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Eastern Suburbs

Gordon’s Cafe Clovelly: Kid-friendly Cafes in Sydney

August 4, 2020 / Clovelly, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Gordon’s Cafe Clovelly: Kid-friendly Cafes in Sydney

Family-friendly Gordon’s is a relaxed cafe in Sydney’s Clovelly, serving healthy fresh food, a stone’s throw from Gordons Bay.

Gordon’s is open 7 days a week, serving all-day breakfast and lunch, plus selected evenings (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). This is a friendly neighbourhood cafe where the focus is on serving the locals delicious, wholesome, seasonal food. Gordon’s is fully licensed and has a collection of Australian and Italian wines plus Mountain Goat craft beer on tap.

There is seating available both inside and out. The cafe is extremely popular so on weekends, I suggest calling ahead for a reservation.

The friendly staff offered us a kids’ menu/colouring-in sheet plus crayons on arrival (thanks!). The kids offerings are pretty standard and reasonably priced. Even though it was only 10am, a kids’ pasta was ordered – a excellent sized portion and thanks for being so flexible to the staff.

Hubby and I both ordered the Gordons Stack (with layered tomato, haloumi, avocado, poached eggs & bacon on sourdough topped w. hollandaise & served w. mixed leaf
$19). I requested mine without hollandaise and bacon and was offered a vege alternative – I chose spinach.

We also ordered the Mixed Berry Smoothie ($7.50).

The food arrived quickly and was fresh, pretty and delicious. An absolute neighborhood gem!

Just down the street is Burnie Park, which is a lovely bit shady park, including a nice sized playground.

Gordons Bay is about a 600m walk to get to from the cafe. Read more about visiting Gordons Bay.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Outside.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Gordons Cafe
353/355 Clovelly Rd,
Clovelly NSW
Reservations: (02) 9665 2342
Hours: Mon-Thurs 6:30am-2:30pm, Fri 6:30am-3pm, Sat & Sun 7am-3pm
gordonscafe.com.au
Get Directions

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Newmarket Dining Randwick: Eat, Play and Unwind

May 22, 2020 / Eastern Suburbs, Outdoor Play, Playgrounds, Randwick, Sydney, Sydney Food, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Newmarket Dining Randwick: Eat, Play and Unwind

Sydney’s newest precinct, Newmarket Dining is a place to eat at cosy cafes and restaurants, picnic in the park and play at a state-of-the-art playground.

Officially opened in 2020, Newmarket Randwick was built on a site containing plenty of local history. The original inhabitants were thought to be the Cadigal and Biddigal Aboriginal people. In 1809, the land was granted to an ex-convict named Andrew Byrne, before becoming part of Randwick’s horse racing story. William Inglis & Son, Australia’s largest and oldest racehorse auctioneer, took over the site from 1917 – 2017, transforming it into the Newmarket Sales yard.

Some of Australia’s most famous horses paraded the sales yard, which has now been transformed into a children’s playground, and scenes from the movie Phar Lap were filmed in the Newmarket Big Stable, which is in the process of being resorted for use by the community.

Surrounded by a ring of shiny new apartments, the Newmarket Dining precinct at Newmarket Randwick has opened with Baccomatto Osteria, an Italian restaurant, RaRa Randwick, a Japanese diner, Cali Press, makers of seasonal salad bowls, Café Mckenzie, serving speciality coffee and a Middle Eastern menu in a family-friendly environment.

The outdoor space at Newmarket Randwick is designed to encourage community engagement, with space for picnics, BBQs and a brand new playground with lots of inclusive elements.

One challenge we noticed on our visit was that the bathrooms were locked and not generally accessible, so keep that in mind when visiting that if you need to use a toilet you will need to ask one of the shops/cafes for a key.

The easiest way to reach Newmarket is by public transport as parking in the area is a challenge. To use public transport, take the light rail or bus. The nearest light rail stops are UNSW High Street and Randwick.

Newmarket Randwick
154 Barker St, Randwick
https://newmarketrandwick.com.au/

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Restaurant Reviews: The Boatshed La Perouse, Sydney

February 3, 2020 / Eastern Suburbs, La Perouse, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

The Boatshed La Perouse

Enjoy casual, modern dining with a focus on fresh seafood at The Boatshed La Perouse. This waterfront restaurant is an extremely family-friendly place to dine – with a bonus killer view!

On weekends a booking would be advisable, as the restaurant is in a very attractive spot, perched over Frenchmans Beach, with the stunning ocean as a backdrop. There is a large deck to choose a table on, with a lovely sea breeze but also full shade coverage.

