This 32-room boutique hotel overlooks Sydney Harbour in Watsons Bay, minutes from a handful of sandy white beaches. While there’s plenty of coastal culture to soak up near the hotel – Watsons Bay headland, Hornby and Macquarie lighthouses – the food in the resort’s Beach Club will keep you from wandering far: squid-ink linguine, cuttlefish in a cherry-tomato ragu with mussels, and the local specialty, Watsons Seafood Pie.

This Watson Bay landmark has been in the Doyle family since 1948. The Doyles have built their reputation on good seafood: starters include jumbo prawns, Tasmanian mussels and Mornay oysters and mains of seafood paella for two, various filets (snapper, flathead, barramundi) and fresh lobster. Chefs whip up innovative salads, such as the smoked pumpkin and goat cheese with beetroot and pine nuts, and the wine list is extensive.

Surfer-summoning Hotel Ravesis is a stand-out in Bondi Beach. Indeed, an ethos of coastal hospitality washes up in all areas of this hip hangout, from the 12 boutique rooms, painted in whipped whites, ice-cream pinks and sandy tans, to the luxurious apartments, with Marshall speakers, kitchens and board space. An upscale nightclub, restaurant and beachside bar serve seafood, salads and spirited cocktails to sandy folk who've just strolled off the beach.

Staying in Bondi? Make a beeline for Salty’s the moment you step off the plane. This welcoming neighbourhood beach bar, nightclub and restaurant celebrates the old-school surf and skate culture. The menu offers modern comfort food in the form of Baja fish tacos, Mexican salad, mac ‘n’ cheese balls and beer-battered fish and chips – not to mention the Big Salty burger, which gets a splash of colour from the melted double cheese and pink sauce.

There’s a lot to enjoy at this historic hotel – a fixture of fashionable Manly Beach since 1859. The top floor is home to Blacket’s Whiskey Bar, ideal for intimate evenings spent nursing late-night drams. The brightly painted guest rooms in pastels and primary shades have all the post-beach necessities – fridges for storing beers, Eloura toiletries for showers – plus views onto Manly. The Beach Bar and Bistro menu is eclectic. But the clincher is the sea-spying roof terrace, with music nights.

Who knew you could combine yoga with coastal sightseeing – and all before brunch? If you’re a yoga-loving kayaker, depart from the Manly Kayak Centre Wharf at 8am for a half-hour paddle to a peaceful spot on Manly Beach. Upon arrival, you’ll spread out on the sand, open yourself up to the calming sounds of the waves and begin the yoga part of the tour – set to the soundtrack of chirping birds, with a mix of hatha, vinyasa and power-flow styles to start your day in serene style.

It’s all about choice at this cucumber-cool Coogee Bay stay that’s been a fixture of the seaside village community for 150 years. Guests can choose one of the retro-chic rooms upstairs from the main bar, or book into the boutique hotel next door, where turquoise walls and oversized polka-dots are popular. Similarly, there’s ample choice for eating and drinking: the Mediterranean-inspired Marrah serves sustainable food, while the Garden is great for al fresco dinners of gourmet pizzas.