Australia’s beaches make the perfect backdrop for a girls getaway. Gather your squad for a trip that will inspire lifelong friendships and epic squad goals.
Laidback Coogee Beach is popular with backpackers who stay at the nearby hostels, but it also appeals to families and swimmers with its sheltered shoreline and 50-meter ocean pool. Surfers should stick to the flags and swim within the marked boundaries to avoid riptides.
Bondi Beach
The most iconic of Sydney’s beaches, Bondi Beach is a crescent of golden sand that’s cloaked with towels and bathers. A string of souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants line the promenade, while a skate park attracts thrill seekers.
At the southern end, a grassy spot offers coin-operated barbecues (bring your own charcoal) and picnic tables. Don’t bring alcohol, as it’s banned on the beach. Changing rooms and lockers are available, as is free beach-friendly wheelchair access through Bondi Pavilion.
For a more active way to enjoy the water, join the masses of surfers and swimmers or rent a board to catch your first wave. You can also get a close-up of the region’s diverse marine life by heading out on a whale and dolphin watching tour. Alternatively, take part in an epic fitness event such as the Bondi to Bronte ocean swim or City2Surf.
Coogee Beach
A short stroll away from Bondi Beach, Coogee is a great place to relax by the sea and enjoy a leisurely beachside brunch or cocktail. The Coogee Pavillion offers sweeping views of the golden sands and a refreshing sea breeze to complement your ice-cold beverage.
Coogee’s rocky Wedding Cake Island is credited with drastically reducing the size of the surf that hits this popular Sydney beach. The beach is usually calm and safe for swimmers and a regular venue for the Coogee Island swim which sees thousands of swimmers tackle the 2.4km race out to and around the island.
On the beachfront are a range of cafes, restaurants and hotels including the Coogee Bay Hotel which has a new events center complete with all the latest technology and group dining concepts. Close by are McIver’s Baths which is the only ocean pool in Australia that is reserved for women only. It is also a stop on the famous Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.
Freshwater Beach
A stunning beach wedged between two headlands, Freshwater Beach (also known as Lady Bay) offers secluded swimming between the flags and an enticing saltwater pool. There are also cafes and a kid’s playground, and the free Ocean Baths offer changing pavilions and a diving board.
It was here that Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Australia by carving a board from a local tree and demonstrating its joys for an enthralled crowd on 10 January 1915. A statue of the eponymous surf hero is perched on the northern headland.
Gather your girls and plan a getaway to Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where dreamy blue coastline meets rolling hills dotted with vineyards and steaming hot springs. It’s the ultimate girl’s trip to inspire squad goals and lifelong funny stories.
Tamarama Beach
It might not have the glamour of Bondi, but this chic beach is a great place to lounge and enjoy some peace and quiet away from the crowds. You can also snorkel here and the rocks are a popular picnic spot.
A family-friendly beach with calm waves, Coogee is a regular go-to for locals. It gets busy on weekends and public holidays, but during the weekdays you can usually have it all to yourself. It also has good facilities like ocean pools and a rock pool.
A hidden gem on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Bilgola is a place for inner-city locals to hang out. The beach has a natural sheltered rock pool, perfect for snorkeling and swimming laps. It’s also a great vantage point to watch the humpback whales on their annual migration.