| by: Peter Watson
Whether you’re up for a Crocodile Dundee adventure
or you’d just like a taste of the Australian sun, the beaches in and
around Sydney can offer you all that and more. Being in the southern
hemisphere, Australia’s seasons are reversed from those in Europe, North
American, and much of Asia, so if you’re looking for good beach weather,
make sure to travel some time from September to May – that is, spring to
autumn. The Sydney shoreline encompasses over 200 miles of white sandy
beaches, exhibiting a variety of atmospheres from cosmopolitan Bondi
Beach to majestic Cronulla.
For one Sydney beach, the name says it all –
located at Sydney's northernmost tip on an extension of land ending at
Barrenjoey Head, Palm Beach lies with the Pacific Ocean to the east side
and the Bay to the west. Before checking out the golden sand, take a
quick tour of the opulent mansions of millionaires from the art and film
industries – many live on this small spit of land.
Only about an hour from downtown Sydney, Palm
Beach offers a long stretch of clean sand and water, with shops,
restaurants, and entertainment at the southern end. With parking near
the center of the beach, that leaves the rest of it as a sparsely
populated, peaceful location from which you can surf or body board – but
take care; without the huge crowds of other Sydney beaches, Palm Beach
doesn’t afford quite the safety level to be found elsewhere; volunteer
lifesavers are on duty only on weekends and holidays. And if surfing’s
not your style, relax and take in the scenery, or amble up to Barrenjoey
Head to see the lighthouse and catch the view across Broken Bay.
For the big name beach, Bondi has to be your
choice. Parking is difficult to find even on slow days, so consider
taking public transport to this world-renowned beach in the eastern
Sydney suburbs. Easily accessible by taxi, bus, and rail, Bondi Beach
offers sun bathing, swimming, snorkeling, and all sorts of water sports
fun. If you’re in the mood for a bit of exercise, two scenic coastal
walks will afford you great views and sights along the shore. The first,
about 1 1/2 miles one way, starts at Bondi and heads south to Bronte
Beach. Take in views from Mackenzie’s Point, but don’t try to swim in
Mackenzie’s Bay – it holds dangers such as hidden rocks and is not
patrolled. Farther on, admire the sandstone cliffs at Hawkesbury and see
the aboriginal rock carvings in Marks Park. Next enjoy the quiet charm
of Tamarama, a small beach, not as popular or widely known to tourists.
You’ll finish your walk at North Bronte cliffs, where hopefully the
Norfolk Island hibiscus will be in bloom, thrilling you with their
exotic smell and colors.
Your second option for a scenic coastal walk
covers a little under two miles and takes you from Bronte Beach to
Waverly Cemetery. Highlights include the Bronte Baths and Waverly
Cemetery where many notable Australians are buried, including poets
Henry Kendall, Doreothea Mackellar, and Henry Lawson. A bit farther on
you’ll find Bronte House, open to the public only once a year, but you
can still see the waterfall at the top of Bronte park that feeds a
charming stream winding its way through Coral trees, Eucalyptus, Norfolk
Island Pines and Moreton Bay Fig trees.
Another popular Sydney beach is Cronulla, known
for its excellent waves and shady trees, the waves seemingly Heaven-sent
for surfers and body boarders. The waves allow for every level from
beginner to expert, and the golden beach usually isn’t overflowing with
packed, oiled bodies out for that heavy duty tan. Cronulla also offers
sheltered waters for canoeing and kayaking, and jet boat tours will have
you gasping for breath as adrenalin pours through your body at the speed
with which you travel the seas! Cronulla is also one of the most popular
beaches for scuba diving, offering clear waters in which to view marine
life the likes of which you’ll probably never have the opportunity to
see again.
Make sure to take a change of clothes, because
after an adventurous day on the beach at Cronulla, you’ll want to take
in the nightlife – restaurants, clubs, cafes, and a whole host of other
attractions. Consider Paddy’s Irish Bar and Restaurant with its live
bands and comedy nights, or just relax at an outdoor cafe and take in a
movie at one of the cinemas.
Most of the more populated beaches offer a wide
range of activities, from theater to festivals and food and wine
parties. Restaurants and shops abound, and if you’re feeling
adventurous, you can charter a yacht, hire a kayak, parasail,
hang-gliding, snorkel, scuba-dive...the list goes on and on. Surfing
lessons are often available at stops right along the beaches, and you
might even end up at Ocean World to watch sharks being fed by hand and
applaud the antics of the seals as they perform.
Whether you’re making a day of it or taking a
romantic walk along the sand, remember that Sydney’s beaches are each
unique and draw different types of crowds. Some draw the tourists with
their glorious views of the City Harbor, while others attract surfers
and body boarders. Still others are dotted with family oriented picnic
spots, and some draw nude sunbathers! No matter what type you are headed
for, you’ll find enough beauty and tranquility or adventure and fun to
dream of Aussie beaches for years to come! |
