Beach party
I met my rider and his prized machine (read Harley Davidson) at my hotel in Bondi. After wearing my rider’s costume, it was time to board, sit back and relax to the sound of its famed V-twin roar. It sure was one of the most exciting things I have ever done as there couldn’t have been a better way to feel the grunt of a Harley Davidson while exploring one of the best landscapes in Australia.
Bondi is a bit of an institution near Sydney and it more than lived up to my expectations. An Aboriginal word “Bondi” literally transforms into noise of water breaking over rocks, but I found the beach to be a perfectly formed kilometer semi-circle of yellow sand that meets the green and blue of the Pacific Ocean in a postcard beautiful scene. The sand is so very soft and fine and just falls off you. The water is safe to swim in due to the shark net off the coast and the famous life and surfing rescue team, who patrol the area between the yellow and red flags. In fact Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club was the world’s first, found in 1907.
The strict no smoking and no drinking on the beach meant that it still remains one of the cleanest and most comfortable beaches one can step on.
The promenade along the Bondi beach is a popular track for joggers and roller bladers while Campbell Parade, behind the beach, is a relaxed grazing ground for Sydney’s café society.
The next stop was a late lunch of fish and chips at a beachside restaurant and a quick tour of the shops. The next morning I went off for a Bondi to Bronte walk, which is a lovely little track that runs a couple of kilometers over the rocks between Bondi and Bronte beaches. And as all good walks should be, it was broken up by scoffing some delicious waffles at Bronte before strolling back to Bondi.
I happened to be in Bondi at the time of the “Sculptures of The Sea”, a free outdoor exhibition which takes place every year for two weeks at the Bondi to Tamaramma coast walk and is taken over by weird and wonderful art installations. I loved the idea of showing the sculptures in this environment instead of a traditional gallery. Most of them fitted in the surroundings very well, like sculptures imitating big toys on a large playground, or a large bubble on the sea, or stones on the rocks etc.
Between Bronte Beach and Clovelly Bay the road goes through a cemetery which is located on one of the most beautiful places; on the hill sides, ending at the high cliffs that are suddenly rising out of the ocean.
The view is spectacular with only the sound of birds and the ocean. Don’t be surprised if you see men without shirts, headphones plugged in their ears running over the hills or happy families walking through with small children as if they were in Hyde Park.
And like all good things this came to an end as I had to fly to Brisbane the next morning. I barely had two-and-a-half days here but I suggest you spend a week in this beautiful city.
The writer is a travel enthusiast
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