South-Eastern suburbs
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The South-Eastern Suburbs of Sydney are located south-east of Sydney CBD at the southern end of Eastern Sydney starting south of The Centennial Parklands with Kensington, Randwick and Clovelly and ending as far down as Botany and La Perouse on the eastern shore of Botany Bay. It is a very popular area for visitors to Sydney, including Coogee Beach, Maroubra Beach and La Perouse. It is well-served by public transport and located on the eastern side of Botany Bay and The M1 Eastern Distributor. For Sydney's Eastern Suburbs see here.
Understand
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Sydney's South-Eastern Suburbs enjoys extensive frontages of Botany Bay, the Ocean beaches and extensive towering sandstone clifftops. This part of Sydney has a choice of over 5 different beaches. Sydney's south-eastern suburbs connect through to the City Centre through the City east precinct south-east towards Randwick, Coogee, Kensington, Kingsford, Maroubra and La Perouse connected primarily through Anzac Parade.
Oceanside Areas
editRandwick City Council
- Clovelly Beach
- Coogee Beach
- Maroubra Beach
- Malabar Beach
- Little Bay Beach
Botany Bay
editThe south-eastern suburbs lines the eastern side of Botany Bay with Port Botany, Philip Bay and La Perouse.
Districts
editEastern Sydney overall is a relatively small metropolitan area of Sydney compared to its counterparts of Northern, Western and Southern but still has much to offer with some of Sydney’s most famous and beautiful spots. Eastern Sydney is comprised of The Eastern Suburbs and The South-Eastern Suburbs stretching from Watsons Bay down to La Perouse.
South-Eastern Suburbs
editSydney's South-Eastern Suburbs are made up of Randwick-Coogee, Maroubra-Matraville and Botany-Eastgardens, starting with Kensington, Randwick and Clovelly in the north, Botany to the west, Eastgardens at the centre and La Perouse in the south.
| Randwick-Coogee Located in Sydney’s South-Eastern Suburbs within Randwick City Council home to the beaches of Clovelly and Coogee as well as Gordon’s Bay. Coogee is a popular nightlife destination in the area with bars and dining. Commercial hub is Randwick with The Royal Randwick Shopping Centre and a dining locality known as ‘The Spot’ containing a local cinema called ‘The Ritz’. In the suburb of Kensington there’s The UNSW and NIDA with the suburb of Kingsford just below being a popular destination for pubs, Asian cuisine and dining. |
| Maroubra-Matraville (Maroubra, La Perouse) Located in the southern part of Randwick City Council with the beaches of Little Bay, Malabar and Maroubra which is the largest beach in Sydney’s South-Eastern Suburbs. La Perouse on Botany Bay is a popular destination with its own beaches, walk tracks, lookouts, a museum and a historic jail on Bare Island. Commercial hub is Maroubra Junction with pubs, dining and the local shopping centre called Pacific Square. |
| Botany-Eastgardens The part of Sydney’s South-Eastern Suburbs within Bayside Council on the eastern shore of Botany Bay bordering Mill Stream and Sydney Airport. Major commercial hub is Botany with local dining and retail. Shopping centres include Southpoint in Hillsdale and Westfield Eastgardens which is the largest shopping centre in Sydney’s South-Eastern Suburbs. |
Get in
editBy bus
edit- Sydney Buses runs extensive services throughout the South-Eastern Suburbs. Most originate from Circular Quay in the city, however some originate at Railway Square near Central Station.
There are three main bus routes from the city at Circular Quay that run all day, every day. They are:
- 373 - To Coogee Beach via Taylor Square, Moore Park and Randwick Junction
- 394/L94 - To La Perouse via Taylor Square, Moore Park and Maroubra Junction
There are also lots of local services to Shopping Malls - Eastgardens being the largest. There are also other city bound services from most beaches and major areas as well as cross city Metrobuses which are rapid transit style buses that run every 15 mins from 7am - 7pm daily.
- M10 Maroubra Junction To Leichardt
- M20 Botany To Gore Hill
- M50 Coogee To Drummoyne
There is also a beach connect service during summer on weekends and runs From Bondi Beach at the Tour Buses to Coogee Beach via Bronte number 362 and runs from 10am to 6pm
By light rail
editThe South-Eastern Suburbs are connected via the L2 and L3 light rail lines. Both lines start from Circular Quay and passes Central and Surry Hills, but the L2 line branches east towards Moore Park and Randwick, while the L3 line branches south wards Kingsford and Kensington.
