This iconic beach is famous for its surfing, its ever-vigilant lifeguards, and its stunning setting a mere 20 minutes from Sydney’s CBD. Always bustling, Bondi is fringed by an esplanade filled with restaurants and quirky shops, has an old-fashioned bathers’ pavilion and an exciting seawater pool, and is the start of the gorgeous coastal walk to Coogee. It’s the perfect escape from the busy metropolis.
Popular Bondi Beach sees lots of activity. Photo © birillo81/123rf.
Which one is better, Bondi or Manly? It’s a bit like potato and patata. Manly is on the north side of Sydney Harbour and is reached by the fantastic Manly ferry ride, so that is a plus. The waves, some say, are even better here for surfing, and the offerings of restaurants, ice cream parlors, and shops are similar to Bondi. The promenade is lined with tall pine trees, which add a different touch. See for yourself. Which one do you prefer?
Manly Beach offers fewer crowds than Bondi. Photo © Sopanawish Thongdeeria/123rf.
The best way to truly appreciate this stunning beach is from above. Flying over Whitehaven Beach and the associated swirls of the Hill Inlet takes your breath away. The pristine white of the sand and the turquoise to blue and green shades of the water look like they have been painted; there simply is no other beach like it. Seven kilometers of sand fringed on one side by palms and green bushland, on the other by the clear sea, it is a perfect spot for a luxury picnic and a snorkel. If you can splurge, take a luxury flight complete with champagne picnic to the beach; it will be one of the highlights of your trip.
Aerial view of stunning Whitehaven Beach. Photo © Debra Law/123rf.
An hour south of Cairns, Mission Beach sits alongside four other great beaches, stretching over 14 kilometers, but has the advantage of having a strip of little shops and restaurants, plus a few beach resorts for recreation and sustenance alongside. The beach looks out over Dunk Island and with its fringe of palms and bush offers plenty of secluded spots for utter privacy and relaxation.
Cairns’ Mission Beach offers amenities on top of beautiful sand and surf. Photo © Chris Van Lennep/123rf.
Stretching alongside Port Douglas, this is a great beach for the whole family. You can hire sun loungers and umbrellas, take surf lessons, and even partake in yoga first thing in the morning. There are always throngs of people walking and running the length of the beach, but the white sand strip is large enough to accommodate fitness enthusiasts and those who simply want to relax. And there is still plenty of room to build sand castles.
4 Mile Beach at Port Douglas is great for families. Photo © Dirk Ercken/123rf.
Excerpted from the First Edition of Moon Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef.
