Sun cream, check! Beach towel, check ! Swimming costume, check ! Sunglasses, check ! Get ready to hit the water because I'm going to show you how you can spend a day on one of these four incredible beaches that are just a short drive from Sydney! In case you're considering spending a few days near the coastline, do check out New South Wales hotels at http://www.newsouthwaleshotels.net/en/ that can offer you a comfortable stay within a stone's throw from these amazing beaches.
1. Bondi Beach
By far the most famous beach in Australia is Bondi Beach, a must-visit for visitors to Sydney. Located just 7km from Sydney and best known for its vast sands and surfer-friendly waves, it's no surprise that Bondi Beach is often packed with locals sunbathing, surfing or swimming. Even from the air, you may be able to spot Bondi Beach's 1km of sand. With all these attractions, finding accommodation nearby is crucial for making the most of your visit. Thus, you can check hotels in Australia at tophotels.com, to find the best options according to your needs.
And if you're looking for ultimate luxury near the beach, consider staying at the Park Hyatt Sydney Hotel. Its convenient location and top-notch amenities will surely add an extra layer of enjoyment to your beach escapade.
Credit: Destination NSW
Surfing at Bondi Beach is a must, even for beginners, as they offer courses suitable for all levels of ability and experience. But if surfing isn't for you, you can always opt for a leisurely coastal walk. A picturesque coastal walk runs along the cliffs from Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach and offers stunning views of the 3.4km stretch.
Credit: Paul Van York of Pexel
A visit to the Bondi Icebergs pools is a must. The famous Bondi Pool has been a historic Bondi Beach landmark for almost 100 years and what a sight it is, especially with the wave crashing spectacularly against it!
Credit: Tourism Australia
The whole Bondi Beach area is bustling with cafes and restaurants, so you'll be spoilt for choice.
Access: Bondi Beach is accessible by train or bus. Take a train to Bondi Junction from Central Station, then hop on the 333, 379 or 380 bus to the beach. Alternatively, you can take the No 333 bus from Circular Quay to Bondi Beach.
Recommended cafe/restaurant: Speedos
Credit: Australia Eats on Pinterest
Dine at what is known as the world's most Instagrammable café in Bondi, Speedos! Here, all five of your senses will be delighted as the food and drinks at Speedos feature all the magical rainbow hues that make it perfect for that Instagrammable photo. Plus, you'll also be treated to stunning sea views as you dig in.
2. Jervis Bay
When you imagine pristine white sand beaches, think no further than Jervis Bay. Known as home to some of the whitest beaches in the world, you don't want to miss this destination as you drive along the Grand Pacific Drive along the coast south of Sydney. While many travellers head for the iconic Hyams Beach, there are a myriad of beautiful secluded shores to choose from.
Credit: Jordan Robins/Destination NSW
Set in a well-protected bay in Booderee National Park, Murrays Beach looks like a Pacific island on a sunny summer's day. The colour of the water is breathtaking and the sand is as white as Hyams. There's excellent snorkelling, interesting bush walks and plenty of resident wallabies. There is also Murrays Beach sea cave just around the corner from the beach.
Jervis Bay is also one of the few places in Australia where you may be able to see the incredibly rare natural phenomenon known as bioluminescence. An overnight stay is recommended between May and August to increase your chances of seeing the waters glow a mystical neon blue.
Credit: Jervis Bay Wild
The waters along the beach are mostly gentle, making it a popular destination for families to enjoy water sports such as snorkelling, kayaking and even paddle boarding. The bay is a prime location for dolphin and whale watching and during the whale migration season from late May to November, you may spot a humpback whale in these beautiful waters.
Credit: Destination NSW
Getting there: Jervis Bay is about a 3-hour drive from Sydney and we highly recommend spending a night or two here to take full advantage of its natural wonders.
Recommended cafe/restaurant: Cooked Goose on Hyams
Credit: The Cooked Goose Café
A short distance from the beach, Cooked Goose on Hyams serves hearty dishes from burgers to fish and chips. They're open from breakfast to lunch so you can enjoy a good meal before or after the excitement of the beach.
