Beautiful Bondi: A Family-Friendly Stay in Sydney

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Well, we are officially back from our awesome Australian vacation. The jet lag is real, but so are the awesome memories!

Our first leg of the trip brought us to Sydney for five days. During our time in Sydney we wanted to see some of the major sights, but we also wanted to enjoy some downtime as a family before the second leg of our trip. So, when we started scouting out various locations in Sydney to stay, we decided pretty quickly that Bondi lodging would provide us with an opportunity to get into the center city pretty easily, but would provide us with the relaxed pace we were seeking.

We scouted out various locations on Airbnb and after some consideration we decided on a two bedroom flat on Campbell Parade, the major thoroughfare that runs right by the beach. Without having ever been to Bondi, we knew we would be really close to the beach, but didn’t realize exactly what that meant.

Upon arrival, we were thrilled to see that the beach was literally right outside our door. I mean, as you walk outside, cross the street, and walk down to the beach. And what a beach it was! The sand was soft and the beach was wide. It is just early spring in Australia, so the water was still very cold, but that didn’t stop us from dipping our feet in the ocean multiple times during our stay! Almost daily, Penelope asked to go to the beach!

Apart from the access to the beach, Bondi lodging offered a more relaxed pace in general than we saw in the rest of Sydney. We woke up early each morning thanks to the time change and most mornings ate our breakfast at one of the local cafes as we looked out over the water. One morning, we even spotted a water spout from a whale off in the distance! Then, we would head back to the flat to get our things together for our daily outing.

The 333 bus stopped less than a block from our flat and went right to Circular Quay with no changes, so we were easily able to get into the city for our various outings. After making our way back in the late afternoon or early evening, we would walk along the beach a bit, hit the Bondi Beach Playground, and then grab a quick bite to eat. We actually did takeaway a few nights because we were so tired. There were some great options that weren’t just fast food! There were also food and beverage shops located not far from the flat, so we were able to pick up some snacks and adult beverages to keep with us in the flat.

In terms of our flat itself, it ended up being perfect for our little family. The flat offered two bedrooms, a kitchen with dishwasher, a sitting room, one full bathroom, a balcony with a grill, and a washing machine. Upon entering the flat, the bathroom was directly to the left and one bedroom was close to the entrance. The other bedroom was off of the sitting room and kitchen area. We quickly decided that the bedroom closest to the entry was best for our toddler, as the other bedroom featured a large glass table (not the most toddler friendly piece of furniture). Penelope loved the flat, especially her “Australia shower” which featured an awesomely large rain shower head. The flat was also perfect for hide and seek because of the way the bedrooms were separated by a long hallway.

I loved the washing machine! I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty sure that I’m never taking another international trip without having unfettered access to a washing machine. I put in a load of laundry each day and hung it to dry so it was ready to wear again by the next morning. Fortunately, I had done my research prior to the trip and knew this was an option, so I was really able to pack light (at least for me).

We even made the stair climbing up to our flat an adventure! Once we found a spot to store our stroller, . Penelope would even climb a flight or two most of the time before she asked to be carried the rest of the way. The final plus on the flat was our host, Ben! He was responsive to questions before and during our stay and accommodating beyond expectations! Because nobody was staying in the flat prior to arrival he allowed us to check-in early in the morning when we arrived in Bondi from the airport. He owns several Airbnb properties in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, so if you are ever in need of lodging in the area, it is definitely worth determining if he has a property that will meet your needs!

Lastly, there is plenty to do in Bondi itself. We didn’t have nearly enough time to do it all and the cooler weather kept us from spending more time at the beach, but we spent our first full day and our last morning exclusively in Bondi enjoying the location. On the first day, we walked along the beach and took in all of the sights. On the last morning, we woke up to watch the sunrise and walked along the beach again and then the sea wall before breakfast.

The sea wall in Bondi is actually along the promenade and is made up of a series of panels that combine elements of political activism and street art. It’s awesome to spend some time just looking at it. Each panel is allocated for a six month period, so the artwork is constantly changing. It’s pretty awesome!

After our walk, we went back to the flat to pack. Then, while Nathan did some work, Penelope and I conquered part of the Bondi to Bronte walk. The walk was gorgeous, but be prepared for the stairs. I’m glad I decided not to take the stroller along for that one!

All in all, Bondi really was the perfect place for our family to stay during the first part of our trip. The relaxed pace was just what we needed to set the tone for the rest of our time in Australia but we were still easily able to enjoy all that Sydney had to offer!

Side note: If you have never used Airbnb for lodging on a vacation, you should! If you haven’t signed up for an account yet, you can sign up using my referral link for $40 off your first booking. You get a reward for signing up and I get a little bonus too!