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Bondi Beach - Sydney
Bondi Beach
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Beaches tips and photos posted by real travelers and Sydney locals.
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Beaches: Beaches as good as anywhere!
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  • Shelley Beach & Fairy Bower - Sydney
    Shelley Beach & Fairy Bower
    by aussiedoug
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    Yes the master of understatement strikes yet again. lol!

    Of course I haven't seen all the beaches of the world. I can only make my comparisons fairly on Hawaii, the island of Oahu & the west coast of the United States. These places are so important to me because as a young surfer, I started riding a surfboard at age 11, the places I read mostly about were Hawaii & southern Californian beaches. the famous big waves of Hawaii's North Shore. The then famous to us Aussies places in SoCal like Malibu, Huntington Beach (surfing through the piers!), Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Baja California & of course farther north in the cold waters of Santa Cruz.

    Well my fellow VTers in six trip to the good ole U.S. of A I've seen all of the Californian coastline from San Francisco to San Diego & many parts of it not once, but a number of times & I'm here to tell you that NONE of the urban beaches in the U.S. & that's what we're talking about here, beaches that are a part of a city & its suburbs, are anywhere as good or as pretty as most of Sydney's beaches.

    Now when you think of Sydney's beaches what obviously comes to mind are those 2 tourist icons, Manly & Bondi. Well there's nothing wrong with visiting either,or both, of those, but you are doing yourself a real disservice if you are a beach lover & you don't explore both our northern beaches & also some of our southern beaches. Check my Avalon page for one of our better nthn beaches & my new Coogee page for what I believe is the pick of our sthn beaches.

    The photo I've attached is of Shelley Beach & Fairy Bower which is a lovely 15 minute walk around the oceanfront from Manly Beach.

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  • Address: Nthn Beachs nth of Manly, Sthn south of Bondi
  • Directions: For Northen Beaches either catch a ferry to Manly then a bus nth or a 190 series bus from Wynyard Station in the city (may have Palm Beach on the front up top). For Coogee the most direct buses are the 373 & 374 from the city.
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    Beaches: Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk
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  • This has to be one of the most spectacular walks in the world. You can start and finish the walk at either Coogee or Bondi and make stops along the way as you please.

    The walk is a combination of beaches, parks, local history and glorious scenery. Along the walk you will take in Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee Beaches, the cute little fishing cove at Gordon's Bay & Waverley Cemetery.

    The walk follows a medium gradient clifftop path with occasional seating & several staircases (some quite steep). The beachside parks offer picnic shelters, coin-operated BBQs, play areas, kiosks, toilets & changerooms.

    For something different along the way, take a detour into Waverley Cemetery. The first burial to take place there was on 4 Aug 1877. The cemetery grounds are open to visitors every day from sunrise to sunset. Some people of note buried in the cemetery are:
    Jules Francoise Archibald - founder & editor of The Bulletin newspaper & provider of the annual portrait prize in his name
    Sarah (Fanny) Durack - Olympic gold medal swimmer
    John Fingleton OBE - Australian Cricketer & 'Bodyline' veteran
    Harold Hardwick - champion swimmer & boxer
    Lawrence Hargrave - Aviator & inventor
    Henry Lawson - Writer & poet
    Dorothea Mackellar - Poet
    John Sands - Greeting card manufacturer & stationer
    George & Charlotte Sargent - Meat pie bakers (infamous Aussie brand)
    Arthur Tauchert - Star of the silent movie 'The Sentimental Bloke'
    Victor Trumper - Test Cricketer

    You will encounter all sorts of people along the walkway - people walking their dogs, sweaty athelic types on their daily run, tourists, locals and day trippers. During the month of November each year you can also experience "Sculptures By The Sea" between Bondi & Tamarama beaches.

    Allow at least 2 hours walking time, more if making frequent stops. In the summer months it's best to walk in the early morning or late afternoon - the middle of the day can be very hot. Don't forget the sunscreen!

