Waverley Cemetery

A Sanctuary of Views and History: Waverley Cemetery ​We found Waverley Cemetery to be one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking sites in Sydney. Our visit was treated with the deepest respect for its profound history. ​This sprawling, historic necropolis commands the cliff tops, providing unrivalled ocean vistas and constant, restorative coastal air. It is a unique place where the serene beauty of the natural landscape meets intricate Victorian architectural heritage. ​More than just a historic landmark, it’s a powerful, peaceful sanctuary. Take a moment here for quiet contemplation—you won't regret it. Highly recommended. ​#hikingdiarybyabid

The main entrance to Waverley Cemetery at the junction of St Thomas St and Trafalgar St is at the highest point of the site. From there gravestones cascade down the ridges and valleys to the cliff top where the coastal trail follows the shore line to Bondi Beach. The graves are laid out in a grid pattern with areas set aside by denomination as shown on the wall plan by the entrance. Burials date from 1877 with nationalies represented including, Irish, Italian, Danish, American and British. Most gravestones are modest in size but there are a few mausoleums for prominent residents.

Was very beautiful and historical. Lovely views of the ocean and very well kept. We had a lot of fun walking around and seeing such old graves, so many stories to be observed.

Waverley Cemetery is the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen 🖤 located on the coast of Sydney, Australia.

On our way to Bronte Beach, we stumbled upon this cemetery by chance and ended up spending an hour without realizing it. Overlooking the ocean, it is said to be the most scenic cemetery in Australia. The incredibly gothic tombstones create a haunting yet captivating atmosphere. You can deeply observe how people express grief, find solace, and honor their loved ones in different ways, shaped by their beliefs, personalities, and emotions. Some write poetry for those they lost, others create flower gardens or erect statues, deeply heartfelt tributes that ensure their loved ones are never left silent or forgotten, surrounded by the endless sound of waves, like a film set frozen in time.

Perched on dramatic ocean cliffs, Waverley Cemetery combines historic memorials with breathtaking coastal views. It pairs perfectly with a seaside walk, and the open sky and sea breeze add to the sense of space and calm. Bringing a camera is worthwhile, as the scenery is truly unforgettable.

Historic, beautiful views, and weird feeling. Such a good place to visit if you are in sydney.

A peaceful place facing the sea, where you can truly feel calm and at ease.

A beautiful part of the Bondi to Coogee walk! This old cemetery overlooks the sea- a picturesque final resting place for people of the Bronte area. There's a nice walkway that connects you through the cemetery, with park benches to hang out at, and wide lanes to stroll along. I didn't recognize any of the grave markers, but I wouldn't expect to. Many of the graves had naturally growing yellow flowers on them, which was nice. The markers were all in generally good condition, and you could clearly read who was buried where. The area is also landscaped, with nice flowers and succulent plants. It's a quiet place to watch the tide roll in, and get some rest while taking the beach-to-beach walk.

My Bondi to Congee Coastal Walk routed me through Waverley Cemetery. This is definitely not on my has to do list while visiting Sydney. But we enjoyed some moment of quiet times and showing our respect to some of the notable famous people that laid to rest in this cemetery. The ground is nice and a great view of the ocean. We were detoured around a little as the actual Coastal Walk route was closed due to the damage from the storms of early June 2016. Opened since 1877 and still a functional cemetery. A final resting place with a breath taking view, just maybe...

Went for a stroll here while in Sydney because I felt I would never see something like it again. A sweeping, vast, sometimes overwhelming cemetery full of graves ranging from the late 1800's to today. You can hear the waves as you stroll along marble stones. You can also really see how Australia is a land of immigrants--we saw many Irish and many Italian. This is treated as both a sacred and community place. We strolled along for a couple of hours while others ran, walked, or just looked around. This walk is accessible by the Bondi/coogee/Bronte walk.

Family history or genealogy tragics just love this place along with the joggers and the browsers. There are many Italian (Aeolian) family vaults in the high ground. Fantastic views and some good stories to read on the headstones. An angel adorns the top of a vault telling the story of a woman who died of shock at the opening of Parliament House in Canberra when a 'plane crashed killing the pilot. There is the Irish Martyrs Memorial on the grave of Michael Dwyer who took part in the 1798 Rising. In order to take good pictures of headstones, you might have to visit of a morning for those headstones facing the sea and an afternoon for those facing away. You can dive into the cemetery but it is better to park in one of the surrounding streets and walk in.

THIS. This clifftop glory. This beautiful boneyard. What a find. What a wonderful, enchanting find. I haven't been so excited about anything since Blink 182 reformed a few years back. Where has this pocket of European-inspired class been hiding? And why do more people not know about it? Maybe the whole graveyard thing puts them off. Fools. They're missing out. Go on a wild, woolly, overcast day, when clouds bunch like anvils on the horizon and the screams of the crows are ripped from their beaks by a howling, petulant wind that's out to break things. It's a little bit macabre and a lot beautiful, the graves sprawl from a hilltop that runs down to a cliff overlooking the churning ocean. What I like about the whole place is the mess: there are rows, but they're not super ordered, and everything has that look of aesthetic decay - shattered marble, broken headstones, spurts of ivy and rust so old and deep it runs back and purple. Jesus weeps, cherubs float, angels implore the heavens. Spectacular. This damn thing was opened in 1877, gets no funding from the government, and is still a functioning cemetery. Plus I found the grave of one Victor Trumper, which thrilled me to bits . . . I don't know if it's THE Victor Trumper, Victorian cricketing hero and master of the bushranger beard, but I like to think it is.

This has got to be one of my favourite cemeteries, not only for the view the dead get but the beautiful pictures and old stones that are located here from times gone by. It's haunting. It's breathtaking and it makes you value what you've had. Well worth a stop if you're doing the Bondi to Coogee walk.