The Bondi to Watson’s Bay Walk | Complete Guide
The Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk is a hidden gem, offering an alternative to more popular Eastern suburbs walks!
If you’re looking for a coastal walk in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with a fraction of the crowds of the popular Bondi to Coogee walk, consider heading north from Bondi beach towards Watson’s Bay.
The Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk takes about 2 and a half and has some of the most beautiful scenery in the eastern suburbs. The walk zig zags through some of the most expensive real estate in the country, houses perched on jagged cliffs above a wild yet beautiful ocean below.
The Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk forms part of the new Bondi to Manly multi-day walk. It is therefore well sign-posted from start to finish.
The most beautiful part of the walk is a 5km stretch from Dover Heights to Watson’s Bay, known as the Federation Cliff Walk or sometimes as the Waverley Cliff Walk. I live in Bondi and enjoy doing this walk for exercise, so I have included information about walking from Bondi to Watson’s Bay, as well as the shorter Federation Cliff Walk, starting at Raleigh Reserve.
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Quick Facts about the Bondi to Watson’s Bay Walk
- Location: Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Traditional lands of the Bidiagal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal people.
- Distance and time needed: Bondi to Watson’s Bay is 9km. If you begin at Raleigh Reserve the walk is 5km. Allow 2-3 hours to complete the walk.
- Difficulty: Easy. Suitable for most ages and fitness levels with occasional steep sections of stairs. Not suitable for prams or wheelchair users.
- Highlights: Diamond Bay, Dudley Page Reserve, Macquarie Lighthouse, The Gap
- Water refill stations along the walk. Limited public toilets. Dogs allowed.
Where to start the walk
The most beautiful part of this walk begins at Raleigh Reserve. This section of the Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk is known as the Federation Cliff walk. The Federation Cliff walk is a 5km walk with gorgeous coastal scenery. If you are after a shorter walk, consider starting your walk to Watson’s Bay at Raleigh Reserve.
I live in Bondi so it makes more sense for me to start the Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk from the north end of Bondi Beach. Even if you don’t live in the area, you might choose to start the walk from Bondi Beach as the transport links are more frequent. From Bondi to the start of the Federation Cliff walk is a little boring, mostly weaving through residential streets.
Getting to the start of bondi to watson’s bay walk
To get to Bondi Beach, take bus 333, 379 or 380 from Bondi Junction Interchange.
To get to Raliegh Reserve, take bus 380 from Bondi Junction Interchange. Stay on the bus past Bondi Beach and jump off on Military Road, a few minutes walk to the reserve.
Pathway closures
As of the time of writing (January 2025), there are a few sections of the Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk that are currently under renovation. The area around the Eastern Reserve Boardwalk is closed so for that portion of the Federation Cliff Walk you will need to detour through nearby residential streets.
Update: According to the Waverley Council website, as of April 2025, construction has been completed and all sections of the Federation Cliff Walk are now open. Check for updates on the Waverley Council website.
The Bondi to Watson’s Bay Walk
Bondi Beach to Raleigh Reserve
If you are starting your walk in Bondi, head to the north end of Bondi Beach and take the steps near North Bondi Fish up to Brighton Boulevard. Head through William’s Park to see the Aboriginal rock engravings. These are believed to be made by the Gadigal people over 2000 years ago.
From here the walk is admittedly a little boring as you follow Military Road and a few side streets until you reach Raleigh Reserve. This is where the Federation Cliff Walk begins and is the first glimpse at the stunning coastal scenery that characterises the rest of the walk.
Raleigh Reserve to Dudley Page Reserve
Walk along the reserve until you reach Weonga Road. Take Weonga Road up to the gorgeous Dudley Page Reserve. Although it is a bit annoying that you can’t follow the coastline for this part of the walk, the views from Dudley Page Reserve more than make up for it. This is a wildly popular place to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks as it has uninterrupted views back over the harbour towards the city.
Dudley Page Reserve to Diamond Bay
After Dudley Page Reserve, take a right down Lancaster Street to the start of Eastern Reserve. This newly re-opened stretch of the walk has a stunning walkway and stairs that perch perfectly upon the top of the cliff offering incredible views.
