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Bondi Beach, located 7km east of downtown Sydney and surrounded by the most densely populated part of Sydney is by far NSW's most popular and best known beach. Last century, it was still a sandy wilderness, but the famous Bondi tram and rapid urban development put an end to that in the 1900's. It is the site of two of Australia's oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs, North Bondi and Bondi, established in 1907 and 1904 respectively. |
| This 800m long beach is now surrounded by
houses, flats and high-rise buildings and all that goes with Bondi
beach, including the Bondi Pavilion, the extensive promenade, car
parking and parks, and rock pools at both ends. North Bondi is partially protected by Ben Buckler headland. This reduces wave height resulting in a continuous attached bar, usually cut by 1 or 2 rips and a permanent rip beside the northern rock pool. This area is patrolled by North Bondi Surf Club which averages 157 rescues a year, but only 0.5 per 1,000 beachgoers, a relatively low number. South Bondi patrolled by Bondi Surf Club, is more exposed to waves and has a continuous bar cut by 2 to 3 rips and at times separated from the shore by a longshore trough. A persistent large and often strong rip runs out against the southern headland. This more hazardous area is more popular with the board riders than bathers. Consequently, while less popular for bathing than the northern end of the beach, it has nearly twice as many rescues, 274 each year. |
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Bathing:
Safest bathing is in the northern half, but watch for the rip against
the northern rock pool. In the north and particularly in the central-south
stay between the flags, which are there 365 days a year thanks to
the 7 day a week lifeguard service provided by Waverley Council. Usually
4 to 5 rips occur along the beach, in addition to the two headland
rips. The rips become increasingly common and strong toward the south.
Many inexperienced tourists bathe at Bondi. Don't follow their lead
if they are out of the flags, better still advise them to bathe between
the flags. Surf: North Bondi is protected from north easterlies and larger waves making it popular in summer and for beginners. During big swell, Ben Buckler point produces a good left. The central portion is closed to boards, leaving the higher waves and strong rips of south Bondi to the board riders. The beach breaks are of variable quality with the left into the southern headland rip holding waves up to 2.5m. |
| Fishing:
Owing to the popularity of the beach most fishing is restricted to
the rocks to each end, both ends having permanent gutters. However,
when the beach is not crowded there are good gutters particularly
to the south. Summary: Bondi attracts all types in often large numbers. The surrounding parks cater to family picnics, non surfers and tourists. On the beach, North Bondi is safest for children. The centre is where the sunbathers and crowds dominate, while the south is for the surfers and those who want less crowds. The first surf reel in Australia was displayed at Bondi Beach on December 23, 1906. The Bondi Surf Club won the first rescue and resuscitation competition, and during the first open surf race that same year only 3 of the 40 starters managed to round the buoys, most being swept down the beach by the high seas and rips. Sunday the 6 February 1938 will be forever know as 'Black Sunday' at Bondi. On that day the set up and resulting current generated by three large waves swept 300 people out of their depth. In the ensuing melee 80 lifesavers managed to save all but 5 of the panic-stricken bathers. During World War 2 Bondi's standard went overseas with its enlisted club men. It was raised on the beaches of Palestine, at Tobruk and at the Solomon Islands Surf Club in Bougainville. During this club's brief history 300 Australian servicemen were trained as lifesavers. |
| Click on any beach below to discover more. |
| NSW Beach Reports |
| NSW: Bondi North Bondi Bronte Collaroy North Cronulla Dee Why Freshwater Manly |
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| © 2003 Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd |
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