What can you tell me about Coogee in Sydney Australia?

Question

Interesting stuff, useful stuff, for the benefit of US university students studying abroad in Australia, living in Coogee?

Forky: thanks for that. Uni students also need to know where to eat (cheap and reasonable food).

Answer 1

There are heaps of American uni students there, I'm sure you'll fit right in. It's true there are lots and lots of flats but the rental market here is very competitive right now so either allow plenty of time to find a place or organise before you come. There are a few hostels in the area on Coogee Bay Rd or above the McDonalds on the beach.
There's one little supermarket but otherwise in Randwick there are 2 large ones and a great fruit and veg shop in the Royal Randwick centre. For big household stuff you have the Supacentre in Moore Park. Lots of little restaurants and takeaways close to the beach, but really the place to eat out is The Spot up near Randwick. Cheap cinema there too.
There's a fantastic coast walk that starts in Coogee on the northern end and goes to Bondi. Centennial Park is fairly close too for running/cycling/skating.
Lots of hills as someone else mentioned, but buses run every few minutes to Circular Quay or to Central Station and they don't stop running throughout the night.
Personally I can't stand the Coogee Bay Hotel (The Bay) even though it's so popular. I think it's a meat market but if you like defence force men or Irish backpackers, then it's great. The Beach Palace is more for dancing but a fairly young crowd. You get the odd famous footballer in there. There's a more upmarket bar underneath the Holiday Inn.
A really nice area and it's cleaner and friendlier than Bondi.

Answer 2

Apart from the beach and the pubs there are lots of blocks of flats in Coogee so lots of places to rent are available. There is a good bus service all the way to the beach. There are shops and restaurants, it's a good place to live.

A word of warning, Coogee is at the bottom of a long, very steep hill. Bicycles are great for getting into Coogee but not for getting out. If you decide to climb the hill rather than get the bus, you can hire Sherpas at the pub

Answer 3

The university is on the other side of the hill in Randwick. Buses run from the Randwick Shopping center down to Coogee. The shopping centre has a couple of supermarkets and other shops. The pub down there is (or was when I lived there) awesome.
Also the bus that goes down Cowper road, heads straight down to circular quay, where you can jump on a ferry and head to manly.

I prefer coogee to bondi for sure

Answer 4

i can tell you its got a great beach and some good pubs to party at,what else does a uni student need to know? lol :)