Holiday houses in Coogee

Coogee is one of Sydney’s oldest coastal suburbs, located just eight kilometres from the city centre. The shimmering turquoise waters off Coogee Beach draw visitors from the big city and beyond for coastal walks, snorkelling, and sunbathing on its fine white sands. Lifesavers patrol the beach, ensuring a safe space for swimmers of all abilities. Nearby Wylie’s Baths and McIver Baths to the south offer pools sheltered from the tides but still overlooking the surf.

Lively Coogee Bay Road — the suburb’s main street — is brimming with bars and pubs alongside upmarket eateries and low-key takeaway spots, while the shops on the strip range from fashion boutiques to offbeat homeware stores. Coogee makes up one end of the famous Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk — a picturesque coastal pathway that weaves along the dramatic shoreline. At the other end of the hike, visitors watch colourful kites zigzag across the sky and groups of surfers making the most of the curved bay at famous Bondi Beach.

With a comfortable climate and plenty of coastline to enjoy, Coogee holiday rentals are popular all year round. Autumn and spring offer sunny days and milder nights for swimming and flying kites on the sand. In March, the Taste of Coogee Festival takes place, showcasing local and celebrity chefs, wineries, and producers alongside an array of stalls, live entertainment, and plenty of tasting opportunities. Long summer days and balmy nights bring beach lovers out of the city for surfing at nearby Bondi Beach. The sun can be extremely strong at this time of year, so bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat for beach days. If you’re heading to Coogee in winter, take in the neighbouring Bondi Festival — a 17-day event complete with Ferris wheel, ice skating rink, theatre, and art exhibits. The colder months also bring the chance of whale sightings as they make their way from Antarctica from May to November.

The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

The paved six-kilometre clifftop path from Coogee to Bondi Beach offers spectacular ocean views, taking you past pristine coves, including Clovelly and Tamarama, as well as parks, bays, and rockpools. You’ll even pass the Waverly Cemetery that occupies a unique position right on a cliff edge. You’ll find scenic rest stops with seating at regular intervals and lots of cafes and restaurants along the way. At a leisurely pace, the walk should take around two hours to complete.

Gordon’s Bay

Just north of Coogee near Clovelly Beach is the hidden oasis of Gordon’s Bay. Protected by a reef and much quieter than larger beaches in the area, the bay is a popular spot for swimming, while snorkelers and divers come here for the 600-metre underwater nature trail. Maintained by the local scuba diving club, the self-guided trail takes just over 30 minutes to complete and is easy to follow, with multiple underwater notices offering an insight into local marine life.

Wylie’s Baths

Local institution Wylie’s Baths sits minutes south of Coogee Beach, overlooking Wedding Cake Island and offering 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean. Here you can enjoy a refreshing swim in a more controlled environment to the open ocean or take up a spot on one of the massage beds for a relaxing treatment accompanied by the sounds of ocean waves.