Destination's Journey

Tag: New South Wales

  • Coogee Sydney New South Wales Australia

    Coogee Sydney New South Wales Australia

    An easy half-hour walk south from Coogee Beach will take you past some interesting rock pools and memorials.

    How to Get to Coogee

    A small car park at Coogee Beach is often full, so finding a spot to park in one of the surrounding streets might be needed. On a busy weekend, or school holidays, you might end up with a walk, but don’t worry, it’s worth it.

    Public transport is a great option, as there’s a bus stop outside the surf club on Arden Street.

    What to Do There

    Apart from spending time on the beautiful beach, Coogee is the start of the Coogee to Bondi Walk. A coastal walkway also heads south, along well-formed trails, providing excellent coastal views. The trail passes rock pools and swimming baths, which are all worth stopping to see.

    Having walked the track to Bondi before, we chose the Coastal Walk to the south, which took 30 minutes each way (going as far as the Ivor Rowe Rock Pool).

    Ross Jones Memorial Pool

    Located next to the Coogee Surf House, the Ross Jones Memorial Pool was built in 1947. During high tide and rough seas, waves crash over the concrete walls of the pool.

    Ross Jones Memorial Pool Coogee
    Ross Jones Memorial Pool Coogee
    Ross Jones Rockpool Coogee
    Ross Jones Rockpool Coogee

    Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial

    Located on the foreshore, Goldstein Reserve is the Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial. Dedicated to Australian lifesavers killed during World War One the sculpture shows a digger alongside a surf lifesaver. Standing next to a flagpole, both look out across the ocean.

    Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial
    Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial

    Wylie’s Baths

    Established in 1907, by champion long distance and underwater swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie, Wylie’s Baths is a beautiful ocean tidal pool. Managed by an independent Trust The baths open 365 days a year and caters for everyone from young children to seniors. There is an entry cost to swim here.

    Wylie’s daughter Wilhelmina, along with Fanny Durack, were Australia’s first two female Olympic swimming representatives. The first gold and silver swimming medals for a women’s event in the Olympics went to Durack and Wylie respectively.

    A memorial to Mina stands near the baths.

    Wylie's Baths Coogee
    Wylie’s Baths
    Mina Wylie
    Mina Wylie
    Coastal Views Around Coogee
    Coastal Views Around Coogee

    Ivor Rowe Rockpool

    A small, natural rock pool, the Ivor Rowe Rockpool is a great place for wading, or relaxing in the water. Rocks around the pool mat become slippery, so use care when climbing down.

    Around 2 km from Coogee Beach, the walk there passes many other pools, along with beautiful coastal views.

    Ivor Rowe Rockpool
    Ivor Rowe Rockpool

    What Did We Think?

    We loved the views and the rock pools along the walk, as well as learning the history of Mina Wylie. A fun place to visit with swimming options away from the ocean, or relaxing on the beach.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Federation Cliffs Walk Sydney Australia

    Federation Cliffs Walk Sydney Australia

    Federation Cliffs Walk

    The five-kilometer Federation Cliffs Walk offers spectacular coastal views, with sandstone cliffs, a lighthouse and a shipwreck memorial.

    Getting There

    We chose to use public transport to the Federation Cliffs Walk, as this meant we could start at one end of the Walk and finish at the other, without having to return to the starting point. A ferry from Circular Quay took us to Watson’s Bay Wharf, where we started the walk, while the return trip was by bus to Central Station, from Diamond Bay Reserve.

    The Gap Lookout and Walking Track

    From Watsons Bay Wharf, we made the short walk to the Gap Lookout, where we started our walk. From the lookout, views of the cliffs and out to sea are amazing. Well-made and maintained walkways make the track easy to walk and from here heads south to Bondi and beyond.

    Wreck of the Dunbar

    Launched on 30 November 1854, the Dunbar was a first-class passenger and cargo carrier. On the night of 20 August 1857, the ship approached the entrance to Port Jackson from the south, but heavy rain and a strong gale winds made navigating difficult. Possibly mistaking The Gap as the port’s entrance, the captain ran the ship onto the rocks. Of the 122 people on board, only one survived.

    As a result of this tragedy and the loss of the Catherine Adamson at North Head nine weeks later, the Government built Hornby Lighthouse.

    Containing one of Dunbar’s anchors, a memorial stands on the cliffs above the wreck site.

    Dunbar Memorial
    Dunbar Memorial
    Sea Cliffs on the Federation Cliffs Walk
    Sea Cliffs on the Federation Cliffs Walk

    Signal Hill

    Constructed in 1892-1893, Signal Hill Battery was one of many defensive forts built around Sydney. Originally armed with a BL 9.2-inch (234 mm) Mk VI breech-loading counter bombardment British Armstrong disappearing gun, the fort operated until just after World War Two. By this stage the original gun had been replace by two six-inch guns. Fortunately, the 9.2-inch is on display at North Head, near the Memorial Walk.

