20 Best Things to Do in Bondi
Bondi is one of the top tourist attractions in Australia. It’s beach is world famous and has over 2.6 million visitors every year. It is located 7 kms (5 miles) from Sydney. Bondi has picture postcard perfect views, amazing ocean pools, exquisite diners, kaleidoscopic sunsets, turquoise waters, exhilarating nightlife, electrifying energy and positive vibes. This beach is on every traveller’s bucket list.
Yoga by the Ocean
Yoga classes are quiet popular in Australia’s Bondi Beach. There are several businesses which deliver this service. They provide you with trained yoga instructors who help you learn various asanas. One such renowned yoga class in this beach is Bondi Yin. Yoga is known to help people achieve mental peace and physical balance. The scenic views, the heavenly breeze, and the tranquil atmosphere motivates you further and makes the whole learning process more enjoyable. You instantly start feeling more relaxed and energized at the same time. Beaches provide the most amazing environment to do yoga. The best time to go to Bondi for meditation or yoga is the early mornings when you can experience the sun rise and listen to the waves while practicing asanas. The beach is very peaceful during this time of the day. Many people who don’t want to sign up for yoga lessons practice on the beach by themselves.
Surfing
Australia is known to be one of the top surfing destinations on the planet. There are a multitude of surf schools and surf shops in Bondi. They provide rental surf boards and surfing lessons for all age groups. There are usually many beginners as well as experienced surfers in the Bondi waters. This beach is known to be one of the premier surf beaches in the continent. The world’s first surf lifesaving club originated in Bondi Beach in the early 1900s. The best time to surf in Bondi is during July as the waves are very stable during this month. The turquoise waters makes it an even more spectacular experience. Surfing forms an important part of Australian culture and there are about 2.5 million surfers in Australia.
Enjoy Scrumptious Meals at the Best Restaurants
Bondi has some of the best eateries and restaurants in Australia. Some of the popular diners in Bondi are Da Orazio Pizza and Porchetta, Shuk, Trio Café, The Corner House, Lox Stock & Barrel, Iceberg’s Dining Room and Bar, Panama House, North Bondi Fish, Brown Sugar. The best traditional Australian foods to try out are Chicken Parmigiana, Pavlova, Meat Pie, Beetroot Burger, Lamingtons, Barramundi, Grilled Kangaroo, Fantales, Smoked Emu, Tim Tams, Cherry Ripe, Vegemite on Toast, Fairy Bread.
Swimming in Bondi’s Iconic Icebergs Outdoor Pool
Icebergs is Bondi’s renowned outdoor pool. It is also popularly known as ocean pool or sea pool. The swimming pool is close to a hundred years old and is located by the ocean waters in the southern end of Bondi Beach. It provides a unique and exhilarating swimming experience and is loved by tourists all over the world. The magnificent ocean views and the waves breaking into the pool make the experience all the more electrifying. This is also the world’s most photographed swimming pool. The main pool is Olympic-sized and has 8 lanes. They also have a kid’s pool. If you’re in Bondi and love swimming, you must visit Icebergs for an unforgettable time.
Icebergs ocean pool is open on all days except Thursdays and the timings are from 6am to 6pm on weekdays and 6.30 am to 6pm on weekends. The admission fee is AUD 9 per adult and AUD 6 per child below 12 years of age. Icebergs also has their own restaurant and bar next to the pool which offers amazing views and delicious food.
Exploring Bondi’s Weekend Markets
The weekend market is one of the most vibrant and lively places in Bondi. The Bondi Beach Public School hosts the Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm and the Bondi Market on Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.
The farmer’s market offers a wide range of Australia’s home-grown, organic and fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, dairy products, poultry, seafood, flowers, honey and jams. This market is hosted to support and celebrate the country’s farmers and local produce. The Sunday Bondi Market is known for the handicrafts, clothing from local designers, food stalls, furniture, home décor, souvenirs, jewellery, accessories, and more.
Trekking along the Beach
Bondi to Coogee is a 6 kms ( 3.7 miles) hiking trail which takes 2 to 3 hours to cover one-way. One can take stops in between. There are a plethora of restaurants and cafes along the way. The prime attractions on this coastal trail include Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee beaches. Tourists sometimes take an entire day to complete the walk by stopping for swims on each beach. The trek is suitable for all age groups and is a grade 2 track. It offers stunning views of the ocean throughout the way. One can spot glimpses of the beautiful humpback whales from this clifftop trail during the winter season. The track begins from Icebergs pool in Bondi and ends at Coogee Beach. Other important spots in this trail include Shrine to Virgin Mary, Waverley Cemetery, and an ancient rock engraving site. The best time to trek here is before the sunset when the skies turn to beautiful pastel shades of yellow, crimson and pink.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling are popular water sports in Bondi. There are numerous diving centres in this beach that provide you with guided diving experience and the requisite rental equipment. Many visitors complete their PADI ( Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Certification while in Bondi. It takes about 2-3 days for a person to learn to dive and costs around AUD 600. A guided snorkel tour costs about AUD 75. One gets to see countless number of colourful fishes and marine life in the turquoise waters of Bondi. It is a surreal and unparalleled experience.
