Bondi Beach is Your Ticket to Fun

By Brad Peterson | December 29, 2009

Just a short drive outside Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, Australia, you’ll find the vibrant community of Bondi Beach. Pronounced “Bon-die,” with a long I, this beach is a center for surfing and sunbathing all summer long.

Dating back to the Sydney’s suburban expansion in the 1850s, Bondi Beach’s unique name is derived from the Aboriginal term for “sound of waves crashing on rocks.”

With nearly one kilometer of white sand, Bondi Beach is a great place to get away from the populous Sydney and enjoy South Wales’ beautiful beaches. In their migratory months, schools of dolphins and even whales can be seen off the coast. The rare fairy penguin has even been known to make the occasional appearance.

As a starting point, there is no better place than the Bondi Pavilion. Stop by the Community Center for some visitors information, get ready for your beach day in the showers and changing rooms, or see the outdoor amphitheater.

Stroll down the shoreline and work on your suntan or watch the locals show off their bronze physiques. Bathe in the safe waters on the northern end of the beach, or head to the southern side where the more treacherous waves and tides are enjoyed by the world’s surfing community. Any surfer hungry for a taste of good waves should check out this surfing spot. Shark nets are added in the summer months for extra protection and lifeguards patrol the area constantly.

Take in a bit of Bondi Beach’s history and beauty with one of the scenic walks. Start at Bondi’s old Pavilion, begun in 1928, on the way to the cliffs of Bronte. See the Hawkesbury sandstone belt which dates back to over 200 million years B.C. Or visit the old Bronte Baths en route to Waverley Cemetery.

Get into the racy bikini culture on Bondi Beach’s southern end, where sunbathers have been known to flout the city ordinances and go topless. In fact, the beach holds the Guinness World Record for largest swimsuit photo shoot ever.

Popular local events include the 14-kilometer City to Surf Fun Run which takes participants from downtown Sidney to the sandy coastline of Bondi Beach every August. In September you can enjoy the Festival of the Winds, a kite festival which is fun for the whole family.

When that beach-day hunger strikes, you can dine at small cafes or more elegant restaurants by the water’s edge. Or have a drink in one of the pubs and rub elbows with the friendly locals.

Bondi Beach has been featured as the backdrop for a number of television series, including Breakers and Bondi Rescue, which follows the efforts of the lifeguard patrols.

The eyes of the world were on Bondi Beach during the 2000 Summer Olympics, when it served as the setting for the beach volleyball games.

Accommodations are available in all price ranges, from backpacker hostels to upscale hotels, with small hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in between.

Just thirty minutes away from Sydney by car, Bondi Beach can be accessed by taking Oxford Street out of the capital until it becomes Enfield Drive and then Bondi Road. Due to the traffic and parking crunch on popular weekends, locals recommend going to Bondi Beach via public transportation. Buses to Bondi usually leave Sydney on an hourly basis.

For surfboard hire in Sydney’s southern beaches, contact Brad from Sydney Surfboard Rentals

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