Maroubra to Coogee Coast Walk – Our Top Pick

Recently, we completed the Maroubra to Coogee coast walk and finished our coastal walk from Watson’s Bay to La Perouse!

I have to say that even though Bondi to Coogee is the most popular of the coast walks, after all of our coastal walks, Coogee to Maroubra is my top pick (even better if you have time to continue to the Malabar headlands). The walk follows the coast from the cliffs to the lapping waves, and over brand new boardwalks. All around gorgeous views without the crowds of Bondi!

Other posts in our Walking Sydney’s Coast series:

La Perouse to Malabar Beach
Malabar to Maroubra Beach
Coogee to Bondi Beach
Bondi to Watson’s Bay
Watson’s Bay and South Head
Spit Bridge to Manly

Maroubra to Coogee Coast Walk – Maroubra

To start the walk, catch the 376 bus from Central to Marine Parade at Maroubra beach. Our Sunday ride jolted and jostled us through Surry Hills and Darlinghurst, but transported us to the beach in around 30 minutes.

We exited the bus and cross Marine Pd to the Skate park for bathrooms and water refills. At this point, CZ requested to exit the Kelty, so we slowly ambled our way past the beach and towards the baths.

Surveying the rock pools below, we admired the brave few who swam on that frigid morning. The waves crashed powerfully against the rocky shore, mesmerizing JZ and I, but not capturing CZ’s attention, so on we walked.

Just before our last glimpse of the shore, we summited a steep hill to an overlook. We scrambled over sandstone to the rocky outcropping and admired the perfect, blue sea before us.

After several minutes admiring the view, watching rock fishermen, and praying for the safety of teens scootering along the deadly precipice, we tore CZ away from the rocks.  She spotted the steps down the path, and scurried away to face their exceeding steepness. JZ and I descended gingerly, with a thankful acknowledgement to our knees, and faced the next slippery, algae covered section of the trail.

Even with CZ successfully completing two obstacles thus far, the next challenge proved more than I felt comfortable with.

We packed a protesting CZ into the Kelty to focus on our own footing across the wet, algae covered rocks. Instead of viewing the water from above, here the waves lap (or crash) at your feet. Tiny violet shells cover every shadowy crevice, and crabs scuttle away with annoyance just as you spot them. I have to say, JZ and I loved this small cove almost equidistance from Mistral Point and Ivor Rowe Rock Pool. The secret cove was definitely a highlight of the walk.

Maroubra to Coogee Coast Walk – Coogee

After climbing a second particularly steep set of stairs, the path unceremoniously ends on Seaside Parade, a residential street. Turn left on Edgecliff Ave and take your first right on to Cuzco St.

If you follow the street all the way to the end, and you will see a set of steps in between two houses. When we walked on this path, a Randwick Council sign pointed us in the right direction to the steps that exit on to Bunya Parade. This leads you onto the newly opened boardwalk section of the Maroubra to Coogee coast walk.

The boardwalk is considerably more travelled than the previous portions, and for good reason. It is a perfect mixture of accessible and natural, with informative signposts along the way. From here to Coogee is an awesome place to take the kids out for a calm coastal walk. Much of the path is boardwalks and sidewalks, without excessive stair climbing. We passed a rather magnificent (and crowded) park in South Coogee, that CZ desperately wanted to visit. Of course, all that being said, there are slippery sections, and obviously, coastal cliffs, so keep them in arm’s reach.

We arrived in Coogee with ample time to snack on takeaway fish and chips before catching the 372 back to Central Station.

Maroubra to Coogee is a walk that we look forward to doing again, especially in the summer when we can appreciate the beautiful beaches on both sides!

Know Before You Go – Maroubra to Coogee coast walk

• Distance: 5km
• Bathrooms and water available at both beaches
• Most of the walk is exposed, bring a hat!
• Cafes are abundant at both beaches as well
• The most kid-friendly section is from Bunya Parade to Coogee beach