At the end of Eastern Reserve, there are some very lucky homeowners that claim the cliff top, meaning a slight detour along Ray Street is necessary.
You’ll soon be rewarded with views of the stunning Diamond Bay. For me, this is the highlight of the Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk. Eighty metre high sandstone cliffs with impossibly blue water below. The Diamond Bay walkway is newly renovated and has bench seating if you want to spend a little more time here soaking up the views.
Macquarie Lighthouse
Head along the coastal path until you get views of Macquarie Lighthouse on Dunbar Head. The lighthouse was opened by Governor Macquarie in 1818 and was designed by a british-born convict, Francis Greenway. Governor Macquarie was so pleased with Greenway’s work that he granted him a partial pardon for his crimes.
Unfortunately, the position of the lighthouse, 2km from the south entrance to Sydney Harbour was not ideal. This was considered one of the factors that contributed to one of Australia’s worst maritime disasters.
In 1857, the Dunbar was caught in a violent storm and went down killing 121 people. This eventually led to the construction of Hornby Lighthouse at the end of South Head. There is a monument to the Dunbar further along the walk near Watson’s Bay.
Christison Park to the Gap
There are stunning views out to sea for this part of the walk. Whale season runs from mid-May to November and if you are lucky, this is a great spot to see mighty humpback whales migrating along the East Coast. At the end of Christison Park there are binoculars provided by Waverley Council to help spot these majestic creatures.
As you near to the end of the walk you will get the first glimpses across the Harbour to North Head. This part of the coast is known as The Gap. Although beautiful, The Gap conjurs up a lot of sadness for Sydney-siders as an infamous suicide spot. There are high fences and free phones connecting to LIfeline along the walkway at The Gap, that are testament to this.
Watson’s Bay
After The Gap, walk through the beautiful Robertson’s Park to the waterfront at Watson’s Bay. To celebrate the end of the walk, enjoy a drink at the iconic Watson’s Bay Hotel!
Continuing the walk
If you want a longer walk, when you get to Watson’s Bay continue on to the South Head Heritage trail that takes you to Hornby Lighthouse. This is a beautiful coastal walk that takes in some great history along the way.
If you’re not up for it, keep it on your list for another day as it is a wild and beautiful part of Sydney’s gorgeous coastline.
Transport from Watson’s Bay
From Watson’s Bay, you can take bus 380 back to Bondi Beach or onward to Bondi Junction.
If returning to the city, you can take the ferry to Circular Quay from Watson’s Bay wharf. You can check ferry times on the Transport NSW website.
Things to bring with you on the Bondi to watson’s Bay walk
There is not a lot of shade along the Bondi to Watson’s Bay walk. If you are doing the walk in summer, bring sunscreen, wear appropriate sun-protective clothing and a decent hat. I last did this walk on a weekend in May and still managed to get a little sunburnt.
Bring a refillable water bottle to fill up at water stations along the way. Don’t forget your camera because you will get some great views along the way!
Bondi to Watsons Bay Walk: FAQs
Where to stay in Bondi
Bondi Beach is one of the most touristy areas of Sydney and is filled with great accommodation options for all budgets. As a local, these are my top recommendations for each price range. This is where I recommend friends and family to stay when visiting.
Budget – It’s no joke that Australia is expensive, and Bondi is one of the most expensive post codes. You’re not going to find super cheap accommodation anywhere. The best prices are at backpackers hostels, some of which are not great. By far the best backpackers in Bondi Beach is Wake Up! Bondi.
If you’re travelling with a group or looking for more apartment-style budget accommodation, check out Hotel Bondi. They have reasonable prices and are located right on the beach.
Mid-range – Consider staying at an apartment-style hotel like Adina Bondi. It’s just a few minutes walk to the beach and close to great restaurants and bars.
High-end – Although there are some great hotels in and around Bondi, nothing beats your own seaview apartment. It is an expensive option but if you’re up for a splurge, look for apartments like this one that offer the unparalleled Bondi experience.
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Looking for more great walks around Sydney?
Cape Banks Walking Track, La Perouse
Wedding Cake Rock, Royal National Park
