Bondi Beach, Sydney

1. Let’s Go Surfing

Brenda Miley, former surfing champion, started this company from the back of her minivan in the Bondi Beach parking lot, in 1995. Her aim was to encourage more women to surf. In 1998, she opened a shop which sells and hires surfboards and related equipment. The company offers surfing lessons and beach tours at Bondi Beach, Byron Bay and Maroubra and has taught people from all corners of the globe. Its motto is “Changing lives, one wave at a time”. Brenda and her team offer pro bono programs such as Kids at Risk, Waves of Wellness and Silver Surfers, for senior citizens. The initiative has received countless awards.

Let’s Go Surfing, 128 Ramsgate Ave, North Bondi., NSW 2026, Phone: 02-93-65-18-00

2. Bondi Icebergs

This swimming club was started in 1929 by lifesavers who wished to remain fit during winter. The 15B rule for membership requires candidates to compete for three out of four Sundays per month, for five years, in order to qualify. The club started in a tin shed and was upgraded to a bar and poker venue in 1960. It is the only swimming club in the world to hold a liquor licence. The current multi-story venue includes a 200 seat restaurant which overlooks the beach and the 50m tidal pool where members compete. There is also a sauna, shop and museum on the premises.

Bondi Icebergs, 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach NSW 2026, Phone: 02-9-13-03-12

3. Bondi Pavilion

The Bondi Pavilion was originally instituted to combat public indecency. Bathers, particularly men, were changing into their swimwear in the open. In 1911, rudimentary 'surf sheds' were erected. By 1928, peak daily attendance had reached 60000 and a more robust structure was needed. The Pavilion comprised Turkish baths, a ballroom, shops, a gymnasium and the Esplanade restaurant and cabaret venue. During World War Two, Bondi Beach was considered to be an invasion point and the entrance was demolished. In 1996, the building was declared a heritage site. It was subsequently refurbished and is now a community arts center, housing theaters, studios and shops.

4. Bondi Markets

The weekend markets can be found in the grounds of the Bondi Beach Public School, close to the beach. Bondi Farmers' Market opens on a Saturday and sells fresh produce, nuts and seeds, organic and vegan food, cold-press coffee and other food-related products. Visitors can eat at the Field to Feast Table or organize their own picnic on the grounds. Food is also sold on Sundays, along with clothing, jewelry, art, retro chic furniture and vintage collectibles. The market is not large, leaving plenty of time to enjoy other attractions in the area. It is open from 10 am to 4 pm.

Bondi Markets, Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach Public School, Bondi

5. Gertrude and Alice

'Gertrude and Alice' refers to the author Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, her lifelong companion and muse. After Gertrude's death, Alice published her memoirs in the guise of a cookbook. Some of her recipes are used at the café. The bookshop was started in an old surf shop, with a stock of 40000 second-hand books. It now sells new and used, fiction, non-fiction and collectible books. It is a gathering place where writers, readers, actors and artists can eat, drink, read and attend literary and musical events. The shop has appeared in several films, commercials and photo shoots.

46 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026, Phone: +61-2-91-30-51-55

6. Cooee Art Gallery

Cooee Art Gallery is a the oldest marketplace for Aboriginal art in Australia. It was founded by Adrian Newstead in 1981. He subsequently wrote a book about his experiences entitled, 'The Dealer is the Devil'. The gallery has handled more than 3000 paintings, sculptures, limited edition prints, desert boards and handcrafted items, representing 150 artists. Each item is accompanied by a profile of the artist. More than 400 solo and thematic exhibitions have been held at the gallery. Cooee also does valuations, schedules auctions, generates secondary sales of works of art and offers advice and consultancy.

31 Lamrock Ave.Bondi Beach, NSW 2026, Phone: +61-02-93-00-92-33

7. Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall

In the 1970s and 80s, graffiti became an illicit art form as youth experimented with spray paint in public places. The cost of removing the offending images was $400000 per annum. In the late 1980s the first graffiti wall in Bondi was sanctioned in order to channel the young artists' energies. Space was allotted based on merit and experts in the field offered training in spray paint art and techniques. More Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall space was made available and the cleaning bill for removing illicit graffiti dropped to $60000. Initially, words and phrases were popular but recently, images worthy of selfies and Instagram have started trending.

8. Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

This urban, coastal walk is 6 km long and is rated as medium difficulty. It is steep in places and makes use of stairways. The walk also meanders through and along cliffs and offers spectacular, panoramic views of the beach, the bay and rock pools. There are several opportunities for stops along the way, including parks, hotels, restaurants, cafés and picnic shelters. There are play areas, changing rooms and toilet facilities available for public use. The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk passes through Tamarama and Bronte beaches and takes approximately two hours. Getting to Maroubra Beach will take another 90 minutes.

9. Sculptures by the Sea

David Handley is the founder and director of this initiative. He was inspired by Opera in the Park, Symphony under the Stars and a sculpture exhibition in Prague, to offer a free public sculpture exhibition in Sydney. The 2 km long sculpture Sculptures by the Sea park is open annually for three weeks during October and November. More than 100 sculptures, created by Australian and international artists, are exhibited and offered for sale. Various routes, including a Tactile Tour, have been mapped out to cater for the public's varying degrees of mobility and special needs. An online shop sells branded merchandise, calendars and catalogs of the artworks. The exhibition moves to Perth's Cottlesloe beach in March each year.

10. Sean's Panorama

Owner chef, Sean Moran, started this restaurant in 1993. It offers Australian comfort food in a beachfront setting. The iconic blackboard menu lists four entrees, main courses and desserts each day. There is also a 5-course chef's special menu option and a selection of Australian wines to choose from. Seating is available in the restaurant, in the cocktail bar or outdoors. The coastal café atmosphere belies a fine dining experience. Sean splits his time between Bondi and the Bilpin farm restaurant in the Blue Mountains, where many of his ingredients are sourced. The Sean's Panorama restaurant is open for lunch from Friday to Sunday and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday.

270 Campbell Parade, North Bondi NSW 2026, Phone: +61-2-93-65-49-24