Want a NICE beach and a bit of peace?
Take an extra 15 minutes to head further south to Marboubra beach. As big and beatuiful as Bondi, but literally less than 1 tenth of the crowd.

Beautiful spot and good surf. Easy to park and public transport (buses) also.

Bondi is a really touristy beach - but then again most of Sydney is touristy. It's worth visiting just to walk along the beach, enjoy the views and take a few photos. I went during the winter so it was a bit cold and it did rain for a bit when I was there so I would recommend only really using it as a beach in the summer when it's really warm and there's more people there than just a few surfers hoping for a wave.

If you don't want to use it as a beach but more of a tourist attraction, or like me you went in winter then you can still wander along the beach. It's nice and relaxing unless the rain comes in. You can get some good photos from up by the lifeguard station or from either end of the beach.

There are plenty of souvenir shops along the road next to the beach if you're looking for a postcard or tshirt or something but they can be expensive compared to other places in Sydney.

To get to the beach the easiest ways are to use the 333 Bondi Bendy pre-pay bus, however if you have one of the passes for the explorer bus then you can hop off at Bondi, explore for a bit then get back on the bus and enjoy the rest of the tour. The Bondi explorer buses operate every 30 minutes and take you to see some really nice places.

So yeah... it's a little overrated as it's just a beach, which is something I see a lot of living on the coast but it's well worth visiting even if just for half hour to say you've been there and to take a few photos. I would like to have gone back in summer but you can get upwards of 30,000 people there on peak days both locals and tourists - so be warned!

Also a piece of advice. Bondi is pronounced Bond-EYE and not Bond-EEE. The locals will get really annoyed if you pronounce it wrong. Same with Brisbane - pronounce it Bris-BUN not Bris-BANE.

Bondi Beach as a beach is amazing. The crystal clear water, moderate surf, beautiful views down the coast, and the clean white sand which stretches for over a kilometer make this beach one of the best in Sydney.

However, as a locality, bondi is an absolute disgrace. To get to the beach requires taking a train to Bondi Junction, then queing for a bus which must navigate the heavy traffic along the uninspiring Bondi Road in order to get to the beach.

The main beachside shopping strip is extremely ugly, with little overpriced convenience stores, tourist merchandise shops, fast food joints and backpacker hostels which were built in the 1960s with no architectural considerations.

The beachside park is sparse and dominated by a huge carpark on both sides which takes away from any natural ambience the water provides. The constant stream of cars and buses are always noisy. At night, many 'lads' (ie chavs for UK readers) stand around staunching people and smoking.

Bondi beach needs a billion dollar makeover, with a new train station and beautiful foreshore park to distance the actual beach from the hovel that is the suburb of Bondi (ie. hundreds of 60s appartment blocks with 6 flats in each, all squished side by side). A glamarous shopping strip with quality cafes and restaurants (surprisingly, most of the restaurants are already very good and inexpensive) and without tacky little shops with blaring music should be contstructed. The car parks should be demolished (perhaps replaced by an underground parking strip which you must have a proper surfboard on your roof to use).

So basically, bring your swimmers but leave your wallets at home. Do not support the businesses that are stealing from tourists. And shut your eyes until you feel sand under your feet. Do not turn around and look back up the hill.

Get there from Circular Quay (pronounced "key") on bus 333. Buy ticket in advance as can't pay on the bus. Bondi is wide, sandy beach. Crowded with sunbathers, surfers, lots of backpackers. Lots of tourist shops along the ocean front street. Many cafes all serving the same 'fish and chips' type food. Went to the Iceberg Cafe at the south end of the beach. Just OK. Not as good as the guide books say it is. But has a great view of Bondi. From there starts the ocean walk to Coogee. This is a strenuous walk. Lots of steps (up and down), passage through a narrow cliffside path through a large cemetary, occasional parking lots, and very little shade from the sun. Do not do in mid-day, carry plenty of water, use sunscreen, and be in good shape to walk the several kms. May be easier to go from south to north as it seemed there were more climbing steps from the north (Bondi) start. A couple of beaches in between are good stops to rest and get refreshments. Ocean walk has great views, but no real need to go all the way down to Coogee. First several hundred meters gives enough views that you don't need to do the whole walk.