Feast your Eyes on the Gorgeous Sunsets
Spend your evening gazing at nature’s magnificent artwork of crimson, purple and yellow in the skies of Bondi. Grab a beer and enjoy the magical atmosphere in the beach as the sun sets. It’s truly a captivating sight. Sunsets at Bondi are extremely romantic and loved by tourists.
Sunbath
Many visitors of Bondi beach spend the whole day sunbathing. They come to the beach and doze off for hours on the golden sands or read a book and leave at twilight. It’s incredibly peaceful and relaxing.
Check out Bondi’s Street Art
Australia is famous for being one of the street art capitals of the world. Street art is an important part of Australian culture. The Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall ,also known as the sea wall, contains beautiful murals by local street artists and tourists. Each mural is unique and has a beautiful message or story behind it. This wall is maintained by Waverley Council and open to all artists. The art works are temporary and keep changing. This is the most popular graffiti wall in Bondi and is located next to the Bondi Skate Park. There numerous other similar graffiti walls in the streets of Bondi.
Clubbing at Bondi
Bondi has a vibrant and energetic nightlife. There are countless places to drink, dine and, dance. Some of the best nightclubs and pubs here are Bondi Junction’s El Topo, Speakeasy Bar, The Beach Road Hotel, Neighbourhood Bondi, The Anchor, Bondi Hardware, Drift at Ravesi’s hotel. These pubs offer a wide range of drinks and attract diverse crowds.
Attend the Festival of the Winds
Australia’s most celebrated kite flying festival at Bondi Beach. This event is organised in the month of September every year since 1978. It attracts a multitude of visitors from all over the globe. Close to 70,000 people attend this festival annually. Kaleidoscopic and larger-than-life kites fill the Bondi skies. The kites are of extravagant designs and diverse shapes. There’s also live music, jugglers, dancers, puppet shows and food stalls. It has a very jolly environment and children absolutely love this festival. It’s definitely one of the most happening events in Australia.
Shopping in Bondi
Shopping can be really fun in Bondi. There are countless shops and boutiques around the beach. The popular places to shop in Bondi are Westfield Bondi Junction, Bondi Wash, Bondi Bather, Camilla, Hall Street, Annex, Gould Street, The Academy Brand, Uashmama, Assembly Label, Bondi Weekend Markets, Aquabumps.
Try out Bondi’s Favourite Gelato
Gelato Messina is the most loved Gelato store in Bondi. It offers 40 delicious and creamy flavours of gelato out of which 35 are permanent flavours and 5 are weekly specials. They make their own chocolate and use the best quality ingredients. It’s located in Hall Street of Bondi and is usually crowded.
Watch the Sunrise
Help yourself to a morning jog along the beachfront, breathe in the fresh morning air, and watch the sun rise. The beach is usually deserted in the early mornings and has a tranquil environment. It makes you feel rejuvenated and fresh. People also like to meditate or practice yoga at this time on the beach. This is an extremely good routine for your mental and physical well-being.
Pop in at Bondi Bowling Club
This lawn bowling club is a local favourite. They have a restaurant and a bar. It’s usually a busy place and the food is pocket-friendly. They offer free bowling and happy hours on Fridays. Its open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 3 pm and from 12 pm on weekends. They’re closed on Mondays. This club also has a pinball machine, a pool table and free of charge table tennis.
Find the Disappearing Mystery Beach
Mackenzies Bay is a tiny beach which located between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. It’s a rare beach which vanishes and turns into a rocky inlet. The sands of the beach disappears every 7 to 10 years. When the beach exists, it is frequented by many swimmers and surfers. It’s also a dog friendly beach.
Skate at Bondi Skate Park
This is a world famous skate park and is one of the largest and best ones in Australia. It’s located next to the Bondi Beach and has hosted several Bowl-A-Ramas and other major skate boarding competitions. The view of the beach from this park is beautiful.
Lose yourself at Bondi’s Winter Magic Wonderland
Bondi Winter Magic is an exciting annual winter festival which is hosted right on the beach. It involves a plethora of fun-filled activities and entertaining programs such as ice skating, Ferris wheel rides, comedy shows, theatres, a circus, cabaret, musical performances and so much more. It’s usually a month long festival and is loved by tourists and locals. The beach is all the more lively and energetic during this time. You must stop by here if you’re visiting Bondi in winter.
Visit Aquabumps Art Gallery
This art gallery is located on Curlewis Street, Bondi. It is Eugene Tan’s art gallery. He is a surfer turned photographer who sells his work under the brand name Aquabumps. He is a very successful beach photographer and people are extremely appreciative of his art. Thousands of tourists drop in at this gallery to check out the awe-inspiring pictures.
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