The Boadshed La Perouse is open for breakfast and lunch, with the menu crossing over at 11:30am daily.

I arrived to try the breakfast menu and ordered the Haloumi Stack (with roasted truss tomatoes, smashed avocado, grilled haloumi and sourdough, $18.5).

The breakfast menu has a lot of options, including some for kids (the Kids Pancakes, $12, Eggs Your Way, $12). There are also vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.

The lunch menu is quite seafood heavy, with only one vegan option, one vegetarian main, one vegetarian entree and a few sides salads.

There is a nourishing salad bowl that is extremely green and healthy, and delicious chips to balance that out.

Kids options on the lunch menu are all meat-heavy too: Fish and Chips, Calamari and Chips and Chicken Nuggets and Chips, all $12 each. The kids’ pancakes are amazing.

Order at the bar and food will be brought to your table. There are plenty of baked goods for sale there, too.

We found the food was delivered quite quickly and was hot and fresh.

Bathrooms are located upstairs, with the exception of the family and disabled bathroom on the restaurant level. The family and disabled bathroom has a change table.

There is easy, single level entrance to and from the Boatshed La Perouse, making it a great choice for strollers, and plenty of high chairs available.

The Boatshed La Perouse sits above Frenchmans Beach, which is an extremely flat, sheltered beach, perfect for families. There is a new, fenced playground next to the restaurant and beach.

Another nearby beach is Congwong Beach.

Get tips on visiting La Perouse beaches.

Enjoy the history of La Perouse and Bare Island.

The Boatshed La Perouse
1609 Anzac Parade, La Perouse
Phone: (02) 9661 1817
Hours: Tues-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat & Sun 7am-4pm
theboatshedlaperouse.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids.

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Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

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Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

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InterContinental Sydney Double Bay High Tea, Sydney

May 13, 2019 / Eastern Suburbs, High Tea, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

InterContinental Sydney Double Bay High Tea

Indulge in a luxe high tea at the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay. Choose from the Signature High Tea, Oriental High Tea or Kids’ High Tea.

High tea at the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay is an elegant affair. Located upstairs in the Stillery, high tea is served daily between 11am and 4pm.

Adults can choose between the Signature High Tea and Oriental High Tea, while children have a special Kids High Tea on offer to them.

We chose the Signature High Tea with the option to add a glass of chilled Champagne.

The High Tea arrives on a very traditional three tiers, with sweets on top, sandwiches on the middle and hot savouries on the bottom.

I love sweets but as I’ve gotten older I’ve found that I enjoy the savoury and scones in larger quantities and my ability to eat sweets has lessened, so this type of high tea with its food ratio is my idea of perfection.

Each high tea is also served with your choice of tea of coffee, served in a pot that gives about 1.5 cups.

Signature High Tea

Something Savoury
Sage lemon chicken, watercress on multigrain*
Wild Mushroom Bruschetta, grilled leek, pecorino
Cold smoked trout, ricotta, black caviar, blini*
Meredith quiche, goat cheese, caramelised onion

* Vegetarian options: avocado and cucumber sandwich and a vegetable wrap.

Intercontinental Double Bay High Tea, Sydney, Australia
Something Sweet
Lemon myrtle cheesecake, wattleseed crumble, meyer lemon curd
Strawberry & basil, white chocolate, macadamia crunch
Lemon lime bitter macaron, Angostura bitters, chocolate fizz
Mascarpone mousse, crab apple jelly, Anzac biscuit
Homemade cranberry & sultana scone served with cream & jam

Intercontinental Double Bay High Tea, Sydney, Australia

Signature High Tea $59
High Tea with a a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne $69
High Tea with three mini martinis $79

Children’s High Tea

Intercontinental Double Bay High Tea, Sydney, Australia

Sandwiches
Fairy Bread, Pepe Saya butter, 100’s & 1000’s
Chicken & cheese toastie, multigrain bread, cheddar cheese*

* Vegetarian alternative: avocado and cucumber sandwich

Something Sweet
Chocolate fudge brownie, chantilly, Weiss dark chocolate, walnuts
Watermelon lollypop, compressed watermelon, desiccated coconut
Banana & chocolate cupcake, Nutella, Smarties
Smiley macaron, French salted caramel
Strawberry fondue, milk chocolate, fresh strawberries

Children’s High Tea is $25.

We adored this high tea. The sandwiches were delicious and fresh, the scones warm, the jam absolutely divine. Hubby wanted to take the jam home.

The sweets were excellent. A great variety and unusual flavours. My fave was the lemon myrtle cheesecake with wattleseed crumble and meyer lemon curd. It was slightly tart, fresh and sweet. I could have eaten more!

