Bondi Beach and Coastal Walk

Coastal Walk
The view from the roof of the YHA Bondi Beach hostel

The first place I stayed was the YHA Hostel in Bondi Beach. It’s a little out-of-the-way (as in, not on the main strip in front of the beach.) However, I actually enjoyed that a lot because we could hear the ocean instead of the people partying late into the night. It’s a run-down sort of hostel where everyone is on beach time (as in, not in a hurry,) but I like that as well.

Coastal Walk
Bronte Beach from up on the coastal walk. Someone wrote “Send Nudes” in seaweed.

It was a short walk down to Bondi Beach if you went one way, and a short walk down to Bronte Beach if you went the other. Both are beautiful, but Bondi Beach is certainly the more crowded of the two.

the rocks
One of the many bays along the coastal walk.

The best part was taking the coastal walk along the cliff-sides and seeing all the fabulous views. You can walk through Waverly Cemetery as part of the coastal walk as well, and that is a beautiful place full of old gravestones from early colonial days.

Clovelly Bay
Waverly Cemetery on the coastal walk.

I walked all the way to Clovelly Bay, since I planned to snorkel there. It is a significant distance and there is a lot of up and down-hill, so I recommend a moderate fitness level or a bus pass so you don’t have to get back the same way if it’s too much for you.

Coastal Walk
The Coastline and the pathway along it.

Still, you can’t beat the views of the coast in the Sydney area! The sandstone cliffs are striking, and the little beaches inside coves are full of cheerful families and surfers. It’s really a delightful walk.

Coastal Walk
The view from another high-up spot on the trail.

Clovelly Bay

Clovelly Bay
Clovelly Bay, Sydney

As you know, I recently visited Australia. I already posted pictures of my snorkel adventures on the Great Barrier Reef, but I also snorkeled in Clovelly Bay, Sydney.

Clovelly Bay
Blue Grouper

It was freezing cold (to someone who lives on Guam) but I saw my first groupers outside of an aquarium, and that was magical.

Clovelly Bay
Green Grouper

I highly recommend that anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps and snorkel any of the Sydney stops from Manly Beach to Clovelly Bay to get a wet suit. I should have, but it was the middle of the summer in Australia and I thought it would be really hot.

Clovelly Bay
Cool plant life.

Turns out, that is not how Australia works. Water coming up from South America is cold year round. Now I know.

Clovelly Bay
Little Grey Fish

At any rate, it was my first time snorkeling or diving outside a tropical environment since childhood. Instead of coral, there are plants and something that looks an awful lot like moss.

Clovelly Bay
Sea Floor

That was quite different. Most of the fish were less colorful, which I expected. However, some were surprising colorful for living in cold water.

Clovelly Bay
Sea Snail

I hadn’t snorkeled in a cold environment since my trip to Catalina Bay in Middle School. I remember the huge kelp forests, and how the little orange Garibaldi fish and bright purple star fish really stuck out in the sea of greens. This felt very similar to that.

Clovelly Bay
Groupers