Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP SIGHTS
BONDI BEACH
Definitively Sydney, Bondi is one of the world's great beaches: ocean and land collide, the Pacific arrives in great
foaming swells and all people are equal, as democratic as sand. It's the closest ocean beach to the city centre (8km
away), has consistently good (though crowded) waves, and is great for a rough-and-tumble swim (the average wa-
ter temperature is a considerate 21°C). If the sea's angry or you have small children in tow, try the saltwater sea
baths at either end of the beach. Ice-cream vendors strut the sand in summer.
Surf's Up
The two surf clubs - Bondi and North Bondi - patrol the beach between sets of red-and-
yellow flags, positioned to avoid the worst rips and holes. Thousands are rescued from the
surf each year (enough to make a TV show about it), so don't become a statistic: swim
between the flags. Surfers carve up sandbar breaks at either end of the beach.
Bondi Pavilion
Built in the Mediterranean Georgian Revival style in 1929,
Bondi Pavilion
( 8362 3400;
changing shed, although it does have changing rooms, showers and lockers.
Bondi
lawn in the summer months, with live bands providing prescreening entertainment. 'The
Pav' is also home to a gelato shop, art exhibitions and a plethora of courses and live per-
formances.
Outdoor Facilities
Prefer wheels to fins? There's a
skate ramp
at the beach's southern end. If posing in your
budgie smugglers (Speedos) isn't having enough impact, there's an outdoor
workout area
near the North Bondi Surf Club. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), this is the part of the
beach where the gay guys hang out. At the beach's northern end there's a grassy spot with
coin-operated barbecues. Booze is banned on the beach.
