Bondi Beach
For Sand, Surf And Turf

Do you know that sunbathing in Bondi beach was initially ban during the early years of Australia and was only lifted in 1906?

This one kilometer long strip of golden sand is a perfect place to work on your tan, for swimming and surfing.

Today, the beach is teeming with locals and tourists alike. The beach is a haven for surfers due to the rich variety of waves that make their way to the beach. The Bondi surf ranges from large waves to the small quiet ones mostly depending on the time of day but also the seasonal weather in Sydney.

If you are a surfing fan, frequent surfers recommend the beach's southern end for the best waves. Also located at this southern end of the beach is a seawater rock pool that is open to the public. This pool is probably best known as the home of the renowned Bondi Iceberg Club whose name is derived from the tendency of club members to swim in the pool even during the cold winter months.

Located about eight kilometers from Sydney's city centre, Bondi beach is not only Sydney's but also one of Australia's most popular beaches. The beach has a well documented history as a World War II bombing site. But that is as far as the negative history goes. Bondi beach has much more positive news around it.

For one, it boasts the oldest surf life saving clubs of any beach in the world.

Discovered in the early 1800's by colonials, Bondi did not see growth in its popularity until it was connected to the tram line from Sydney. The benefits from this increased accessibility were further boosted by regular visits from Britain's Prince Charles in the 1970s.

Bondi Beach is home to Australia's famous public personalities. Don't be surprised to see you favorite Australian pop idol or movie star in a cafe or jogging down the beach.

One thing you can be certain about when you visit Bondi is that you can never be bored. There are many things to do whether during the day and night. The area has a broad collection of restaurants, eateries, entertainment spots as well as night clubs.

And if you just want to enjoy the fresh air of the beach, then the six kilometer long walk from the south to the north offers not just that but an excellent view of the ocean and Sydney harbour too. The journey involves a considerable amount of ascent or descent depending on which side you are moving from. Along the walk are a number of excellent scenic and less crowded beaches. These include Tamarama beach, Clovelly beach, Bronte beach and Cogee beach.

• Bordered by a lush green reserve, great houses and quaint little cafes, Tamarama beach is considered one of the trendiest places in Sydney. It doesn't help that the walk to this beach over Mackenzie's point gives one stunning views of Bondi and the other southern beaches!



• Bronte beach, equally charming in its allure, sports its own set of excellent cafes. This half kilometer long beach with its south end sea side pool resembles a smaller version of Bondi beach.

• Clovelly Bay which is a sheltered alcove surrounded by grassland and bordered by Bundock Park, provides great picnicking sites and is a favorite with families.

• Cogee beach is recognized for its Selena's night club where many top Australian and world bands play.It is a preferred back packer's beach site.

Bondi is a great place to dine too, with plenty of restaurants along the esplanade. If you prefer a particular cuisine, then Bondi will not disappoint. Bondi restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes that include seafood and vegetarian dishes. You can find all of the most popular international cuisines here including Thai, Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, African or European.

But now that you are in Australia, you may as well sample the best of Australian food - and there is no shortage of that. If you are out for a less fancy meal, there are modest and decent eateries along Campbell Parade.

Campbell Parade is the beach's primary promenade. It is a prime location of hotels, restaurants, cafes, exhibitions, boutiques and beauty salons. Among the many hotels on the promenade are the Bondi Hotel and the Swiss Grand. Nestled between the promenade and Queen Elizabeth Drive is the Beach Pavilion and Bondi Park.

If you don't feel like venturing onto the beach or would like to have a planned or an impromptu ocean front picnic, equipment and chairs can be rented close by.

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