24 Hours in Bondi
Christine Knight
Once just for backpackers, now the glittering beach suburb of Bondi is catered towards flashpackers and locals who love good food, crystal clear ocean views, and a bit of arts and culture thrown in. Bondi Beach pretty much has it all, so here’s how you can spend a full day in the neighbourhood and try the best of everything it has to offer.
Breakfast
Start the day right with a plate of famous Ricotta Hotcakes from Bills. Served with banana and honeycomb butter, it’s an iconic Sydney dish that will leave you carbed up and ready to spend the day exploring Bondi Beach.
Morning
Take a walk to North Bondi, past the historic 1907 Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club that claims to be the “world’s first life saving club” and the graffiti art and skater ramps that symbolise the new face of Bondi, to the Wally Weakes Pool in North Bondi for a swim.
When you’re well and truly waterlogged, drop into the nearby Aquabumps art gallery and store to browse or buy stunning beach photography by local surfer Eugene Tan. The streets that run parallel to the beach are also packed with little boutique stores such as Tuchuzy, Jatali and Camilla Australia.
Lunch
Grab a bite for lunch, or an Instagrammable cronut, from Speedo’s Cafe in North Bondi. Their salads and burgers are hard to resist, with a focus on healthy, raw meals, vegan, gluten and dairy-free choices. Don’t worry, there are some seriously sinful options, too (hello Triple Stack Pancakes!).
If you feel like a truly Aussie meal on the beach, grab takeaway fish and chips and find a spot on the sand for some people watching and seagull wrangling.
Afternoon
If it’s a Sunday, check out the stalls at the Bondi markets, held at Bondi Beach Public School. Stalls include locally-made clothing, artworks and handmade jewellery.
You can’t go to the beach without having gelato, so make a beeline for Gelato Messina and order a scoop of the salted caramel with white chocolate. It’s divine.
Next, work off your morning of decadent food by walking along the cliff tops from south Bondi Beach to Tamarama and back again. The view is stupendous, and the steps many. If you have more time, take the walk further along to Coogee Beach. Pack a hat and sunscreen!
Evening
After the Bondi to Tamarama walk, it’s time for a cold drink. Bondi Icebergs has the best view in town. Grab a glass of wine and dinner at their Club level dining room and watch the sun go down over the ocean. If you feel like splurging, make a reservation for dinner upstairs at the elegant Icebergs Dining Room.
Christine Knight is an Australian travel writer and blogger. When she’s not chasing her energetic five-year-old through Sydney’s inner west, you’ll find her “researching” her way through the best high teas in the city.