Bronte Beach
Bronte Beach
4.5
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Bronte Beach, sandwiched between the bigger Bondi and Coogee beaches, is a cozier stretch of sand and surf perfect for families.
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4.5
387 reviews
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Wales, UK112 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
Bronte Beach in Sydney is a fantastic spot with something for everyone. You can relax on the grassy areas or the sand, both offering gorgeous views of the beach. There are plenty of great brunch spots along the road where you can grab a bite after a swim or stroll. The beach is particularly stunning at sunrise, especially with the Bronte Baths right by the water. Plus, for those who like to enjoy a meal outdoors, there are free public barbecues available. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful moment, a beach day, or a casual meal, Bronte Beach is the perfect spot!
Written 1 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,214 contributions
Dec 2022
Bronte. Beach located in Nelson Bay is one of the better beaches along this section of coastline and is only 7 km from the centre of Sydney. Much better than Bondi. Way back Viscount Sherbrooke owned 17 HA of land along the coast, built a house that he called Bronte House after Lord Nelson who just happened to be the Duke of Bronte, a place in Sicily Italy. Take the 6 km walk from Coogee to Bondi and stop a while in Bronte.
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Della C
Borehamwood, UK346 contributions
Dec 2019
We had lunch in Bronte and then sat on the benches lined along the beach for an hour or so as it was a pleasant afternoon. We were halfway through the Coogee to Bondi walk, and actually didn’t get any further on that afternoon. Lovely little resort, plenty of places to get refreshments, and as usual , a lovely clean sandy beach a pleasure to visit. Will definitely return on our next visit.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HDTATE
Phoenix, AZ42 contributions
Jan 2020
If in Sydney, hop in an uber and take the 15 min ride to Bronte Beach.....and miss the crowds at Bondi....
I like to go early in the mornings and take advantage of the many restaurants that serve the freshest breakfast fare you will ever have....
I like to go early in the mornings and take advantage of the many restaurants that serve the freshest breakfast fare you will ever have....
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael S
Sydney, Australia502 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
My partner and I like to get there as early as possible, so 7ish. We always have a little brekkie and into the water we go. We prefer the ocean pool. I don't swim much, but I do love the cool water and taking it all it - the sights, sounds. Then we the coastal walk to Clovelly. Perfect start to the day!
Written 22 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Media_Coverage
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Bronte is a charming sea-side location in the South-Eastern suburbs of Sydney.
There is some parking at Bronte Beach, but it is usually filled by 10 or 11am. The street parking around the beach is strongly regulated - many visitors do not see, or ignore, the signs, and get parking tickets. Parking inspectors seem to visit many times each day. Free parking is very hard to find, most spots are taken by local resident's cars with street-parking permits. A well-kept secret for parking at Bronte is to park in the back-streets near the Waverley Cemetery, then walk down to the sea and walk north along the cliff-walk to the beach, or walk to the hilltop Bronte Shops and find your way down the laneways to the Beach. Either way takes about 5 - 8 minutes but it's free. There's a little-known local-popular coffee shop near the north-west corner of the cemetery, which doesn't look like much from the street but has views of the ocean from some seats.
If you are in Sydney without a car, you can use the number 378 Sydney City Bus leaving Sydney Central Railway Station regularly (and traveling via Oxford Street to Bondi Junction) to get to Bronte Beach. You can also catch a train to Bondi Junction and use the 378 bus from the Bondi Junction Terminus.
If you are at Bondi Beach you can walk south along the beautiful cliff walk and be in Bronte beach in about 20 - 25 minutes. But if you have some drinks and look for a taxi to take you back home, there are no taxis waiting at Bronte Beach the same way that they wait at Bondi Beach. Calling to request a taxi to pick you up from Bronte Beach usually results in a wait of about 15 minutes.
The row of restaurants and coffee shops adjacent to the Bronte Beach is best enjoyed before 9am each week day. This is when you will find locals enjoying their regular coffee and chatting and joking with eachother and with cafe owners. Later in the morning the yummy mummies begin to arrive, yielding only to the relaxed-lunch crowd. By mid-afternoon business is brisk and doesn't subside until later in the evening. You'll need a reseration for most of the restaurants, and it's definitely worth making. The food, although presented simply in suburban atmosphere, is among the best mid european-style restaurant food in Sydney. The restaurants will generally stay open as long as the customers keep eating and drinking.
