in the sand, or turn around and enjoy the run back towards Coogee (this was my usual choice).
* One way from Coogee to Bondi is about 4 miles
