#6 Cronulla Beach: Aboriginal -kuraanulla: "place of pink seashells"
One of the best advantages of studying abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney is that if you’re needing to get away from school life, you can hop on the nearest bus and be lying on a beach in twenty minutes or less. There’s countless spots to explore, but this guide showcases my top six.
6. Cronulla Beach: Aboriginal - kurranulla: “place of pink seashells”
Cronulla is a quiet town on the southern side of Sydney. About 50 minutes away from Sydney’s central train station, Cronulla offers the largest beach in the area for sun and fun. Walking from the Cronulla train station to the beach, you can find several places to stop for food and drink. Also in the area is the ferry to Bundeena, a town that lies across the bay from Cronulla and features a great trail that takes hikers high up on the coastal cliffs.
#5 Palm Beach
Out of all the locations on this list, Palm Beach is the furthest from Sydney, but worth the travel. Palmy is part of a small peninsula two hours
north from the city and is most known for its lighthouse trail, an easy hike which provides a stunning panoramic view of the strip, bay, and ocean.
You have a choice between the sand which faces the sea and that which faces Pentaloon Bay, where many locals go to enjoy an evening on their boats.
#4 Bondi Beach: Aboriginal - bondi: “water breaking over rocks”
Bondi Beach is perhaps the most popular bucket list item for visitors of Sydney, famous for the show “Bondi Rescue” and celebrity sightings like
Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman. Bondi is by no means overrated, but can get quite crowded during the summer months and on weekends. The neighborhood it lies in contains great spots for food, tourism, and miscellaneous shopping.
If the water is too crowded with surfboards, you can always do the Bondi to Coogee walk, which takes you down the coast of Sydney and through much smaller and secluded beaches (Bronte, Clovelly, Tamarama).
#3 Coogee Beach: Aboriginal - coogee: “stinking place”
Named after the smell of seaweed, Coogee is only a 10-15 minute bus ride from the UNSW campus, and loved by all. The neighborhood is full of nice cafés, restaurants, and parks. The beach itself includes tide pools and baths along
with a few volleyball nets on the perimeter. Above the shoreline is a green area where people often set up barbecues and other outdoor sports.
One of the best locations in Coogee is towards the north side of the beach, an elevated
green area where you can watch the tide and sunset each evening from the cliffs that lead towards Bondi.
#2 Manly Beach
Manly is another famous beach in the Sydney area because of surf culture.
From the UNSW campus, you must take the light rail or bus to the Sydney harbor and catch a ferry to the northern neighborhood of Manly. Although it's around 50 minutes of transit, it’s a highly scenic and worthwhile trip where you will pass both the harbor bridge and opera house. The beach is quite large and the Manly strip features several bakeries and shops for ice cream and souvenirs. Manly is very close to the northern sector of the Sydney harbor, which offers several other locations to enjoy the water. You can also run into the penguin colony that lives nearby!
# 1 Maroubra Beach: Aboriginal - maroubra: “like thunder”
Maroubra Beach is the second closest beach to the UNSW campus, taking only 15-20 minutes by bus. Maroubra is one of Sydney’s larger beaches, but because of its location in the southern suburbs, it is much more secluded. On both ends of the beach, there are rock clusters that you can explore and look for tide pools or little sea creatures. Above the shoreline are a few
restaurants, a skate park, grassy areas for picnics and games, and a café near the changing rooms.
The beach is recognizable for its giant Rubik’s
Cube that sits on the beach’s central drain, which adds even more color to the surroundings. After a day on the beach, the bus conveniently routes
through downtown Maroubra, where you can get off for dinner or grocery shopping. All in all, I think Maroubra has the best beach for those looking to easily spend a few hours on the sand after a day of class.
Sydney is a really special place - you can customize your own version of paradise by choosing how much time you want to spend at the beach, in the city, or being a tourist at the harbor. When I arrived in Australia, I was immediately attracted to its natural beauty, especially its greenery and wildlife. Sunscreen, beach towels, and a cold beverage were all staples of mine as I spent most of my time on the beach.
Dominic Savarino
GW Exchange - University of New South Wales
Spring 2023
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Mechanical Engineering Major