The Bronte Beach park is large and filled with trees. Before dawn the left-over drunks from late the night before can be seen sleeping on the grass, but they are usually cleared out by police soon after sunrise. From sunrise for an hour or two the park is populated by briskly walking seniors and middle-aged dog walkers. The surf club is surrounded by surfers, the cliff-path walkway is filled with power walkers and joggers, and the pool is filled with the regulars doing laps. After 9am many local single parents bring their children to the park to play and meet new friends. Lunchime sees the BBQs filling with families on holiday, and by afternoon people are beginning to have a few wines on the grass, and sunbakers are spread out all over the grass while teenagers play football or practice martial arts nearby. The high hills to the west mean that the afternoon does not drag on at Bronte Beach, sunlight and warmth disappear quickly when the sun sets, and the beach is fairly deserted soon after dark, when it becomes windy and cool, even in summer. This is when local teenagers may be heard partying in the darkness, it may be advisable not to walk through the rear part of the park in the night.
Overall Bronte Beach is family friendly and worth visiting in the daylight hours. You can either bring your own picnic or eat out, both options are extremely popular, especially on weekends.
For night-time entertainment nearby visit either Coogee (teenage backpackers) or Bondi Beach (20-something backpackers).
There is some parking at Bronte Beach, but it is usually filled by 10 or 11am. The street parking around the beach is strongly regulated - many visitors do not see, or ignore, the signs, and get parking tickets. Parking inspectors seem to visit many times each day. Free parking is very hard to find, most spots are taken by local resident's cars with street-parking permits. A well-kept secret for parking at Bronte is to park in the back-streets near the Waverley Cemetery, then walk down to the sea and walk north along the cliff-walk to the beach, or walk to the hilltop Bronte Shops and find your way down the laneways to the Beach. Either way takes about 5 - 8 minutes but it's free. There's a little-known local-popular coffee shop near the north-west corner of the cemetery, which doesn't look like much from the street but has views of the ocean from some seats.
If you are in Sydney without a car, you can use the number 378 Sydney City Bus leaving Sydney Central Railway Station regularly (and traveling via Oxford Street to Bondi Junction) to get to Bronte Beach. You can also catch a train to Bondi Junction and use the 378 bus from the Bondi Junction Terminus.
If you are at Bondi Beach you can walk south along the beautiful cliff walk and be in Bronte beach in about 20 - 25 minutes. But if you have some drinks and look for a taxi to take you back home, there are no taxis waiting at Bronte Beach the same way that they wait at Bondi Beach. Calling to request a taxi to pick you up from Bronte Beach usually results in a wait of about 15 minutes.
The row of restaurants and coffee shops adjacent to the Bronte Beach is best enjoyed before 9am each week day. This is when you will find locals enjoying their regular coffee and chatting and joking with eachother and with cafe owners. Later in the morning the yummy mummies begin to arrive, yielding only to the relaxed-lunch crowd. By mid-afternoon business is brisk and doesn't subside until later in the evening. You'll need a reseration for most of the restaurants, and it's definitely worth making. The food, although presented simply in suburban atmosphere, is among the best mid european-style restaurant food in Sydney. The restaurants will generally stay open as long as the customers keep eating and drinking.
The Bronte Beach park is large and filled with trees. Before dawn the left-over drunks from late the night before can be seen sleeping on the grass, but they are usually cleared out by police soon after sunrise. From sunrise for an hour or two the park is populated by briskly walking seniors and middle-aged dog walkers. The surf club is surrounded by surfers, the cliff-path walkway is filled with power walkers and joggers, and the pool is filled with the regulars doing laps. After 9am many local single parents bring their children to the park to play and meet new friends. Lunchime sees the BBQs filling with families on holiday, and by afternoon people are beginning to have a few wines on the grass, and sunbakers are spread out all over the grass while teenagers play football or practice martial arts nearby. The high hills to the west mean that the afternoon does not drag on at Bronte Beach, sunlight and warmth disappear quickly when the sun sets, and the beach is fairly deserted soon after dark, when it becomes windy and cool, even in summer. This is when local teenagers may be heard partying in the darkness, it may be advisable not to walk through the rear part of the park in the night.
Overall Bronte Beach is family friendly and worth visiting in the daylight hours. You can either bring your own picnic or eat out, both options are extremely popular, especially on weekends.