3. Palm Beach
Sydney's northernmost suburb, Palm Beach, is a great place to visit at any time of year. Affectionately called Palmy by the locals, the beach offers 2.3km of golden sand and clear waters against a backdrop of rolling green hills. At the northern end of the beach is the heritage-listed Barrenjoey Lighthouse on Barrenjoey Head.
Credit: Destination NSW
The lighthouse is a popular photo spot, offering panoramic views of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Broken Bay and the Central Coast. You can also try the Beach to Bay Walk, a pleasant walk with abundant native flora and fauna, including the rare spotted gum trees. For those looking for a challenge, there's also a 100-kilometre trail from Barrenjoey to Cronulla (near the Royal National Park) along Sydney's Great Coastal Walk.
Credit: Secret World
With the Pacific Ocean on one side and Ku-Ring-gai Chase National Park on the other, Palm Beach is also a great place for stargazing, due to the lack of light pollution. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Milky Way.
Credit: Destination NSW
Access: Palm Beach is 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Sydney, just over an hour's drive from the city centre. You can choose to take buses from Circular Quay and Central Station to Palm Beach via Sydney's northern beaches.
Recommended cafe/restaurant: Boathouse Palm Beach
Credit: Boathouse Palm Beach
There's no better place to enjoy Palm Beach than on the waterfront deck of the original Barrenjoey Boathouse. Leave Sydney early to enjoy their breakfast of fresh fruit platters, bowls of greens and French toast. Take a seat at one of the picnic tables on the wharf that hangs over Station Beach, or simply grab a spot on the front lawn. The views over the water are breathtaking from all directions.
The café is currently being refurbished and is due to reopen in 2023.
4. Pebble beach
Take an overnight trip to Murramarang National Park's Pebble Beach and be greeted by the most exciting sight - kangaroos relaxing on the beach! Kangaroos are not an uncommon sight on this beach, with many often found grazing in the grassy areas near the sand and sometimes even entering the waters.
Credit: Lincoln Fowler / Alamy Banque D'Images
On your way to or from the shingle beach, stop off at Kiama to see one of the world's largest blowholes. Not only is it an impressive sight, but the sound of water gushing through the air is sure to leave you in awe of Mother Nature.
Credit: Sydney.com
Camping at Pebbly Beach is a popular weekend activity for locals and promises memories to last a lifetime. Keep an eye out for sea eagles soaring overhead while oystercatchers work along the beach's shores and who knows, you might spot a pod of dolphins playing in the waters. Stretch your legs with a leisurely bush walk in Murramarang National Park.
Getting there: It's about a four-hour drive south of Sydney to Pebbly Beach .
Recommended restaurant : Jim Wild's Oysters
Credit: Shoalhaven Tourism
Stop off in Shoalhaven where you'll find a small family-run oyster farm, Jim Wild's Oysters. With a 32-year history, this little restaurant has become more than a diversion or stop-off along the south coast, but rather a destination in itself. Its owner, Jim Wild, was himself a celebrity as the world's fastest oyster shucker in 1984. As Jim Wild's Oyster Service is a working oyster farm and processes all its oysters on site, customers can watch them at work before enjoying some of their fresh oysters in person.
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These beaches are definitely worth visiting and spending a day doing as the locals do, but holiday planning can be tricky and confusing for many. Where to stay? How many days? How do you hire a car to get around? This is where it pays to use the services of an experienced travel agency. Sedunia Travel is one of Malaysia's oldest travel agencies with packages readily available to Sydney and New South Wales. These packages not only cover Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley and more, but can also be customised and modified to suit your dream NSW itinerary.
Credit: Destination NSW
Be sure to let the Sedunia Travel agents know that you'd like to include one of these beaches on your holiday and they're sure to find a way to make it work for you. Apart from that, they can also organise everything for you, from flights and accommodation to ground arrangements and car hire. So when you're planning to travel to Sydney and New South Wales make sureyou book with Sedunia Travel.