By car
editSydney's South-Eastern Suburbs are very accessible by car with lots of major roadways. For The South-Eastern Suburbs major roads include Anzac Parade and The M1 Eastern Distributor which runs from the city past the start of Anzac Parade down to The Sydney Airport before becoming The M5 South West Distributer. Traffic can sometimes be a struggle but is generally alright and parking can be a competition that never let's you win at the beaches in summer.
See
editOcean beaches
editSwim, surf, walk or explore the south-eastern suburbs beaches.
From North to South
Randwick City Council
- Clovelly Beach. Clovelly is a beach like no other in the area. If you are looking for a safe, wave free swim, then Clovelly is for you, but be prepared to swap the natural beauty of Sydney's other beaches for a beach that resembles a cement basketball court. ). There is a long bay, a breakwater, and calm swimming. It is a great location for walking, with headland walks heading north and south. The walk north to Waverley Cemetery popular and spectacular. The kiosk is now a upmarket cafe, so a good place to pack a picnic for. Parking can be difficult, at peak times, but it is usually possible to find a spot somewhere. Public transport access is by bus. If you are not satisfied with Clovelly's man-made feel, follow the path south to Gordon's Bay where you will find an astonishing deep bay, popular with backpackers and the nimble of foot (the water is best accessed by climbing over rocks.
- Coogee Beach. Very pretty and popular beach. A little smaller than Bondi, but not a small beach, and it has a bit of a similar feel to it. Nice for swimming and walking, with a rock pool at the southern end of the beach. Plenty of facilities surrounding it, Coogee has pubs, restaurants and takeaway places. Parking and car access can be difficult. Public transport access is by bus routes are to the City, Central, Eastgardens and Bondi Junction.
- Maroubra Beach. Sydney largest south-eastern beach, with good facilities and great waves. You will always find a spot on the sand at Maroubra, but gets crowded swimming between the flags. Large parking lots, which do fill up summer weekends. Probably a little less scenic than the beaches further north, as it lacks the cliff headlands, therefore probably not as good for walking. A cafe and kiosk on the beach, open even during winter. Public transport access is by bus.
- Malabar Beach. Sheltered at the end of Long Bay, Malabar is not the beach for surfers. It is a smaller, quieter beach, often not crowded at all. It is not patrolled by lifeguards. Parking is usually available. Public transport access is by bus.
- Little Bay and Congwong Beach. A beautiful, calm little bay (hence the name) surrounded by cliffs. Rather untouched, save for an amenities hut, this beach is accessed by traveling through old hospital grounds —Prince Henry Hospital— that have now been converted into retirement villages and upper class neighborhoods. There are a couple of shops located on Anzac Parade, which is a bout 10 minutes walk away from the beach. The beach is NOT dog friendly, good for snorkeling and kids, although this beach is not patrolled by lifeguards. Has a nice quiet atmosphere. Best accessed by car or any south-bound bus services running along Anzac Parade, such as the 392. Congwong is a calm beach nearby, save for the planes taking off overhead. There are several other beaches that are around La Perouse and the airport, but have little to no surf due to the calm waters of Botany Bay.
La Perouse and Kamay-Botany Bay
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La Perouse in The South-Eastern Suburbs was the site of some of Australia's earliest European history. It is named after a French explorer, Jean François de Galaup de Lapérouse, who was commissioned by King Louis XVI of France to explore the Pacific. The La Perouse area has also been an Aboriginal reserve, a defence site and even a home for hundreds of homeless Sydneysiders during the Great Depression. Much of the area is now a national park, and there are cliffs, inlets, bays, and walking trails to explore. Visit on a summer Sunday, and you will see Sydney in full recreation mode, with boomerang throwers, kite fliers, beach goers, fishermen, walkers, and picnic blankets with fish and chips. You might even catch the snake man showing Australian native snakes, all for a dollar in the hat at the end of the show.
