An insider’s guide to 20 of the best things to do in and around Cronulla in Sydney’s south.

The best things to do in Cronulla revolve around the ocean. Every day, during the faint lifting of the early light, you will find Cronulla Esplanade busy with a mix of power walkers, joggers, amateur photographers and besuited surfers gathering as if at a shambolic convention.

As the slightest crack of golden light begins to break over the horizon, those with phones pause for long enough to hold them up to the sky and capture it filling with colour. It’s a ritual that bookends the day and one that captures the buzz of the beachside suburb.

But there’s a lot more to do besides. Here are 20 of the best things to do in Cronulla to experience its diverse and spontaneous vibes.

1. Get a spa treatment

You will have ample time to do some soul-searching while nourishing your skin at Endota Spa, just minutes from the beach in South Cronulla. Furthermore, you can stretch, shape, tone or sweat or slow down and find some quiet in the stillness during a soothing stone massage.

There are rejuvenation packages on offer at the spa that can be custom-designed to suit your needs. Beauty & Balance is another dedicated space for wellness, an upstairs studio with a whisper-quiet environment that is like a hidden sanctuary.

 2. Sign up for sunrise yoga

Follow the Sunrise yoga regular yogis page on Facebook to see when and where you can do the downward dog at dawn. The 6am classes are held in the southernmost corner of South Cronulla Beach and hosted by seasoned yoga professionals. Although it seems ridiculously early, this is peak hour on the Esplanade and the perfect place to be to appreciate those sunrise views. Top off your morning with a swim in a rock pool. Cronulla has some of the best Sydney has to offer. If the weather is inclement, book a class at BHAV in the heart of Cronulla Plaza.

3. Kayak into Cabbage Tree Basin

Your time in the Shire will take a more reflective turn when you hire a kayak from Bundeena Kayaks and paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin.

Moreover, entering the mouth of the basin is a challenge if you don’t know what you’re doing as you have to time it with the ebb and flow of the tide.

Scan the banks of Bundeena for water birds and sluice past the thick tangle of mangroves that mark the entrance to the waterway. Paddle all the way to the end of the creek to experience the serenity.  

4. Get on your bike

Chain Reaction has been catering to the changing needs of cyclists for three decades. The shop is run by hardcore bike geeks, everyone from recreational riders to international and Olympic-level athletes. Talk to owner Chris about the best bike to hire and where to ride it. He’ll probs recommend the Woolooware Shared Pathway, which wends its way to Shorebird Reserve, an important habitat for migratory birds.  The path is undergoing an extension to loop the track behind Shark Park and the new Bay Central Woollooware shopping centre.

5. Learn to surf

Cronulla Surfing Academy has been helping inspire young grommets to get to their feet for the past two decades. Former professional surfer Blake Johnston has also coached some of the area’s rising stars, including Jarvis Earle who is a celebrated local surfer.

Beginners will first learn to balance on a foamie, before progressing through to fibreglass. CSA coach and founder Blake Johnston set a Guinness World Record for surfing 40 hours straight in March 2023 to raise money for the Chumpy Pullin Foundation.  

6. Browse for books

The Best Little Bookshop in Town is a must on any Cronulla itinerary. Talk to the erudite owner Grant who always has great recommendations. Those new to the area should also join the BLB Book Club, which tends towards literary gems. As well as books that focus on everything from fiction to cookbooks, the store is perfect for those looking for a unique gift.

The Best Little Bookshop in Town also has an extensive range of rare and collectable books. Check out the schedule for the Lotus Rooms where you can sign up for everything from energy readings to yin yoga and meditation.

7. Check out the Cronulla Surf Museum

Shoes. Cronulla Point. Wanda. Windy Point. The Alley. These are just a few of the surf breaks dotted between Greenhills and Oak Park in Cronulla. The seaside suburb of Cronulla has a long association with surfing. And it has created a terrific training ground for boundary-breaking surfers such as Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo, Richard ‘Dog’ Marsh, Jarvis Earle and Connor O’Leary. Head to the Cronulla Surf Museum tucked away in Cronulla Central to read about the history of the sport in the region.

8. Take a self-guided walk

Cronulla is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘kurranulla’ meaning ‘place of pink seashells’ in the language of the Dharawal-speaking people, the Traditional Owners of the Land.

You can learn about First Nations people at plaques placed along the Esplanade, where the waves have crashed along the coast for millennia. Walk the Walls provides another incentive to get your steps up. The annual event sees the walls become an ever-evolving exhibition of street art.

9. Enjoy a Sydney staycation

Call recently revitalised Rydges Cronulla home for a few days and you will be right in position to check out some of the best bars and restaurants in the Shire. Rydges Cronulla has a cool, coastal vibe. The Alley, the hotel’s bar, has live music and DJs. As a result, it is a top spot to hang on a Sunday when the terrace becomes an open-air dance floor. The hotel has a pool and priceless views over North Cronulla Beach. It’s where you will find some of the suburb’s best cafes and bars.

10. Bunker down in Bundeena

Catch the ferry over to the newly revitalised Simpson’s Cottage, which is a chic option in the Royal National Park, just a short ferry trip away onboard the heritage-listed Curranulla.

Make Bundeena your base for the monthly art trail. It’s one of the best things to do in Bundeena. Locals in the know will also point you toward the Jean General Store. The boutique hardware and general store is run by award-winning interior designer Kelly Ross (Joe’s Bar and Bar Beirut, Canberra, Queenies and Ora). That is to say, it’s worth a visit.