    Memorial plaques give tribute to those who served here as well as providing historical context for the structures.

    This is a great place to stop on your walk to understand some of Sydney’s history and admire the fantastic views.

    Cliff Top Fortifications
    Cliff Top Fortifications

    Memorials

    Walking along the Federation Cliffs Walk, you will come across many memorials, it is worth stopping to view them. Some are for loved ones lost overseas, while others commemorate the locations of fortifications or the service of military regiments.

    Lieutenant Grieve's Memorial
    Lieutenant Grieve’s Memorial

    Macquarie Lighthouse

    Designed by James Barnet and built from 1881 to 1883, Macquarie Lighthouse is 26m tall. Heritage listed, it is still fully operational and under the control of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The white tower makes an outstanding photo when set against a deep blue summer sky.

    Macquarie Lighthouse on the Federation Cliffs Walk
    Macquarie Lighthouse

    The Grave Of Edmund Barton

    Sir Edmund Barton, GCMG, PC, KC (18 January 1849 – 7 January 1920) was an Australian politician and judge who served as the first Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1901 to 1903. Located in South Head General Cemetery and marked by a cross headstone, Barton’s grave is difficult to find amongst all of the others found there.

    An interesting place to visit because of the historical importance of Barton.

    Edmund Barton's Grave
    Edmund Barton’s Grave

    Diamond Bay Reserve

    Federation Cliffs Walk offers many superb views of the ocean and cliffs. One of the best is at Diamond Bay, where walkways and a viewing platform provide excellent views. Fishermen have constructed stairs and a gateway on the cliff face. The walkway provides a safe place for photographers

    Waverley Council encourages visitors to Diamond Bay Reserve to stay away from the cliff’s edge. A 27 year-old woman past away recently after slipping when taking a photo on the cliff’s edge. Fencing and signs are there for your safety.

    Sea Cliffs at Diamond Bay
    Sea Cliffs at Diamond Bay
    Stairs on the Diamond Bay Cliffs
    Stairs on the Diamond Bay Cliffs
    Sea Cliffs on the Federation Cliffs Walk
    Sea Cliffs on the Federation Cliffs Walk
    Sea Cliffs on the Federation Cliffs Walk
    Sea Cliffs on the Federation Cliffs Walk

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Cathedral Rocks Kiama on the NSW South Coast

    Cathedral Rocks Kiama on the NSW South Coast

    How to Get There

    Located three kilometers, north of Kiama, Cathedral Rocks are an unusual volcanic rock formation, famous for their distinctive shape. We viewed them from two locations, up close from Jones Beach and further away from Cliff Drive.

    Jones Beach has an excellent car park, with easy beach access, making it an ideal place to start your walk to the rocks. From the car park, walk to the beach and head south (or right as you face the ocean). This will take you to a small rocky headland, where you climb over rocks, until the Cathedral Rocks come into view.

    Jones Drive provides a view of the Rocks from the opposite side, which is a great way to take some different photos. Parking is on-street, but there is plenty of room to leave your car. followed by a track down to the shore. We found that at high tide, the view was restricted, because it was not possible to walk out onto the rock platform. However at low tide, the view was great, just be careful of slippery rocks.

    Jones Beach

    A great place to visit in its own right, Jones Beach is wide and sandy, making a relaxing place to soak up the sun. Cathedral Rocks are to the south on the rocky headland and rock platform. Take footwear, as the rocks are sharp and slippery. We took Crocs, because they can be worn in water and protect feet from sharp rocks.

    Jones Beach
    Jones Beach

    Cathedral Rocks

    Standing above and surrounded by water, the rock formations look amazing, providing a great opportunity for photos. The rock platform gives many different vantage points to see the rocks as well as vantage points to see the rest of the coastline.

    Cathedral Rocks
    Cathedral Rocks

    Cathedral Rocks Cave

    While walking along the rock platform, keep an eye out for a small cave. You can see the Cathedral Rocks from here, while the cave entrance frames them. This gives another and different view.

    Cathedral Rocks
    View From the Cave

    Cliff Drive

    With views from above Cathedral Rocks, as well as a path down to sea level, Cliff Drive offers alternate views to Jones Beach. If you choose to use the path and walk down to the rock platform, low tide is the best time to visit. This will allow you to walk further onto rocks to get a good view.

    Cliff Drive Cathedral Rocks
    Cliff Drive Cathedral Rocks

    What Did We Think?

    A great place to visit and enjoy the beach as well as climbing over rocks. Visiting at low tide will give a you a better view.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.