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Bondi Beach and the Icebergs pool from above

Sydney’s beaches

27 beaches from Palm Beach to Bundeena, and where to stay at each one.

Bondi · Drone PhotoGraphy reality / Pexels

Eastern Suburbs

Coogee Beach on a summer afternoon, seen from Dolphin Point at the north end of the bay

Coogee

Bondi Beach from above on a clear day, the curve of sand and Campbell Parade behind it

Bondi

Maroubra Beach on a clear day, the wide sand running towards the headland

Maroubra

Bronte Beach on a sunny afternoon, the ocean pool on the rocks in front and houses on the hill behind

Bronte

Tamarama Beach from the cliff path on a sunny day, the small curve of sand between rocky headlands

Tamarama

Clovelly Beach on a sunny day, swimmers in the calm bay and the concrete promenade along the side

Clovelly

Camp Cove at Watsons Bay on a sunny day, boats moored in the calm harbour water and people on the grass

Watsons Bay

Gordons Bay between Coogee and Clovelly: a small sandy cove with boat racks, bush and sandstone rocks around clear water

Gordons Bay

Malabar Beach across Long Bay on a sunny day, people fishing off the rocks in front and houses above the sand

Malabar

Sandstone rocks and clear still water at Little Bay on a sunny day, the headland beyond

Little Bay

Northern Beaches

Manly Beach on a sunny day, the Norfolk pines along the promenade and the sand curving north

Manly

Turquoise surf rolling into Freshwater Beach on a sunny day, the headland and houses behind

Freshwater

Dee Why Beach on a sunny day, people in the shallows and the Norfolk pines along the beachfront

Dee Why

Palm Beach on a clear day, looking north along the sand to Barrenjoey Headland

Palm Beach

Collaroy and Narrabeen beach curving north on a sunny day, seen from the hill above

Collaroy

North Narrabeen beach on a sunny day, surf breaking along the sand

Narrabeen

Avalon Beach from above on a sunny day, surf rolling onto the orange sand

Avalon

Whale Beach on a sunny day, swimmers in the surf and the headland behind

Whale Beach

Shelly Beach in Manly seen through the trees from the headland, green water in Cabbage Tree Bay below

Shelly Beach

Curl Curl Beach curving away below the bush on the headland, surf rolling in and the houses of Curl Curl behind

Curl Curl

Long Reef headland from the air: the green golf course, the rock platform reaching into blue water, and the beaches either side

Long Reef

Bilgola Beach on a sunny day: wide sand, the bush-covered headland and clear surf

Bilgola

Sutherland Shire

Looking north from Cronulla along the long sweep of Bate Bay beaches on a sunny day

Cronulla

Horderns Beach at Bundeena from above, houses among the trees behind the sand

Bundeena

Wanda Beach on a sunny day, the wide sand running south along Bate Bay towards the towers of Cronulla

Wanda

Elouera Beach in late-afternoon light, dunes in the foreground and the towers of Cronulla along the bay to the south

Elouera

Gunnamatta Bay from above: a sandbank, moored boats and the houses of Cronulla and Burraneer around the water

Gunnamatta Bay

Every beach, side by side

17 of the 27 have places to stay of their own, 83 in all. For the rest, here’s the nearest bed and the walk. Checked 9 October 2026.

Sydney beaches compared: places to stay, shortest walk from a bed to the sand, cheapest price band, lifeguards, getting there from the city
BeachPlaces to stayClosest bed to the sandCheapestLifeguardsFrom the city
Eastern Suburbs
Coogee191 min walkUnder $100All year8 km · bus
Bondi233 min walkUnder $100All year7 km · bus, or train + bus
Maroubra18 min walk$100–200All year10 km · bus
Bronte67 min walk$200–350Yes7 km · train + bus
Tamarama61 min walk$200–350Yes (strong rips)6 km · train + bus
Clovelly511 min walkUnder $100All year8 km · bus
Watsons Bay11 min walk$200–350Harbour beach, no surf11 km · ferry or bus 324
Gordons BayNone, stay in Coogee8 min walk from Coogee–NoneBus to Coogee + coastal walk
MalabarNone, stay in Maroubra26 min walk from Maroubra–Summer only12 km · bus
Little BayNone, stay in Maroubra50 min walk from Maroubra–Summer only14 km · bus
Northern Beaches
Manly171 min walkUnder $100All year (South Steyne)17 km · ferry
Freshwater511 min walk$100–200Sep – May17 km · ferry + walk or bus
Dee Why124 min walkUnder $100Sep – May18 km · B-Line bus
Palm Beach414 min walk$200–350Sep – Apr41 km · bus 199
Collaroy26 min walkUnder $100Sep – Apr22 km · B-Line bus
Narrabeen22 min walk$100–200Sep – Apr23 km · B-Line bus
Avalon16 min walkNot checkedSep – Apr28 km · bus 199
Whale Beach38 min walkNot checkedSep – Apr40 km · bus 199 + walk
Shelly BeachNone, stay in Manly15 min walk from Manly–NoneFerry to Manly + 1.7 km walk
Curl CurlNone, stay in Manly26 min walk from Manly–Sep – Apr165X express bus
Long ReefNone, stay in Dee Why27 min walk from Dee Why–Sep – AprB-Line bus + walk
BilgolaNone, stay in Avalon16 min walk from Avalon–Weekends + public holidays33 km · bus 199
Sutherland Shire
Cronulla62 min walkUnder $100All year (Cronulla Beach)26 km · train
Bundeena32 min walkNot checkedBay beach; check for flags29 km · train + ferry
WandaNone, stay in Cronulla14 min walk from Cronulla–Oct – AprTrain to Cronulla + walk
EloueraNone, stay in Cronulla8 min walk from Cronulla–Warmer monthsTrain to Cronulla + walk
Gunnamatta BayNone, stay in Cronulla13 min walk from Cronulla–NoneTrain to Cronulla

Walks are on foot, door to sand, along the OpenStreetMap walking route at 4.8 km/h. Prices are bands from one nightly rate on Google Maps. Head to head: Bondi or Manly, Coogee or Bondi, and more. Ranked: the best beaches for kids, swimming, surfing and more. Photos: credits.

Ask a local

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Tell us your dates, budget and who’s coming, and we’ll tell you which beach and which places fit. A real person replies, usually within a day.

Or email enquiries@sydneybeachside.com.au. No newsletter, no list.

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