Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales, is one of Australia’s largest, busiest and most culturally diverse cities. The waterside city is considered as a major industrial hub, with the biggest industries for employment in finance, manufacturing, retail, trade and health care plantings their roots there.
But, in addition to the busy lifestyle of the city centre and famous landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, this sprawling city has a lot more to offer for a weekend getaway. Sydney is also renowned for its spectacular coastal walks, breath-taking beaches and heritage-listed nature and cultural sites, making it a popular weekend getaway destination for both tourists and locals.
While you can explore Sydney’s many tourist attractions during your stay, there are also a whole host of must-visit travel destinations all easily accessible from the city.
Here are five (5) great Sydney weekend getaways that will make your trip a proper holiday.
Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach
Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach is a full-service beachside hotel located just a few steps away from Coogee Bay - the ultimate Sydney weekend getaway destination. The hotel features well-designed, modern spaces, an open-air pool and Coogee’s best restaurants and bars.
Whether your weekend break in Sydney involves a beach holiday beneath the Coogee sunshine, takes you on a hiking adventure at one of the nearby nature parks, or perhaps a road trip along the city’s coastline, you can always count on Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach to help you relax, unwind and recharge.
If you have kids travelling with you as part of a family getaway, the hotel offers activities that will keep kids of all ages busy, including cookie decorating, paper plane making, colouring competitions and animal encounters.
Why not join your kids with having fun and experience family-friendly activities such as surfing lessons, a trip to Luna Park or Taronga Zoo or watching a movie under the night sky at Centennial Park. Of course, the star of the show is the beach itself, where you can spend long and lazy days enjoying cool coastal breezes, sampling local food and drink enjoying some well-deserved downtime.
Coogee Beach offers up a friendly, relaxed vibe perfect for romantic weekend getaways, family holidays and mid-week staycations. Sleep in rooms made for comfort, enjoy the on-site facilities and explore a whole new world not too far from Sydney CBD.
Bondi Beach Weekend Getaway
With its bright blue waters, golden sands, quality surf and epic views of sunrise, Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most popular beachside suburbs. Best of all, it’s located less than 15 minutes away from Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach.
More than surfing and swimming in its beautiful beaches, there are also tons of activities that you can enjoy while visiting Bondi. If the open ocean is not for you, you can frolic in the Wally Weekes Pool at the northern end. Right next to it is a paddling pool for kids, the Mermaid Baths. To the south, of course, are the Bondi Icebergs.
Walk the scenic trail from Bondi to Coogee, beginning at the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool and traversing the Tamarama and Coogee beaches. The coastal walk takes an hour each way, so grab some water, sunscreen and a hat. Along the trek, you’ll find many cafés, bars, restaurants and picnic spots.
On weekends, pop-up markets open at Bondi Market selling everything from fresh produce to hand-made crafts and vintage clothes. You can also do some souvenir shopping at Campbell Parade. Bondi is a must-visit for any visitor to Sydney - but after a long day of exploring the best activities on offer, head back to the peace and laidback lifestyle of Coogee Beach.
Malabar Headland National Park
Another weekend getaway less than 15 minutes’ drive from Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach is Malabar Headland National Park.
If you want to avoid the crowds at the Bondi to Coogee coastal trek, you can try the Malabar Headland Circuit Walking Track which covers a distance of seven kilometres and takes approximately two hours to complete. If that’s too long a trek, you can opt for either one of the two smaller trails.
The Boora Point walking track is a 3.7-kilometre out-and-back coast track which connects the southern end of Malabar Headland to the beach at South Maroubra. It’s a fantastic spot for humpback whale-watching during the migration months of May to October. Highlights of the coastal walk include Magic Point and heritage structures from the Second World War.
The shorter of the two trails is the Western Escarpment walking track, which is a 1.15-kilometre walkway that connects Pioneers Park in Malabar and Arthur Byrne Reserve in South Maroubra. The track cuts through bushland that boasts an abundance of wildlife and lush greenery. At the highest point is a natural sandstone platform which offers a 360-degree view of Malabar Headland, Maroubra Beach and Botany Bay.
Please note that the Boora Point walking track closes when the ANZAC Rifle Range is in use, while the Western Escarpment walking track is open year-round.
Clovelly
Just a 5-minute drive from Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach is Clovelly, a charming seaside location with concrete platforms, promenades and clifftop parklands bordering sun-drenched beaches.
Popular amongst Sydneysiders, Clovelly Beach is the heart of this beachside locale and home to the large local Blue Groper named “Bluey”. It offers a range of recreational activities for the whole family, surfers, snorkelers, sunbathers and nature lovers. Further south of Clovelly Beach is Gordons Bay, a popular dive spot with calm waters that hide an underwater nature trail.
If you’re looking for things to do other than grabbing some rays on the beach or swimming in the ocean pools, why not trek the coastal walk between Bondi Beach and Maroubra Beach. While here, stop by and make a visit to Bundrock and Burrows Park to get the best view of the coastline while enjoying a picnic with friends and family. If you’re lucky, you might also spot dolphins and whales during migration season.
Fun Fact - There is also a charming harbour village in the UK called Clovelly - hugely popular with tourists for its donkey rides and steep cobbled streets.
Watsons Bay
Another tourist spot near Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach is Watsons Bay - Australia’s oldest fishing village. This coastal and harbourside wonderland is teeming with spectacular beaches, stunning lookout points and mouth-watering fish and chips.
There are many fun family-friendly things to do in Watsons Bay - so have fun trying to pack all of them in a one-weekend itinerary. You can visit the Macquarie Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Australia as part of a guided tour. Make your way up 100 steps to the balcony where you’ll find stunning panoramic views of Sydney.
You can also take the Watsons Bay Coastal Cliff Walk (dogs are welcome!) where you can soak up views of Macquarie Lighthouse, The Gap and the 80-metre sandstone cliffs at Raleigh Reserve. Watsons Bay is home to eleven heritage-listed sites, including Dunbar Ship, Robertson Park, Boongarre and Hornby Lighthouse, so you may want to include a visit to these spots in your itinerary.
For swimming, snorkelling and other water activities, you can drop by Camp Cove, Watsons Bay Baths, Lady Bay Beach or Gibsons Beach. If you’re coming in from Sydney CBD, you can take a ferry ride going to Watsons Bay from Circular Quay or Manly.
Staycations & Weekend Getaways in Sydney
Enjoy a trip of a lifetime and book your weekend getaway in Sydney at Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach. Our beachside hotel offers great value accommodation packages that’ll make your stay one to remember while being just a short distance from Sydney CBD and all of the destinations featured on this list.
Kick back and relax after a long day of exploring Sydney in well-appointed, comfortable rooms and suites that sweet dreams are made of. Dig into delicious local dishes at Shutters Restaurant or Sydney’s brand new super venue, Estate, situated underneath the hotel.
Get ready to discover the best Sydney weekend getaways - Book your stay today.