Beaches Part II

Bondi Beach

Today we arrived at wounderful Bondi Beach.The weather was nice: sunny but not too hot.

We could wear short trousers and tops. The water was warm (about 20 degrees) and many people were swimming.But before we run into the waves I want to give you some interesting information about the beach.

Most important facts

Bondi Beach, founded in 1851, is 7 kilometers from the centre of Sydney. With its pavillon, park and promenades it is one of the most famous beaches in Australia and one of the best known surfspots. The 1,5 kilometers long beach is after the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Habour Bridge the most visited sight in Australia. Since 2008 it belongs to The Australian National Heritage List as a national monument.

Some interesting historical aspects

In the 1830s swimmming at Bondi Beach got popular. In the middle of the 19th century more and more families went there to have picknick. The first tram arrived Bondi Beach in 1848. In 1929 nearly 60 000 people visited Bondi Beach. After the pavillon opened there were about 200 000 visitors. Since 1930 the visitors come from all over the world.

On “Black Sunday“ in 1939 35 000 people and a big group of life guards were on the beach to make a swimming competition. Suddenly three big waves smashed on the beach and took hundreds of people with them. It was the biggest live saving action ever on a beach. The life guards could save about 300 people.

The beach

In summer there is a net in the sea to protect swimmers from dangerous sharks.

In Australia every beach got a danger-level from 1 to 10. The northern part of Bondi beach has got a 4, the southern has got a 7 because of its dangerous currents.

You are not allouwed to play volleyball or football on the beach.

The Bondi Beach Markets also open on sundays.

Beachfestivals:

January: The Flickerfestival were you can watch short films on the beach

November: “Skulpture by the sea“

“Australian Surf Carnival“: famous surfer and newcomer meet on the beach and take part in surf competitions

In the Olympiayear 2000 the Beachvolleyball Championchip took place there in a stadion for 

10 000 people.

At our visit we spent a lot of time in the water for swimming and taking surf lessons. After that we sat on our blankets an had a nice picknick. When we left the beach we did a little shopping tour in the Bondi Beach Market. Then we took the bus to the next beach. It was a sunny and fantastic day on Bondi Beach and if I go back to Astralia in the future I will visit it again.