For night-time entertainment nearby visit either Coogee (teenage backpackers) or Bondi Beach (20-something backpackers).
Written 17 August 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary Neville
Canberra, Australia276 contributions
June 2016 • Friends
Definitely recommend this beach to tourists and interstate travelers! Bronte is close to Bondi & other local attractions, however, not as busy. There are some excellent cafes nearby including three blue ducks which I can highly recommend! The Bondi to Bronte coastal walk is also fantastic-great views!
Written 13 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isselerhof
Singapore, Singapore102 contributions
I lived right on this beach for many years until 2008.
It used to be my favourite ocean beach, and still is in the middle of winter.
It has the best setup from all the beaches, with the bogey hole safe for children, the cliffs for cliffjumping, the iconic bronte to McKenzies open ocean swim past tamarama and the rock pool.
As with all things of beauty these days, the crowds destroy it in the end...
By 2008 there were frequent break ins and vandalism at the cafes, partying teenagers on the wkends in the park, broken beer bottles, etc
The rockpool continuously overcrowded in the summer, no chance of lap swimming unless you want to go at 5-6am
In the end people were camping out with food on my doorstep and total loss of respect for the local residenst was a common thing.
In the winter things are still reminiscent of the good old days, endless laps in the rockpool, sunset drinks and snacks at the cafes, and running up and down the coastal walk without the crowds.
For a tourist visit coogee is probably better as swimming is safer, but Bronte is still beautiful to look at, if not as nice anymore to enjoy...
It used to be my favourite ocean beach, and still is in the middle of winter.
It has the best setup from all the beaches, with the bogey hole safe for children, the cliffs for cliffjumping, the iconic bronte to McKenzies open ocean swim past tamarama and the rock pool.
As with all things of beauty these days, the crowds destroy it in the end...
By 2008 there were frequent break ins and vandalism at the cafes, partying teenagers on the wkends in the park, broken beer bottles, etc
The rockpool continuously overcrowded in the summer, no chance of lap swimming unless you want to go at 5-6am
In the end people were camping out with food on my doorstep and total loss of respect for the local residenst was a common thing.
In the winter things are still reminiscent of the good old days, endless laps in the rockpool, sunset drinks and snacks at the cafes, and running up and down the coastal walk without the crowds.
For a tourist visit coogee is probably better as swimming is safer, but Bronte is still beautiful to look at, if not as nice anymore to enjoy...
Written 15 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
k1w1brad
SYD-LON-MUC5,177 contributions
Jan 2011
A very nice beach in the eastern suburbs. Great for a surf and even better for a bbq get together with friends or even just a picnic.
Get there early to mid morning especially if you are driving as the parking spots around the beach get filled up very very quickly. If you do get there and the road side parking is full then you'll have to park further away and walk down.
During the winter when the surf is big you can surf from Bronte to Tamarrama or vice versa.
The lifeguards there are the same one you see on Bondi Rescue so don't be shy to approach and ask for a photo.
Generally we go here for Australia Day and soak up the sun with friends and a good sized picnic.
Get there early to mid morning especially if you are driving as the parking spots around the beach get filled up very very quickly. If you do get there and the road side parking is full then you'll have to park further away and walk down.
During the winter when the surf is big you can surf from Bronte to Tamarrama or vice versa.
The lifeguards there are the same one you see on Bondi Rescue so don't be shy to approach and ask for a photo.
Generally we go here for Australia Day and soak up the sun with friends and a good sized picnic.
Written 10 January 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hugosampson
Melbourne, Australia197 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
If you're visiting Sydney and love the beach, you'll probably go to Bondi. If you have an hour spare, walk to Bronte Beach and back, starting where Icebergs is located above the rock lap pool. You'll see spectacular views and won't be disappointed! After you arrive and have a look around, head to one of the many cafe's in the strip behind the park at the beach.
Written 13 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HI, do you have to pay to swim in the beach pools?
Written 8 August 2016
Those pools on the beach are free.
Written 27 August 2016
Are bbq facilities for free? Is alcohol consumption permited there? Thanks!
Written 29 December 2015
Yes the BBQ give 20 kind of cooing time.
No alcohol consumption is allowed (as with everywhere outdoors in Sydney).
Written 6 January 2018
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