From wellness spots to sunset snacks: Caroline Groth's favourite Bondi haunts

Born and raised in Denmark, Caroline Groth has spent a large chunk of her adult life in Bondi – almost 15 years in fact. It's the lifestyle that initially inspired her to hop on a plane to Sydney, and the way wellness is so seamlessly integrated into the fabric of daily life here continues to be a big pull.

As a certified health coach, wellness and mindfulness advocate, content creator and digital marketing consultant, her days are busy and varied to say the least, and in Bondi she's been able to create a life that brings together all the things she is most passionate about.

You’ll find Caroline documenting daily life in and outside of Bondi via her socials, where she’s established a loyal following thanks to the varied subject matter – from recipes and workouts, to raw and honest reflections, which inspires an audience based both near and far.

So, where does this local love to hangout, and how does she keep her health in check? Read on as Caroline reveals all.

Your career path has been both a varied and accomplished one. What have been some of the highlights and key learnings on your journey?

It's definitely been an interesting ride. I often refer to my "past life" as one spent in the corporate world – working in ecommerce and digital marketing from a young age and really making my mark early on.

I've always had a strong sense of direction. But in my early 20s, I began a deeper journey of self-discovery, and over time, it became harder to stay in environments that no longer felt aligned with who I was becoming.

What looked like a sudden career pivot – stepping into full-time content creation – was actually a gradual unfolding.

It came from tuning into my intuition, questioning old definitions of success, and leaning into the belief that life isn’t just about what we achieve on the surface, but how connected we feel to what we do.

That shift taught me resilience, trust in myself, and how to hold steady through uncertainty.

"One of the most rewarding aspects has been building a community around topics I genuinely care about – especially the deeper, more human side of wellness: healing, growth, and the often messy reality of what it means to evolve."

I've learned that success isn't linear, and it's not defined by numbers or titles – it's actually about waking up and feeling connected to the life you're living.

And interestingly, life has a way of coming full circle. In the last few years, I've returned to freelance work as a digital consultant – helping brands craft cohesive, end-to-end digital strategies that span content, ecommerce, social media, and customer experience.

It's reminded me that you don't always have to choose one path or the other. Sometimes, your work can be both creative and commercial, and intuitive and strategic all at once.

You're Danish, yet have resided in Australia for some time now. What brought you here initially, and what was it that drew you to Bondi?

This one always makes me smile. Yes, I'm born and bred Danish, but I've lived in Australia for almost 15 years now, and funnily enough, I've only ever lived in Bondi. At this point, I'm probably part of the furniture.

I'm now a dual citizen, with both Danish and Australian passports – Bondi has been home for a long time.

At the age of 20, I booked a one-way ticket to Sydney, with one job lead, one street address scribbled down, and absolutely no idea what I was stepping into. I didn't know a single person here. I'd never even been to Australia. But something in me knew I had to go.

On paper, my life in Denmark looked solid – great friends, a good job, finishing my studies, and I'd just bought an apartment in Copenhagen.

But deep down, I felt stuck. I remember one winter – minus ten degrees, grey skies, the same routine – and I just thought: "Is this it?" That thought terrified me. Not because my life was bad, but because it didn’t feel like mine.

I think what initially drew me to Bondi was the lifestyle – the ocean, the sunshine, the contrast of beach and city. It looked like freedom. And I've always been drawn to places that feel alive.

But looking back now, with the self-work I've done over the years, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also trying to start over – to find a place where I could really begin to heal, internally. Bondi became that place. Not the home I never had, but the home where, for the first time, I truly felt like I fit.

Health and wellness are central to your life. How does living here enable you to incorporate this into your every day?

I grew up playing sports – I played European handball for most of my life – and funnily enough, I think I’m more active now than I ever was back then.

Bondi just has this way of pulling you into movement and into presence without it feeling forced. It's not something you try to do here, it just becomes part of your rhythm.

Peak hour in Bondi isn't traffic, it's 5am at the beach. There's this quiet buzz in the early mornings that's honestly contagious. Bondi is very much a morning place, and I'm a morning person, so the lifestyle just fits.

I'll usually start the day training or walking with friends, catching the sunrise on the prom, and diving into the ocean in every season. Then I'll find the sun at the south drain and do my daily morning meditation and journal before grabbing a coffee at one of the local spots – it all just flows together.

"I think the beauty of living here is that wellness isn’t something separate, it's woven into the culture. Whether it’s nature, community, movement, or mental health – it's all just part of the everyday language."

Because health and wellbeing are so central to my life and work, I never feel like I'm swimming against the current here. If anything, I feel like I've found a place where the way I choose to live is not only supported, it's celebrated.

That said, Bondi is a bubble, and I say that lovingly. You can definitely get stuck in it. But if you're conscious of that, it's a pretty beautiful bubble to be in.

What does an average day in Bondi look like for you?

My weekdays usually follow a similar rhythm – I'm someone who thrives on a morning routine. It sets the tone for my day, grounds me, and gets me into the right headspace for work.

Mornings always include movement, nature, good coffee, and time with friends – which really sums up the best parts of living in Bondi.

But if we're talking favourites, Saturdays are on another level. That's when Bondi really shows off. I'll start my day training at 98 Bondi, then head down to Glory Days with a few friends for coffee – usually still catching our breath from the workout.

After that, we’ll dip in at North Bondi for a swim – yes, even in winter – before wandering over to the farmers market.

I'll grab my weekly produce from Rita's or Patrick's Farm, and flowers from Chris at Mayfarm Flowers – all local legends.