The kids’ high tea was a very happy addition to the menu. Cheese often finds the food on the regular high team menu to be too fancy, so she likes to have her own high tea where the food caters to simpler taste palates. Her fave was the chocolate fondue with strawberries. She loved it so much we had to ask for more strawberries.

Intercontinental Double Bay High Tea, Sydney, Australia

The service at the InterContinental was just as you would expect. Efficient and friendly, making for an extremely pleasant dining experience. Highly recommend the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay High Tea!

InterContinental Sydney Double Bay
33 Cross Street, Double Bay, Sydney NSW
Bookings recommended (you can book online)
Website

More things to do in Sydney

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

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Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

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Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Sydney’s Best Cafes: Black Star Pastry, Rosebery

November 14, 2017 / Eastern Suburbs, Roseberry, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

The darling of the Sydney pastry world has to be Black Star Pastry owner Christopher Thé. His iconic strawberry-watermelon cake really put Black Star on the map, resulting in a long line out of his original Newtown store that would stretch down the block.

While the Newtown store is filled with character (you can read about it here), it’s also very small with minimal seating. The Rosebery store is like a warehouse: light and bright with plenty of tables.

There are also some toys for kids to play with while their parents are swooning over their cakes and croissants.

We always order the strawberry-watermelon cake because it would be a crime not to. The cake is comprised of two layers of almond dacquoise, fresh whipped cream, watermelon, strawberries and red grapes. It’s light and refreshing and incredibly more-ish.

Fun & Food In #Newtown: #BlackStarPastry via brunchwithmybaby.com

I also love the orange cake with Persian fig. It’s topped with cream-cheese icing, figs, pistachio and rose petals and is delicious.

We usually have lunch when we dine in and enjoy Black Star’s pies and quiches. The coffee, from specialty roaster Little Marionette, gets a big thumbs up from the hubby.

Black Star Pastry Rosebery #Sydney #Australia via christineknight.me

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Black Star Pastry
C1, 85-113 Dunning Avenue,
Rosebery NSW 2018
Prices: $
Phone: (02) 9700 7686
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm Sat & Sun 8am-4pm
Get Directions

Bake Bar: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Randwick, Sydney

November 30, 2015 / Eastern Suburbs, Randwick, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

I’ve been going to Bake Bar weekly for about a year now and only just took my camera there for the first time to take some pictures for a blog post. It’s one of my favourite little cafes that I’m reluctant to share incase it gets even busier!

Bake Bar is kind of the perfect cafe to take kids to. It’s casual, with an open layout on a busy road (so you don’t need to worry about the noise your kiddos might make!), and it has a really cute little nook in the back that’s perfect for holing up with kids for a cosy coffee and snack.

There are two places to order food inside – one to sit down and one to go. I love this and sometimes will grab something from the “to go” counter and perch at one of the stools for a bit with my daughter, maybe snack a bit, then leave with her to the playground that’s just up the road.

Bake Bar is famous for their amazing sourdough bread. I buy a loaf every week (bonus points because they slice it for me!) as well as a berry scone with poppy seeds, a chocolate croissant for Cheese and a bagel for Alec. The bread is so incredibly good. It’s so soft and fluffy with a firm but not hard crust. There’s nothing worse than bread with a tough crust that hurts the roof of your mouth.

If you’re thinking of dining in, here’s what we ate on our most recent visits: Avocado & Tomato (on sourdough, $9.50) plus Haloumi ($3), Gusto’s Famous Brekkie Combo fruit salad yoghurt (small $7.50), Eggs Poached (served with tomato, spinach & your choice of hollandaise or yoghurt basil pesto $11.50) and the Chunky Beef Pie $5.50.

I love the avocado and tomato on sourdough because the bread is a star at Bake Bar, so you know it’s going to be good. My other favourite dish is the fruit salad yogurt because it’s light and filling at the same time. You can make your own combination from their muesli bar too, and add in granola or a berry coulis.

Bake Bar does get busy particularly on weekends, but there is a fast turnover of tables so the wait is never long. If you take your kids, they have a small selection of books you can find to read to them stored underneath the water cooler.

Before you go, grab one of their delicious pastries for the road. The fruit tarts are excellent, as are the croissants.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Bake Bar
67 Frenchmans Rd,
Randwick NSW 2031
Phone: (02) 8021 0728
Prices: $
Hours: Daily 6am-6pm
Get Directions

Moo Gourmet Burgers, Bondi Beach: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bondi, Sydney

November 15, 2015 / Bondi, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

I love a good burger! Being vegetarian makes it hard to find good burgers, so I was very excited when walking past Moo Gourmet Burgers in Bondi to see their menu out front listed three different types of vegetarian burgers.