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The voyage of Lapérouse
Lapérouse landed in Botany Bay on 26 January 1788, only days after the First Fleet arrived in Australia and just as the British were leaving for Port Jackson. Contrary to popular belief, the French did not have orders to claim Terra Australis for France, having been directed by the French government to observe the founding of the British Colony, and their meeting with the British was cordial. In Samoa there had been a skirmish with the inhabitants, killing 13 members of the French expedition and injuring Father Reçeveur, expedition naturalist and chaplain, who later died at Botany Bay. He was buried at Frenchmans Cove below the headland that is now called La Perouse. The French stayed for six weeks and the last official sighting of the French expedition was in March 1788 when British lookouts stationed at the South Head of Port Jackson saw their ships set sail. The entire expedition was wrecked on the reefs of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands during a cyclone sometime during April or May 1788 — the circumstances remaining a mystery for the next 40 years. |
- Frenchmans Beach at La Perouse. This is a swimming spot on Botany Bay. It is a fairly average beach, but has an interesting westerly outlook which allows you see the sun setting over the bay, which is very unusual in Sydney, where looking over the water usually means you are facing east. Accessible by car or bus.
- 1 Kamay-Botany Bay National Park. La Perouse has a museum explaining the interesting history of the area. The Kamay Botany Bay National Park takes its name from the Kamay people (the Spear people) of the nearby Cook's river and Botany Bay. There are walks and great views over the ocean and the bay. The park contains rich marine environments and remnants of the heathland vegetation which Banks and Solander, Cook's botanists, first studied in 1770. You can explore the Banks-Solander track, with its fascinating insights into the once-widespread vegetation communities that Cook's botanists explored in 1770. Or learn about Australia's Aboriginal history and European Colonisation, told in the Lapérouse Museum and the Visitor Centre. Enjoy the Cape Baily Coast Walk, with its windswept heaths, historic sites and spectacular coastal views. All easily accessible by car or bus.
- 2 Bare Island Fort. open for tours on Sundays. It sits in the entrance to Botany Bay linked to the mainland by a wooden bridge. Was built to protect the entrance to Botany Bay, and later used as a Veterans Home. Old fortifications and bay views.
- La Perouse Congwong Bay Beach. Little Congwong Beach is an unofficial & secluded clothing optional beach located at La Perouse, which is reached only by walking through the Botany Bay national park. Little Congwong Beach has been used peacefully by naturists for more than 40 years. Make your way to La Perouse on Botany Bay and park in the car park just north of Bare Island. Walk down the steps to Congwong Beach then left across the rocks to Little Congwong Beach, the second bay. This beach is very popular on summer weekends. Little Congwong is small, and has been described as the most beautiful beach oasis in Sydney.
Do
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- Go to the beach. Pick any one of the iconic South-Eastern Suburbs beaches and enjoy the sand, surf and parade of Australian city beach culture.
- Go to the Cinemas at the historic Ritz Cinema at Randwick or Hoyts Eastgardens.
- Take a walk. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk - Barrenjoey to Royal National Park, this seven day walk traverses the great urban coastal walk of Sydney. The walk can be broken into distances and times of one’s own choosing and may be walked in either direction south from Palm Beach or north from Cronulla. There is no need to do the whole walk and a visitor can just access any part of the coastal walk they choose to experience either for a few metres or a few kilometres. For full details information and brochures see details for walks including Harbour Bridge to South Head & Clovelly and Clovelly to Cronulla. There are additional details available for Sydney Harbour coastline walks .
- Coogee Bowling and Tennis Club - a popular place to play social tennis or an afternoon of bowling. The tennis club also has space to host parties.
- Gordon's Bay - (Also has a local nickname, Thomo's, the origin of which appears to be unknown.) A small rocky inlet just north of Coogee Beach, accessed from the cliff walk, popular for snorkeling. There is an underwater snorkel trail there for the adventurous.
- Randwick Rugby - Coogee is the location of the home ground of Randwick Rugby Union Club, one of the main teams in the Sydney rugby union football competition. Alternate weekends see Randwick and an opposing team battle it out on Coogee Oval, just over the road from the beach - a great way to spend a winter afternoon.
Buy
editCommercial centres
edit- Randwick Junction. Major junction in Sydney's South-Eastern Suburbs connecting Coogee Beach and is the home of The Randwick City Council Administration and Town Hall. Main road is Belmore Road. Its major connection to the CBD is Alison Road.
- Maroubra Junction. Major connection to Maroubra Beach, Sydney's largest south-eastern beach. Located around the intersection of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road.
Shopping malls
edit- Royal Randwick Shopping Centre. Shopping Centre in Randwick Junction on Belmore Road.
- Pacific Square in Maroubra. Shopping centre located on the site of the previous 'Maroubra Mall'.