11. Catch a gig at the Brass Monkey

The Brass Monkey is an intimate subterranean venue that has played host to some top-tier talent since it opened in 1999. The grungy speakeasy-style bar has established a legacy as a place for live music with acts including Ash Grunwald, Mental as Anything, Matt Corby, Alex Lloyd, Sarah McLeod and Josh Pyke on its hit list.

Locals in the know will always book dinner and a show as the Middle Eastern fare being served up here is led by chef Edoardo Scepi of nearby Yalla Sawa, one of the best restaurants in the Sutherland Shire.

12. Go for a swim at Salmon Haul

A lot of the tourist traffic along the Esplanade stops around Shelly Park. But keep on heading south and you will wind up at Salmon Haul which is surrounded by a natural rock shelf at the base of a cliff.  Sure, the beaches in Cronulla are some of the best in Sydney and the waves will always beckon. But don a mask and snorkel here and you will find a starting point for that annual conversation you have about making a sea change. For a change of pace, you can pull up here in your party boat over the summer months.

13. Go on a whale watching  tour

The humpback highway loops around the Royal National Park and hugs the coastline all the way to Cape Solander, one of the best places to see whales in Sydney.

The season for cruising with Cronulla Whale Watching runs from June to October when the most common whales to see are humpbacks. But the local boat charter company has also seen southern right whales, minkes, orcas and pilot whales while cruising around Cronulla. The boats leave from Cronulla Public Wharf and bookings are a must.

14. Take your fur baby for a beach walk

Greenhills Beach is one of the best places in Sydney to take your dog for a walk. It’s an off-leash zone between 3pm and 10am during non-daylight savings hours and between 4pm and 10am during daylight savings. You’ll find four-legged furry friends of all shapes and sizes on the beach which sums up the spirit of the local community. The walkability is pretty good on the hard-packed sand and there’s plenty of parking too. You will meet hundreds of canines and their owners along the dog-friendly trail.

15. Take a picnic to Darook Park Beach

Let’s Graze Co. is run by Wiradjuri woman Kay who curates gorgeous grazing boxes to go. Kay also sets up and styles picnics and grazing tables for any occasion, be it a date night, Christmas party or proposal. From a sweet and simple picnic package to a complete picnic package, the company makes dining al fresco a breeze.

Shire Picnic Co. will also set up your picnic and style it with everything from garlands to themed backdrops.  The catering company will also pack up your hamper post-chicnic down at Darook Park Beach, one of the best places for a picnic in the Shire.

16. Order a seafood platter by the sea

The focus at Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare is, as the name suggests, ‘of the sea’ and the sister venue to Pino’s in Alexandria is now one of the best in the Shire. The signature dish prepared by executive chef Cristiano Patacca (ex-Otto, est.) is a raw seafood platter with a bounty that includes Abrolhos scallops, East33 oysters, ama-ebi prawns, caviar and yellowfin tuna tartare toasts.

The restaurant is a fulfilling fantasy of what a fine diner by the sea should look like. And, thanks to restaurateur Matteo Margiotta, the building dating back to 1908 remains a much-loved community hub.

17. Take a dip in the sea

Rising with the sun is a long-held ritual in Cronulla with a rotating cast of characters that huff and puff along the path that snakes for some five kilometres from Greenhills Beach to Hungry Point Reserve. Regardless of the outside temperature, swimming is a year-round thrill. Shelly Beach Ocean Bath is one of the more accessible pools, with a ramp leading down to the water. You can also meet up with the Shark Island Psycho Swimmers (SIPS) who meet at Cronulla SLSC at 6.30am each day to swim around the island.

18. Sundowner by the sea

In the early evening, the cacophony of squawking seagulls and cockatoos is soon replaced by the sounds of people laughing and clinking glasses. It’s likely they’re toasting their good fortune to live so near to the sea. There are many great bars to enjoy a sundowner in Cronulla.

Visit The Alley to watch the waves thudding onto the sand. Bob on down to Bobbys for a boogie. Head to Hurricane’s Bar & Grill to watch the mixologists muddle up a cocktail or three. Or head to contemporary bar Cony’s for cocktails and guacamole.  The Pines Terrace is also a top spot to start and end your day.

19. Pre-dawn coffee at Grind

There’s a lot to do on the food and beverage front besides going out for a quiet cocktail or dining out at some of the Shire’s best restaurants. After a swim, surf, morning walk or run, Cronulla locals tend to swap the sand and sea for coffee and gossip at one of the many cafes dotted around the beachside suburb in Sydney’s south.

Whether it’s a languorous day in summer, or a bright winter’s day, going out for coffee is a great way to start the day. Choose between cafes such as The Press, HAM, The Pines Cronulla and Blackwood Pantry, all of which attract very eclectic crowds. Nun’s Pool will also win you over with its friendly service, robust pastries and good coffee.

20. Go and see the Cronulla Sharks play

Cronulla has a thriving NRL fan base. Get a feel for the pulse of the suburb by venturing into Cronulla Sharks territory during the season. Catch the train from Cronulla to Woolooware and then follow the crowds cheering on the boys in the black, white and blue. Get a ticket for family hill and kick off your shoes so you can lie on the grass. Get in early for the next season by making a booking at Golden Boy Asian, the new Chinese restaurant overlooking the mangrove end of the Cronulla Sharks home ground.

Check out a local’s guide to 15 of the best restaurants in Cronulla.