mary218

We'll be in/around Sydney for 2 weeks mid-March and would like to spend a relaxing 3 - 4 days at the beach. We're looking for something scenic and not overly crowded or touristy, with a few good restaurants and shops. Does Coogee Beach sound like a good option or should we keep looking? We don't have kids, so family-friendly isn't a big consideration. Maybe Bronte or Tamarama are better choices?

fuzzylogic

They are all on the same stretch of coast and all are suburbs of Greater Sydney!! Are you looking to stay close to any of the beaches you mention - ocean view, that kind of thing? Could be hard.

To be honest - if you've done with the city, but don't want to zip up to non-suburban beaches in NSW or QLD, then I would go north. Manly, Palm beach, etc, etc.

Depends what sort of beach you are after. Hope you like waves!!

mary218

Thanks for the post, fuzzylogic!

Our plan is to stay in the city for 4 days and then stay on the beach another 3 - 4 days, in an ocean-front hotel. Yes, we love waves, don't really like crowds and want to enjoy a beautiful beach, eat out at small cafes, visit a few shops, etc. Is a suburban beach like Coogee a good choice -- or are the northern beaches prettier, less crowded, etc?

Thanks so much for your help!!

JSCChan

Bronte is a small beach and not many restaurants around. Manly is large, popular and busy and would be great if you love surfing (big waves) but Coogee is a much smaller beach with good selection of cafes. You can also walk along the coast which has quite pretty views. Palm beach is not as easy to get to but it has some restaurants nearby and is a very long beach, not particularly pretty but many others think it is.

prue

Palm Beach is pretty and being the furthest from the city would be the quietest - however there is little or no hotel/motel accomodation. Newport which is not as far has a good hotel though - if you are interested in that area but it is not on the beach. Manly or Coogee would be my choice - Coogee has good hotels, great restaurants/cafes and plenty of beach.
Manly also has the bonus of being connected to the city by ferry should the weather not cooperate for you.

lancefan

coogee mid march would be good - towards the end of the summer, so shouldn't be as crowded as it is mid-summer. the dive hotel at coogee is supposed to be nice. There are lots of places to eat, beach is nice and you can easily do the walk to clovelly, tama, bronte and on to bondi, or also go round to wylies baths on the southern side of coogee as well. transport to the city by bus also very easy and doesn't take that long. Coogee is definitely more touristy than bronte or tama, so that may be a consideration. Bronte is lovely - if you wanted something not quite as touristy, perhaps that would be a better option.

The eastern suburbs beaches will be easier to get to the city, but if that's not a considerationi than northern beaches (freshwater, dee why) might also be worth a look for you.

mpoll

In the eatern area, Coogee is the best option. You mention Bronte and Tamarama, but Bronte has no accommodation and just a few cafes. Tamarama has neither. However, both are great beaches to visit.
Coogee beach has lots of cafes/restaurants, other shops and plenty of parklands. Other beaches (Bronte, Tamarama, Bondi) are a nice walk away. By mid-March Coogee beach will be very quiet (at least on weekdays).