Moo Gourmet Burgers is a small chain of burger stores focusing on producing great burgers, amazing shakes, and addictive chips. Moo Gourmet Burgers only uses ethically farmed, free range, free to roam, sustainable products free from hormone growth promotants and antibiotic treatments. Their menu includes 20 different gourmet burgers.

All beef burgers are made with 100% Australian Grasslands Premium Beef. As well as the 3 vegetarian options there is a selection of premium burgers including the double Wagyu beef “Deluxe Moo®”, Duck & Bacon, Greek Lamb, and Grilled Salmon.

Kids under 12 can choose from the “Little Cow®” menu which includes a choice of 3 menu options (including a vegetarian burger), a drink, and a dessert.

Multigrain and gluten free buns are on offer.

You know a restaurant is kid-friendly when you sit down and a box of crayons and drawing paper appears immediately on your table. The walls are covered with the drawings of Moo’s kiddie customers too – another good sign.

We ordered the kids’ Mini Falafel Burger with Hummus and a chocolate milkshake, $10.95, a Vanilla Malt Milkshake, $6, the Grilled Haloumi vegetarian burger, $14.50, Kangaroo Burger, $16.50 and a side of Sweet Potato Chips, $5.50. All in all, a bit expensive for burgers, but I guess you’re paying for the view, too.

The kids’ milkshake came in the cutest cup – a miniature version of the adult one. Both shakes were classic, old school Aussie shakes.

The Bondi branch of Moo Gourmet Burgers overlooks Bondi Beach.

The kids’ burger came with a small side of chips and a little side salad. It was the perfect size for little kids – and still way too much food for my little Cheese to be able to finish.

My haloumi burger was delicious: pureed avocado, haloumi, tomato, rocket and cucumber on a fluffy fresh bun. Hubbie’s kangaroo burger was “great”. He loves word economy.

We thoroughly enjoyed our burgers at Moo Gourmet. A great easy dining option with plenty for everyone to eat and a laidback atmosphere perfect for families.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Moo Gourmet Burgers
70A Campbell Parade,
Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Phone: (02) 9300 8898
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 11am-9:30pm
Get Directions

Ruby’s Diner: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Waverly, Eastern Suburbs

October 5, 2015 / Eastern Suburbs, Queens Park, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

This cute little cafe is the epitome of Eastern Suburbs chic. Tucked away in Queens Park, Ruby’s Diner is the kind of cafe you need to know about to be able to find.

Seating spills over the sidewalk edges, giving plenty of room to park strollers at the tables. The seating system is very democratic – write your name on the clipboard at the door when you arrive and the host calls you when your table is ready.

We dropped by Ruby’s on a busy, hot public holiday. There was a decent crowd and we were seated within 10 minutes. The turn over of tables is pretty quick.

We ordered an Iced Latte ($4 milk coffee over ice w/ vanilla syrup), the H BOMB juice ($8 pineapple, orange, watermelon), a kids’ Banana Smoothie ($5), kids’ Plain Scrambled Eggs On Toast ($6), Avocado & Roast Tomato (w/ apple balsamic on 5 grain $15, add poached egg + $3) and Ruby’s Organic Beef Burger ($19 w/ beetroot relish, vintage cheddar, tomato, rocket, pickles & brioche bun).

Ruby’s has a very thoughtful kids’ menu, with items such as ham, cheese and tomato toastie, milkshakes, juices, yoghurt cup, gluten-free weetbix and kid’s club sandwich. I really liked that the kids menu had vegetarian and gluten-free options. The main menu also had a lot of dietary requirements covered, with gluten-free and dairy-free options, plus plenty of things for vegetarians like me to choose.

Our food was well cooked and was delivered by smiling staff. The eggs on toast were a good size for kids, and the kiddie smoothie arrived in a takeaway cup, which is always a good idea. My dish had a great zing to it thanks to the balsamic dressing. My toast was a bit burnt however, and the poached egg was slightly undercooked – I prefer mine with the white solid and just the yellow yolk oozing out.

The staff at Ruby’s were very helpful and friendly, it’s worth noting – a small detail that encourages us to return again another day.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Ruby’s Diner
1/173-179 Bronte Rd,
Queens Park NSW 2022
Phone: (02) 9557 8656
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 7am-4pm
Get Directions

Paradise Road Diner: Bondi’s Best Kid-Friendly Cafes

September 27, 2015 / Bondi, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

There are plenty of cafes in Bondi, usually super busy, over run with tourists, and serving very average food. We discovered a new cafe recently called Paradise Road Diner, which is on its way to becoming a new local favourite breakfast and lunch spot, particularly for families.

