If you thought Sydney is all about the Harbor Bridge and Opera House, then one does need to look beyond the concrete-jungle abounding with over seventy beach-fronts. In fact, if you have not treaded the sand to soak in the sun & surf, you have not really been to Sydney. Let us look at some of the sheltered coves that are so unlike the open ocean beaches, yet offer not only an ideal break for a quiet panoramic picnic, but also a huge variety of water sports.
Balmoral Beach
The scenic Balmoral Beach is all about being an ideal family which spends time together and takes the family pets for an outing, or a fun place bustling with activity. The aerial view of Balmoral Beach shows a vast expanse of sand, and a neat footbridge that leads to a tree shaded area smack in the middle. On one side is the vast expanse of the deep blue ocean including a view of gateway to Sydney Harbor, and on the other is the panoramic view of some real fabulous homes and hotels. And yes, in some homes one can spot huge and expensive yachts parked as though they were cars.
For the fun part, Balmoral Beach actually lets you create your own. There are no tourist guides here and no one to tell you what you need to do. In fact, when planning the trip don’t forget to carry your football, rollerblades, or even a bicycle. One can also hire sail-boards here, and if not familiar with their usage, then the Balmoral Boatshed has the provision for providing lessons at a nominal charge. At the beach, the urge is always to indulge in a salt-water swim for which you just hop across the wide board-walk into a net-enclosed area that actually makes it a safe haven by keeping the sharks away. This swim safely feature therefore does not necessitate beach patrolling. After the fun in the water, just walk to the rear section of the Bathers Pavilion to the ultra-clean toilets, take a quick shower and change, and one is ready for more action. If you feel you need to chill-out for a while, then head on towards the shaded park area in the northern tip and dig into your picnic basket. Once pepped, a quick walk through the streets will lead you to nearby Chinamans Beach. During low tides, one can actually walk across the rocks that separate Balmoral Beach from Chinamans Beach.
Whether early dawn, during the sunny day, or when the dusk is setting in, Balmoral Beach is bustling with people. For some it’s the view, for others it’s the swim, or the fun and picnic, and for many it’s an evening trot-over for the delicious fish and chips.
Sydneysiders actually spend more time outdoors which is not surprising considering that their beautiful city is surrounded by various beaches that are really world class.