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  • Address: Eastern Suburbs of Sydney
  • Directions: Buses 365, 380, 381 & L82 to Bondi,361 to Tamarama, 373 & 374 to Coogee and 378 to Bronte stop near the walk. Both Coogee & Bondi beaches offer metered parking.
  • Website: www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/council/bprs/parks/parks/coastwalk.html
  • Other Contact: www.coastwalk.ismagical.com
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    Beaches: Manly Beach
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  • Manly Beach is one of the finest beaches in the Sydney area. It’s considered to be the jewel of the north shore beaches by many people, locals as well as tourists. Manly is located on a narrow peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, it offers both harbour and ocean beaches. Few cities in the world can boast the pristine waterfronts and paradisiacal climate that Sydney offers.
    It also offers a great shopping experience on the corso. You will see many people rollerblading or jogging along the beachfront.

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  • Address: Northern beaches,Take Warringah Road and beach
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    Beaches: Coogee Beach
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  • My home Coogee has has quite a long history (for a Sydney suburb). The original track which brought people to the Coogee Beach area back in 1832 would have followed the basic route now taken by Anzac Parade & Alison Road. Still today, the feeling you get when you are in Coogee is that of a seaside village. It is a great place to swim, eat, walk & picnic. You can explore the beautiful coastal walks - both north & south of the beach, the parklands with outdoor barbeque and picnic facilities, the children's play areas, the 3 swimming pools, or just relax on one of the finest sand beaches in Sydney.

    The water is usually sparkling clean, except for the odd day when seaweed is washed up onto the beach. The beach is usually quite "flat" by Sydney standards, but there are days when it can be rough so it's wise to stay within the flags - at least on those days.

    The northern point of Coogee is now named "Dolphins Point" and is the site of a memorial to the 20 local residents (including members of the Coogee Dolphins Rugby League Club) and other Australians who perished in the tragic terrorist bombing in Bali in October 2002.

    Enjoy a meal or a drink day or night at one of the many cafes, restaurants and pubs including the Coogee Bay Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach and the Coogee Palace bars.

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  • Address: Eastern Suburbs of Sydney
  • Directions: Catch a 372 bus from Central Railway or a 373 or 374 bus from Circular Quay. Another option is the 314 bus from Bondi Junction.
  • Website: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mons1/
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    Beaches: AVALON Beach - One of Sydney's "Northern Beaches"
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  • I'm adding this beach first, because it is the very first Aussie beach I visited, on my first morning in Sydney, thus it holds a warm spot in my heart.

    This is a typical "Northern Beach" of Sydney, it has the beautiful golden brown sand, the safe ocean swimming pool at the south end, and Surf Lifesavers Club. This is a good beach for walking along, surfing, sunbathing, swimming or people watching. They have flags up where it is safe to swim between.

    In the early 1990's, this beach was almost chosen as the filming location for BayWatch. The local residents were up in arms (my friends live near here and told me all about it!) abut having Hollywood move into their quaint town/village. Thankfully, Baywatch ultimately moved to Hawaii instead.

    This beach is a great local hangout, not too many tourists. It's just a short walk across the street to all the shops (supermarket, post office, surf shops, fruit and veg markets, etc).

    Located approx one hour north of Sydney, you can enjoy a beautiful & scenic coastal drive to get here.

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  • Address: Approx a one hour drive north of Sydney
  • Directions: Easily accessible by car or bus. The L90 bus, stops right next to the beach car park. Couldn't be any easier!!
  • Website: http://members.tripod.com/avalon_beach/
  • Other Contact: www.avalonbeachslsc.com.au
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    Beaches: Unforgettable PALM Beach - Sydney's premiere beach
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  • The ultimate beach destination in the Sydney area is without a doubt - PALM BEACH. Yes, it's about 90 minutes north of Sydney CBD, but it's truly worth the time to get here. Not only is the drive one of the most scenic I've ever been on, it's almost magical it's so beautiful. Travelling north up the coast, enjoying the beauty of beach after beach.

    This beach is incredible and amazing. The most northerly of the "northern beaches". Perfect for swimming, sunbathing, walking along the water, surfing, enjoying a picnic or BBQ, people watching. It's no secret that many celebrities and well known people from Australia and all over the world come to enjoy this beach. They also film outdoor scenes from Australia's tv soapie HOME & AWAY at the north end of the beach. You'll recognize the scenery if you a regular viewer.

    Beautiful golden brown sand, warm tropical breezes, gorgeous palm trees, breath-taking multi-million dollar homes and unforgettable views. This beach is very special.