- Southpoint in Hillsdale. Shopping centre located below the Hillsdale apartment complex called 'Southpoint'.
- Westfield Eastgardens. Largest shopping centre in Sydney's South-Eastern Suburbs. Built on the site of the former Pagewood bus depot which was the largest shopping centre in Australia upon completion in 1987. The area around the centre became its own suburb which took on the name of the shopping centre 'Eastgardens'.
Eat
edit- Pizzavelly Italian Restaurant, 347 Clovelly Rd Clovelly. 11AM-10PM 7 days. Italian Pizzeria and Restaurant. View menu online.
- Burnie's at 48 Burnie Street. Fabulous breakfasts and a sublime single origin roasters coffee menu is organic and gluten free open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.
- The Jilted Anchovy at 350 Clovelly Road does great pizzas.
Drink
edit- Around the beaches, there are many modern pubs, such as the Clovelley Hotel and Coogee Beach Palace, which serve food and alcohol, as well as having gaming facilities and live entertainment. Other large, well-renovated pubs sit a little further back from the beach, such as the Royal Hotel in Randwick, and the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington.
- Cheaper drinks can be found at RSLs, which will always have bistros and gaming, as well as various other facilities - try Coogee RSL on Carr St.
- Around the University of New South Wales, pubs and bars serve the student population - the campus bar serves cheap drinks, especially at Happy Hour (5-6PM, 5-7PM on Wednesday). The Regent Hotel in Kingsford is also a popular student haunt.
- 1 Coogee Bay Hotel, Corner of Coogee Bay Road and Arden Stree (opposite the beach). On a summer's day it is a great place to enjoy a relaxed drink or meal. There's an outdoor beer garden which is popular in summer, and kept warm in winter by outdoor heaters. In the evenings, it can get more lively, with live music, and a younger crowd of backpackers, locals and visitors from around Sydney.
- The Palace, Dolphin St, Coogee (at the northern end of the beach).
- The Legion Club, with a balcony (with high glass) overlooking Coogee beach the Legion has long been the secret watering hole of Coogee locals. Cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere, midweek trivia and live music at weekends the legion is an attractive alternative to people of all ages.
Sleep
editHotels and hostels are available throughout the South-Eastern Suburbs. Coogee Beach is one of the main areas for backpacker and budget accommodation in Sydney.
- 1 Coogee Sands Hotel and Apartments, 161-167 Dolphin St, Coogee, ☏ +61 2 9665 8588, fax: +61 2 9664 1406.
- 2 Dive Hotel, 234 Arden St, Coogee, ☏ +61 2 9665 5538.
- 3 Coogee Crowne Plaza, 242 Arden Street, Coogee, ☏ +61 2 9315 7600, reservations.crowneplazacoogee@ihg.com.
Stay healthy
editFor a serious medical emergency you should call 000 from any phone for immediate attention of the emergency services.
The Prince of Wales Hospital is the major Public Hospital servicing the Eastern suburbs. It is on a large Randwick campus which also incorporates The Prince of Wales Private Hospital, The Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children’s Hospital with The University of New South Wales located on an adjoining campus.
- Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street & Avoca Street, Randwick (look for signs directing to Accident and Emergency department), ☏ +61 2 93822222, fax: +61 2 93822033. The Public Hospital has 440 beds and almost 3,000 staff. The Prince of Wales Hospital has a relatively small but highly complex caseload with more than 30,000 acute patients admitted and about 40,000 patients treated in the Emergency Department annually.
- Sydney Children's Hospital (for paediatric accident and emergency care), High St, Randwick (Accident and Emergency department entrance is on High Street, Randwick.), ☏ +61 2 93821111. 24 hours ER and serious trauma. NSW Health Department.
- Royal Hospital for Women (Maternity services), Barker Street, Randwick, ☏ +61 2 93826111. The Royal Hospital for Women has been one of Australia’s foremost specialist hospitals for women and babies, since its beginnings as New South Wales first ‘lying-in’ hospital for women in 1820. As a principal teaching hospital of the University of NSW in the fields of obstetrics, gynaecology and neonatology the Royal has a history of innovation in women’s health care services, teaching and research. Royal Hospital for Women is part of Prince of Wales Hospital.
Public hospital emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, including public holidays.
Sydney's South-Eastern Suburbs
editRandwick City Council
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Bayside Council (Eastern Side)
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