My Bondi Summer - My Bondi Summer

We’ve discovered Bondi isn’t just a (super amazing) beach. There are plenty of things to do in Bondi even when it's raining outside. Some of Bondi's hidden treasures can be found when you look beyond the sun and surf. What will you get up to this week? 

Things to do in Bondi when it’s raining: 

1. Cosy up with pre-drinks at the bar, and then theatre inside Bondi Pavilion. Check out what's on here. 

2. Curl up with a book inside Gertrude and Alice bookstore on Hall St, or one of the many cafes around town. 

3. Warm up with African drumming and dance classes. 

4. Get zen about the weather with a yoga class.

5. Take a surfing lesson - you’re going to get wet anyway! 

Or dance.... 

Belinda Carlisle knew what to do...

Waking With The Waves - The Video from Lester Jones on Vimeo.

Bondi usually sizzles in summer, but today’s temp is out of the ordinary. If the
mercury hits the expected top of 43 degrees today it will be the third hottest day
ever recorded in Sydney.

Cooling off with a quick swim at the beach might be good idea, but you actually
don’t want to be outdoors much at all. It’s just not comfortable and also puts you
at risk of heat exhaustion and heat cramps. It's too hot today - even for the beach!

Some tips for staying cool in a heat wave:
• Stay out of the sun between 11am and 6pm, if you can.
• Drink lots of water (avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks as these will

dehydrate you further).

• If your accommodation is too hot then head to the cinema, Bondi shopping centres, the library, or somewhere with air con.
• Wear loose fitting clothes
• Eat light meals like this watermelon salad

By now you might have noticed the signs up about Bondi's Alcohol Free Zone (AFZ) on Christmas Day. The council, police and security guards have a reputation for confiscating anything resembling alcohol on Christmas Day, and crushing backpacker's jolly Christmas dreams. Our advice is not to bother - you really won't be able to drink alcohol on Bondi Beach on Christmas Day. 

But don't just take our word for it - A first hand experience of Christmas Day written by a traveller to Bondi Beach 
"We huddled beneath a shelter, exchanging gifts (all bought from the dollar shop) and getting stuck into a box of goon that was swiftly confiscated by the police. So much for Christmas cheer!"

- read about it here. 

What are Your Plans?

Your best bet is to either not drink at all on Christmas Day, or head to one of the licensed premises close to Bondi Beach. The venues open on Christmas Day are listed here. 

Bondi Beach is a dream destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer. While most people take their rubbish with them, sadly many leave it behind. Seeing Bondi trashed is a horrible sight for locals and visitors alike.

Concerns about rubbish on Bondi Beach aren't just cosmetic. Plastic and other rubbish left on Bondi Beach ends up in the ocean and this has a disasterous impact on marine life. Have you heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch ? 

Taking your own rubbish with you is basic travelling etiquette for anywhere you go.  Picking up rubbish you find on the beach requires a bit more consideration but makes a huge difference.

Group Take 3 have a simple message: 

"take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway or... anywhere and you have made a difference.”

How can you help?

Join Responsible Runners  and go for a run on Sundays at 5pm (meet on the main steps outside Bondi Pavilion). Check them out in action here.

The ocean is what connects us all. Picking up rubbish in Bondi will help marine travellers from around the world.