Bondi Beach is world renowned. Even if you haven’t been, chances are you’ve heard of it and once you see it, you’ll realise why it deserves its reputation. The curved expanse of soft, white sand, the crashing waves and sandstone cliffs all combine to create a spectacular seaside suburb. Bondi epitomises Sydney’s laid-back beach lifestyle and has something for everyone.

Professional lifesavers patrol the beach all year and even have a reality TV show, Bondi Rescue. With a temperate climate, locals and visitors swim year-round and surfers can be spotted in the waves at dawn. A fun way to experience Bondi is to learn to surf at a surf school, such as Let’s Go Surfing.

Bondi is also home to one of the oldest surf lifesaving clubs in the world and one of Australia’s oldest swimming clubs, iconic Bondi Icebergs at the southern end of the beach. You can swim laps with the Icebergs, the nickname given to those brave enough to go winter swimming, in the Bondi Baths.

At the southern end of Bondi is the iconic Icebergs. It started as a winter swimming club in 1929 and the pool is used by club members (they are called ‘an Iceberg’) who do weekly races on Sundays.

But you can also pay to go in and use the pool as a casual guest any time of the year. The lanes are great for people who want to swim laps – it’s not really just for splashing around.

The Bondi to Coogee walk is one of Sydney’s most quintessential experiences.

The coastal walk between two of Australia’s popular beaches is a 6km (3.7mi) track that takes you through stunning beaches such as Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly, and offers panoramic views over the east coast shore. You’ll also come across ocean baths, the tranquil Gordon’s Bay and many brilliant beachside cafes.

Plus, don’t miss the world’s biggest outdoor sculpture exhibition, Sculpture by the Sea, that returns to the coastal track each spring.

128 Ramsgate Ave, North Bondi. NSW 2026, Australia

Whether our feet are on the sand, on a board or in the office, our eyes are fixed on the horizon. Along with teaching, we’re focused on learning, improving and expanding, from our classes and products to our physical locations. We shoot for the stars and land on the waves. We’re living proof that surfing helps develop health, focus and a connection with self. Changing lives one wave at a time.

Brenda Miley started LGS out of the back of a Kombi van in 1995 as an idea to encourage more women into surfing. In the years since our team has grown and have helped thousands of people from all over the world learn to surf, developing confidence, focus and strength and most importantly....Have fun!

Along the edge of the southern part of the beach promenade, you’ll find the Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall. It started as something illegal – young kids in the 1970s and 1980s using it to spray their tags – but in the late 1980s it was made an official space for young people to come and work on their street art.

Now it’s actually a curated space that has a mix of more traditional graffiti, with murals and stencil art. The spaces along the wall are allocated to particular artists for a specific length of time, so it’s always changing.

Although you might normally associate a trip to the beach with a spot of shopping, Bondi offers both. Don’t be fooled by the overpriced souvenir and big brand stores on Campbell Parade facing the coast – the real gems are in the backstreets.

If you’re looking for a cool local designer or some handmade crafts, there are some great shops to explore in Gould St, Hall St, and Curlewis St. Bondi as a suburb has a pretty hip reputation and that’s reflected in what’s for sale and the type of store you’ll find here. Some of the boutique shops on Gould Street

There are a couple of great art shops that are interesting for visitors – check at Aquabumps and Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery.

If you’re visiting on the weekend, you can also check out the stalls at the Bondi Markets, which are held in the grounds of the local Bondi Beach Public School. There’s some great local food and drink (you’ll probably be able to taste some without buying). But look out for the cool crafts and art that might make a nice souvenir.

The clothes and accessories (there’s lots of jewellery) are also good for shoppers because you’ll get a small taste of lots of different styles and designers all in the one place.

Although Bondi is a neighbourhood that you can just explore on your own – as I said, part of the fun is just relaxing – there are a couple of options to have locals explain more of the history and culture.

You can join a Bondi Aboriginal Walking Tour with local artist, Walangari Karntawarra, who will show you Aboriginal rock carvings, bush foods that are still grown here, and other parts of the Indigenous culture around Bondi.

You can also do a walking tour around Bondi with a local life saver, who will show you more about the coastal heritage and the surfing culture here at Australia’s most famous beach. Walangari Karntawarra playing the Didgeridoo

Taronga Zoo is only a 15-minute drive or can be reached by a short ferry ride. The world-famous zoo is home to over 2,600 species and has many animals that are endemic to Australia.

Luna Park is an iconic venue in Sydney being both an amusement park and entertainment attraction. It has been open since 1935 and is a wonderful experience for the whole family.