    If you are feeling adventurous, there is a fantastic walk up the Barrenjoey lighthouse with even more spectacular views. You'll need at least an hour to do the walk and also good walking shoes and plenty of water.

    Fish & chips, souvenirs, specialty shops and more can be found here at Palm Beach. The L90 bus also stops within steps of the beach itself. If you are driving, parking might be challenging, but with patience or a bit of walking, you can find a spot.

    I would put this beach on a must see list for any Sydney visitor who enjoys beaches. And it's also a photographer's dream.

    Don't forget your sunscreen & extra water - they are an absolute essential.

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  • Address: The most northern beach on Barrenjoey Peninsula
  • Website: http://www.atn.com.au/pittwater/pal_t.htm
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    Beaches: Beaches
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  • The beaches of Sydney are world class. Why not make a day of hanging out at one of the many beaches located here in Sydney?

    I loved Manly Beach. We spent a nice leisurely day here. The water was a bit rough and the weather a bit chilly, but that didn't stop many of the beachgoers from enjoying a beautiful day.

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    Beaches: BRONTE Beach - just East of Sydney
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  • Dec. 2004 at Bronte Beach, NSW - Sydney
    Dec. 2004 at Bronte Beach, NSW
    by AmazingAdventures
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    This beautiful golden sand beach is just south of the world famous Bondi Beach, and you can enjoy a scenic COASTAL WALK between Bondi & Bronte.

    This beach is great for surfing, swimming sunbathing, people watching or having a picnic or BBQ. There is a big grassy area, and picnic area. There is also a wonderful safe ocean swimming pool at the south end of the beach.

    Parking can be a challenge, but with some patience, it can be found. There is also the bus available: http://www.sydneybuses.info

    Food and drinks are available here, and the Surf Lifesavers Club are also here, be sure to swim between the flags, the rips here can be quite strong, so don;t underestimate them.

    Overall, this is another gorgeous Sydney beach, and well worth a visit or at least a photo! Very scenic. Don't forget your sunscreen!

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  • Directions: Approx 20 minutes south east of Sydney CBD
  • Website: http://www.cooldudesandhotbabes.com/bronte.html
  • Other Contact: www.voyeurmagic.com.au/walks.htm
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    Beaches: Head down to Beautiful Bondi Beach
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  • Bondi Beach is an international icon, from which many people will be seen. The street in front of the beach is lined with international cuisine, the walkway lined with casual walkers, hurried surfers trying to get to the water, and many people cramming in to see the world famous Bondi. One of the most enjoyable things we did on our trip was to walk around this beach, but then also to break out and walk down towards some of the smaller beaches south of Bondi. Take the walkway south from the beach toward the famous Icebergs Swimming Pool, and start your adventure!

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  • Address: Bondi Beach, NSW
  • Directions: Take the Blue Bondi Explorer Buses or any city bus headed from downtown to Bondi Junction, and then onto North Bondi.
  • Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6df06/1cb37c/
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    Beaches: MANLY Beach - Where the Northern Beaches begin
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  • Looking North towards Manly Beach - Sydney
    Looking North towards Manly
    Beach
    by AmazingAdventures
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    This is the well known Manly Beach. It's surrounded by shops, restaurants, artists, souvenir shops, and has just about a little (or alot) of everything. Located within 15 minutes from Sydney CBD by ferry (quickest way to reach here). It's easy to walk around here, lots to see. My favorite memory of Manly beach was visiting here on Australia Day about 10 years ago and they had a sand castle competition going on, sand castles being built by people of all ages, with sand castles of all sizes, shapes and descriptions.

    Great beach for swimming, sun bathing, people watching, or just enjoying the scenery. Tons of souvenir and surf related shops.

    A nice place to visit for a day, but if you are looking for a really nice beach, try going a little farther north.

    The Coastal Walk is well worth your time, if you enjoy walking. Bring some good walking shoes, your sunscreen, bottled water and a camera.

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  • Phone: www.sydneyferries.info/
  • Directions: Accessible by bus, car and ferry, just across the harbour from Sydney
  • Website: http://www.allsands.com/Travel/Places/manlybeachaust_bij_gn.htm
  • Other Contact: http://www.manlyweb.com.au/
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