The diner evokes the feel of 1950s America, with its vintage interiors and classic menu. Plenty of burgers, shakes and eggs your way – all at very affordable prices.

We ordered a classic cheese and tomato omelette ($16, served with a half ruby grapefruit), bagel with cream cheese ($6), and a classic chocolate shake, $6.

The food came quickly and was spot on. The perfect size for breakfast on our way down to the beach. The shake was truly a classic, served in a stainless steel cup for the small one. No gimmicks here, just really simple, good food and shakes.

The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, to us and all of the other families who were dining at the same time. Crayons were brought for toddlers to scribble with, furniture was moved to accommodate strollers, and welcoming smiles greeted every one at the door. The delicious food with no waiting, combined with the staffs’ welcoming attitude, ensured we will be back again soon.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Black Star Pastry and Cafe
296 Campbell Parade
North Bondi Beach
Phone: (02) 9557 8656
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 7am-10pm
Get Directions

Best Sydney Day Trips: Bondi Beach With Kids

September 13, 2015 / Bondi, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney / 2 Comments

I usually say that Bondi Beach is for tourists and avoid it like the plague. The massive crowds make me super frustrated and trying to find somewhere to park makes my husband homicidal. Bondi does, however, have a lot going for it – there’s a reason it’s the most popular beach in Sydney, after all. If you’re prepared to brave the crowds, you’re in for a bit of a treat.

Getting there
You have two options – drive or catch the bus. Driving is faster and pretty easy, but parking is crazy, particularly on weekends. We’ve never not found somewhere to park, but it can often be a good 20 minutes walk from the beach. Catching the bus obviously means no parking, but the queues to catch the bus out of Bondi can get out of control. Either way, be prepared and allow lots of time on both ends.

Where to eat
This is always my first thought when I go basically anywhere: “What is there to eat?”. Bondi is full of great dining options, depending what you’re in the mood for.

Something fancy: Bills
Bills has the most mazing ricotta hotcakes. They are also super kid friendly, but a bit on the pricer side. Read the full review here.
Bills Bondi: 79 Hall St, Bondi Beach

Something fast: Harry’s Cafe de Wheels
Makers of delicious pies, this is my favourite option when we want to grab something and keep walking. Their pies with potato and mushy peas are legendary, and also make for a cheap lunch.
Harry’s Cafe de Wheels: 2/152 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

Something away from the crowds: Paradise Road Diner
This is a new place that just opened. They serve basic bagels, burgers and breakfast dishes, with old school milkshakes. Reasonable prices and far from the tourist crowd. The vibe is relaxed, the staff friendly and welcoming to small children.
Paradise Road Diner: 296 Campbell Pde, North Bondi

Something with a view: Lamrock Cafe
Lamrock Cafe serves really solid breakfast and lunch meals with a killer view. They have a big menu with all the brekkie dishes you’d expect (think pancakes, eggs and “big breakfasts”). Friendly staff, a bit squishy and service can be a bit slow. The price you pay for breakfast with a view. Read the full review here.
Lamrock Cafe: 72-76 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

Something sweet: Gelato Messina
There are lots of choices for ice cream in Bondi, but our favourite is Gelato Messina for their busting-with-flavour inventive creations. A “tiny” scoop is the perfect size for kids ($4). My favourite flavours are Salted Caramel with White Chocolate Chip and Yogurt Berry.
Gelato Messina: 6/61 Hall St, Bondi Beach

Where to swim
If you have older kids, head to the flagged section where the life guards are on patrol. Bondi gets big rips so it’s not safe to swim in the surf outside of this area.

Smaller kids will love splashing in the waves in the north end of the beach as they roll onto the shore. The area is partially protected by Ben Buckler headland, making the waves smaller. Kids can sit on the sand banks with small waves rolling up to their feet.

At the very north end of Bondi Beach is a free, outdoor children’s pool The graduated pool has no waves, so is very safe for children to swim. The shallow end is particularly great for young toddlers and preschoolers.

Where to play
Bondi Beach Playground is right behind the beach promenade, giving it one of the best views of any playground in Sydney. It’s fenced and gated, with decent shade. Nearby is the Bondi Pavillion where you’ll find toilets and change tables.

Kids will also love climbing the rocks behind the Bondi Beach Children’s Pool, scooting up and down the promenade, and, if they’re either in strollers or strong enough to scoot or walk longer distances, attempt the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk (picture above of Tamarama Beach, along the walk). Note: the coastal walk has lots of stairs.