I usually bump into a dozen people I know – other locals, many of them small business owners, who over the years have become close friends. From there, I'll grab another coffee at Depot, head home for a bit, and then I'm usually back out again.

In summer, I spend most of the day outdoors, swimming at North Bondi, hanging on the grass at the surf club or at the south drain – my favourite spot.

"Ironically, I love the beach but hate the sand – you'll rarely catch me lying on it. And there's no better way to finish a sunny Saturday than with a sundowner at Rocker, soaking up the sunset, or a Tommy's and some sushi at Raw Bar."

The funny thing is, even though you asked what an average day looks like… I'm not sure I really have one. That's the beauty of Bondi – it's not just the lifestyle, it's the people, the community, the natural surroundings.

There's this sense of connection, freedom and grounded-ness that makes every day feel a little different. What more could you want?

What would you recommend to a Bondi visitor, in terms of venues, sights and activities?

There's so much to see and feel in Bondi beyond just the beach. I always say: "Don't just visit, absorb it."

Start by walking the Bondi promenade – grab a coffee, slow down, and just people watch. That’s the real Bondi.

"You'll see such a beautiful cross-section of humanity: locals, characters, eccentrics, creatives, families, fitness fanatics – it's all welcome here. I honestly don't think there's anything I haven't seen, and nothing surprises me anymore."

Head north to Ben Buckler for a beautiful panoramic view of Bondi and then do the iconic Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. It's a must, especially early in the morning or around golden hour. The stretch between Bondi, Tama and Bronte is stunning, and make sure you bring your swimmers for a dip at Mackenzies on the way back!

If you're up early, catch the sunrise at the South Drain. That's where the slower, more conscious side of Bondi wakes up – people meditating, stretching, doing yoga or tai chi. It's grounding and honestly a beautiful window into how much locals connect to nature and movement here.

Of course, a photo at Icebergs is basically a rite of passage – I believe it's one of the most photographed pools in the world, and for good reason.

For food and coffee, these are some of my all-time favourites:

• Skittle Lane for coffee

• Bill's for a classic Bondi brunch

• Depot for good food, laidback vibes and the feeling of community, plus a few high-fives from owners Johnny and Guy

• Raw Bar for the sunset, people watching, sushi and a cheeky Tommy's

• Rocker for Friday sundowners, music and share plates

• The Shop & Wine Bar for an afternoon pet nat and the best happy hour in Bondi from 4pm daily. I think Adam’s carving my name into a seat as we speak.

• If you want a slower moment, duck into Gertrude & Alice – a book café that's pure magic. You feel like you’ve left Bondi and entered some quiet literary dream.

On the wellness and mindfulness side, there’s no shortage of amazing places:

• 98 Bondi for strength and conditioning

• Rare Yoga or Body by Berner for yoga and Pilates

• Nimbus & Co for infrared saunas

• Orange for lymphatic massage rolling

• (Love)Ryan for pottery classes overlooking Mackenzies Bay

• I am Beauty for a Buccal Massage

• Mitch Patience for acupuncture

• And of course, the Bondi Farmers Markets on Saturdays, where I always get my produce and flowers and inevitably run into half the suburb.
  

"Honestly, I could keep going – I could probably recommend something from every street, and that's the beauty of Bondi. It's not just one thing, it’s a hundred little moments that add up to something pretty unforgettable."

Do you have any advice for those looking to enhance their health and wellness?

Keep it simple. If you're someone just starting out, or trying to come back into routine, the most important thing is: don't try to do everything at once.

When we take on too much, it becomes overwhelming, and that's the opposite of what true wellness is meant to be. Health should support your life, not stress you out. Start small.

"Build on the 1%'ers. Most of the time, people don't need to overhaul their life – they just need to come back to the basics and do them really well: quality sleep, proper rest and recovery, regular movement, nourishing food, mindfulness, and supplements that actually support your lifestyle – not someone else's."

And one thing I don't think gets spoken about enough is the impact of simply being outside in nature.

Time in the sun, barefoot walks, being near the ocean – these things regulate your circadian rhythm, help with nervous system balance, and ground your energy in a way nothing else can. It's subtle, but so powerful.

From the outside, Bondi can seem like a very fast-paced, almost transient place, and like anywhere, it can be.

But the longer you live here, the more you feel its depth. There’s something genuinely healing about it – the nature, the rhythm, the ocean – it grounds you in a way that’s hard to explain.

Right now, I'm really focused on supporting overall flow in my body – things like lymphatic drainage, detoxification, circulation.

I've become more intentional with rituals that help my body process and move, from sauna and massage to breath-work and slowing down. I try to listen to my body and live in a more aligned way these days.

You're known for sharing delicious and nutritious recipes with your audience. What are your go-to, failsafe dishes?

I genuinely love to cook. There's not a day that goes by where I don't. It's my creative outlet, my grounding ritual, and something that always brings me back into my body.

Some of my go-to, failsafe meals – especially during the work week – are ones that are quick, flavourful, and nourishing without needing too much thought. A few on high rotation:

• Sheet pan chicken fajitas

• Prawn and snapper curry

• Burrito bowls

• Salmon poke bowls

• Greek-inspired meatballs with roast veggies and a big salad

They're the kind of meals that are simple to make but still feel satisfying and full of flavour, and I love that they can be prepped ahead or thrown together after a long day. Whole foods, bold flavours, minimal fuss. That’s my kind of cooking.

Connect with Caroline

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