The winter months in Coogee are some of the most beautiful of the year. With fewer crowds and slightly more relaxed atmosphere, you’ll feel like you’ve discovered a hidden gem! And while the cooler ocean temperature might mean swimming is out (for most people), it might also provide the opportunity to enjoy some other great activities around Coogee. Or simply just give yourself permission to slow down and relax! Read on for some great ideas to get you excited about booking a winter beach break!
It’s whale watching season!
The best time to see Humpback whales (and occasionally Southern Right whales) in Sydney is from mid-June to mid-July, when numbers are at their peak and closest to the coast. However, if you’re lucky you might spot a whale right up until November. Over 16,000 of these beautiful creatures will pass along our coastline during this period. You can ask at our reception about whale tours but if you keep your eyes out when you go for a walk along the coastline you might get lucky. We always love hearing our guests share their whale sightings!
Get the blood pumping on a walk along the coast
Right on the doorstep of the Coogee Sands Hotel, this world-famous coastal walk stretches 6km from Bondi to Coogee. Weaving along the coastline, it’s a stunning journey up and down stairs, along whimsical little pathways, along the clifftops and through beautiful beaches. We also highly recommend walking south towards Maroubra beach – it’s a very similar adventure! Many people prefer to do the walk when the weather is a little cooler – plus there’s always the added bonus of whale watching as you pause to take in the views!
Enjoy some wellness activities
If you’re craving a little ‘zen’ on your beach break, then you will adore all the wellness options available. One of our top picks is undoubtedly the fabulous Living Room Coogee which offers many styles of yoga and meditation overlooking Coogee Beach. It’s located just above local café institution Barzura. An equally incredible location is Wylies Baths where you can get the blood pumping with open air yoga, pilates, fitness or indulge in a massage all to the sounds of the ocean. If you prefer to be pampered in a warm and cosy environment, then look no further than the wonderful Massage By The Beach, located on level one at the Coogee Sands Hotel.
Spend the day at Wylies Ocean Baths
The heritage listed Wylies Baths is so much more than just an ocean pool. Featuring a vast wooden deck wrapped around the cliffside with sweeping views of Coogee Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and Wedding Cake Island, it’s one of the best places to relax and soak up the beachside lifestyle. There are marquees for shelter from the sun or rain, lots of picnic tables, changing facilities with toilets and warm showers. There’s also a lovely little café serving coffee & tea, snacks & lunch, plus some excellent merchandise. Newly refurbished stairs lead down to the pool, where you can swim, or find somewhere to sit on the warm concrete. There’s also a choice of little seats spread around the nooks and crannies around the rocks.
Get some retail therapy
Coogee boasts some really fabulous locally run stores where you can buy gorgeous coastal homewares, accessories, jewellery and clothing from independent & hard-to-find brands. Local favourite By San Sebastian is the place to go for some cool threads and last-minute gifts. Coogee Surf & Co will have you looking like a local. They’ve both got great sale areas downstairs if you love a bargain. For a beach boho vibe, check out Cargo Store and for upmarket coastal living you must visit Lived In Coogee. Just around the corner from Coogee Sands Hotel you’ll discover Design Philosophy which has an eclectic range of beachy clothes & accessories. And of course, we are proud to offer a carefully curated selection of gifts right here in our hotel reception – exclusive to us and perfect to remember your beach holiday here in Coogee.
Enjoy a picnic in the winter sunshine
On a sunny afternoon in Coogee you’ll start to see countless picnic blankets appear on the lovely grassy headlands and families congregating around the free BBQs. It’s a great way to enjoy a long, slow meal and take in the glorious views of the beach and surrounding parklands. You can either order a full meal to takeaway from a local cafe or restaurant or pop into Maloneys Supermarket on Coogee. They offer a great range of gourmet BBQ choices, pre-prepared snacks, antipasto type platters and goodies to indulge in. Don’t forget, Coogee Sands guests also have access to our rooftop sundeck with plenty of outdoor seating and BBQ facilities. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a meal and bring a bottle of wine and soak in the sweeping birds-eye view of Coogee Beach.
Family friendly evening activities
Coogee is a wonderfully family-friendly area and has heaps of options for things to do from the late afternoon onwards. You could visit our neighbours at the Pavillion who have a huge kids area up the back of the ground floor with games and activities from toddlers to teenagers. Or walk a couple of blocks up to the Coogee Beach Club where you can play some barefoot bowls before enjoying happy hour and some dinner. They’ve got a huge outdoor grassy area for kids to run plus plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. If Trivia is more your family’s vibe, then you’ll love Coogee Beach Club on Wednesdays or the The Diggers or Coogee Legion Club on Thursdays. We can also highly recommend dinner and a movie at ‘The Spot’ precinct, brimming with cafes & restaurants and our prized local heritage Cinema ‘The Ritz’.
Local nightlife & live music
Whether you just want to enjoy a quiet drink or dance into the wee hours with a cocktail, Coogee’s got you covered. For an intimate evening with great atmosphere, get yourself a table at Coogee Wine Room or Café Rafaele. We also love the vibe at Maybe Frank for pizza and cocktails in The Spot. Little Jack Horner is the place to be in Coogee for live music and late night dancing and it’s also worth checking out Fkny Mnky for live musicians and a game of pool. Of course, large destinations like the Pavillion, the Coogee Bay and Estate provide countless bar hopping adventures for those that love the nightlife! Viva la Coogee!!
Winter must-dos in Sydney
Vivid Festival Sydney fuses art, innovation and technology in collaboration with some of the most boundary-pushing artists, thinkers, musicians and culinary experts of our time. The festival runs for the first two weeks of June transforming Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, and the Botanic Gardens into a wonderland of light installations. And no matter the weather, taking a trip into Sydney’s beautiful CBD or Botanical Gardens to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House on foot or on a ferry is an iconic and magical sight to tick off you Aussie bucket list.
We hope we’ve given you some great inspiration for your next visit to Coogee! And should the weather turn sour, we’ve got even more ideas on our ‘what to do when it’s raining’ page on our website! Of course, we also absolutely recommend simply snuggling up in your room. Read a book, enjoy the free Foxtel IQ, and order in from one of our fav local restaurants – you’ll find some menus in your room compendium.