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Monday: Easy Mornings and Pancakes with a View
Ease in. No pressure. Take a walk on the beach or grab a coffee from a local café nearby—somewhere with strong espresso and a spot in the sun. If you’re feeling fancy, Wylie’s Baths is the move—ocean pool, epic views, and way fewer people than Bondi.
By night, look out for pancake night at Mad Monkey. Pancakes, chaotic toppings, and a whole bunch of people figuring out what to do with their week. If you’re not a guest, don’t be shy — hostel energy is contagious, and someone will probably drag you in anyway.
Tuesday: Coastal Walks & Questionable Answers
Get your steps in early with the iconic Coogee to Bondi Walk. It’s one of those “yeah, it really is that good” kind of things. Clifftop paths, ocean views, and a new beach every 10 minutes. Bonus: You feel productive and your camera roll gets a glow-up.
In the evening, trivia night at Mad Monkey is where the party’s at. It’s casual, weirdly competitive, and way more fun when your team name is something mildly offensive. Come for the random facts, stay for the post-quiz drinks.
Wednesday: Chill Days & Billiards After Dark
Hump day = no stress. Maybe a bit of volleyball on the sand or snorkelling at Gordon’s Bay if you’re feeling adventurous. Or do absolutely nothing and feel no shame about it.
Later on, Mad Monkey’s pool comp is a hostel classic. Even if you’ve never held a cue in your life, it’s worth showing up just for the banter. Someone’s definitely playing for pride. Someone’s definitely just there for the drink voucher.
Thursday: Sunset Sips and Social Feels
Time to pretend you’ve got your life together. Grab a bottle of wine, some supermarket brie, and watch the sunset from Dunningham Reserve like the classy little traveler you are.
Or skip the effort and head to Mad Monkey’s wine & cheese night. It’s the same vibe, minus the planning. You’ll meet new people, try too many kinds of cheese, and probably end the night making wildly optimistic weekend plans.
Friday: Beach All Day, Banter All Night
Fridays in Coogee hit different. Everyone’s either arriving, leaving, or spiralling into their fourth night out. Start your night slow with some beach drinks and good chats — the energy’s up but not too wild.
Mad Monkey brings back the trivia for a Friday edition, which sounds excessive but somehow works. New crowd, new questions, same lovable chaos. If you’re on a budget, it’s the perfect way to kick off your night without spending half your travel fund in one go.
Saturday: Walk the Coast, Make New Mates
If you haven’t done the full coastal walk yet, do it now. It’s busy, but it’s worth it. Bronte Beach is perfect for a mid-walk nap, and Bondi has all the overpriced smoothies your Instagram story dreams of.
Mad Monkey usually rallies a crew for a group walk on Saturdays — open invite, low pressure, high reward. Walking with strangers is weirdly fun when everyone’s half-sunburnt and vibing off oat lattes and endorphins.
Sunday: Rest, Reflect, or Rally
Sunday is for recharging… or not. Lounge on the sand, grab a smoothie or wrap from any café near Arden Street, and call it a win. Still got energy? Chase down a weekend market, stumble into some live tunes, or hang with your hostel crew a little longer—telling yourself you’re leaving tomorrow (even though you know you’re not).
There’s no wrong way to do Coogee. Some people come for the beach and stay for the people. Some come for a quiet week and end up dancing barefoot at 2am. Either way, you’ll leave with a tan, a story, and probably some random sock that isn’t yours.
Need more inspo before you “accidentally” extend your stay? This Coogee Beach guide is the move.
TL;DR
Coogee Beach isn’t trying to be the next big thing — and that’s the charm. It’s chill, it’s social, and it’s just the right amount of messy in all the best ways.
And if you’re looking for a place that’s got comfy beds, ocean views, and a built-in crew of legends? Mad Monkey Coogee might just be where your week accidentally turns into a month.
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