Year 2 –25 January 2024 -Exploring Sydney-Bondi

We woke at a reasonable time and after breakfast headed ashore to get the car. We decided to drive to Bondi Beach and we arrived quite early – about 10.00am. We parked in an underground car park.

We then decided to walk to Coogee Beach some 3.5-4.00 miles down the coast. The weather was stunning with clear blue skies and it was warm. We walked on to the famous Bondi Beach which was already quite busy. There were a number of swimmers and surfers enjoying the reasonable size surf that was coming in. We walked along the beach and took the cliff walk up and the picture of the day is of the view across the beach.

We walked on up the cliff and then came to Tamarama Beach which had a lot of surf and there were lots of surfers. It was not a beach to swim off really and narrow which is why the surf was bigger. The sea state out at sea was calm and it seemed everyone was out. This is a bank holiday weekend with Australia day tomorrow and Monday being a bank holiday. There were people out with their dogs, many running and others walking and chatting. I can imagine it is the thing to do – meet a friend, walk and chat. You can see why the Australians have a great life – when the weather is like this and they have fabulous beaches and outdoors and the sea so close – it is a great combination.

We walked on from Tamarama Beach to Bronte Beach – which is a lovely sandy beach with some sea pools. We decided to have a swim and there were some reasonable waves. We changed and went in, however just as we were about to enter the surf the lifeguards said the beach is closed (due to rip tides) and to use the sea pools. We therefore swam in the sea pools which was nice and refreshing – our first venture into the Australian sea and pretty safe from the sharks.

Once dry and changed we continued and had an ice cream before moving on from Bronte. The cliff walk continued and we saw across one of the largest cemeteries I have seen covering a large part of the coast called Waverley Cemetery. It seemed that each grave had some form of statue and from a far looked like a load of chess pieces. We got close and past it but it was quite formidable – there on the cliff. Real estate is expensive here so if you could not afford a sea view during your life then you may when you die here as the views were stunning. There were sandstone cliffs which had been eroded and then you could see the sea bashing on them some 100 feet or more below.

We passed the cemetery and walked on and on top of the cliffs was the Clovelly Bowling club where they were playing bowls on the cliff top. Next was Clovelly Cove which was a narrow cove being almost an enclosed pool which looked good for swimming.

We walked on round and on back to the cliffs and then to Gordon’s Bay which had an underwater nature trail which you can dive on. We walked on round and the walked up and over the cliff to Coogee Beach which was a large bay-similar size to Bondi and had lots of restaurants and bars. We found a Brazilian type of café and had some nice lunch and a rewarding beer.

We then looked at Coogee a little an caught the bus back to Bondi where we got the car and drove via a Westfield centre to get Trevor some new trainers. Whilst we waited we observed the little old small houses which dominated Sydney. They are gradually disappearing as the demand for larger housing grows.

We returned to Rose Bay and parked the car and returned to Stormbird to shower. We then headed ashore and had a good supper at an Italian.

It had been a good day and we have seen more of the coast and of course can say we have been to Bondi!!. It is Australia Day tomorrow and we plan to go into town to see what celebrations are going on.

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Union Flag of Great Britain by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a small bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour. In the present, the government Australia Day Council organises events that seek to recognise the contributions of Australians to the nation, while also encouraging reflection on past wrongs including towards Indigenous Australians and also giving respect and celebrating the diversity and achievements of Australian society past and present. The presentation of community awards and citizenship ceremonies are also commonly held on the day. The holiday is marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on Australia Day Eve, announcement of the Australia Day Honours list and addresses from the governor-general and prime minister. It is an official public holiday in every state and territory. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies, the day is celebrated in large and small communities and cities around the nation. Australia Day has become the biggest annual civic event in Australia.

Need/Opportunity Year Two

I am in need of more crew from April to September so if of interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

In year two I will be going from New Zealand to Sydney and hen up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com