Dee Why

Dee Why is a suburban area north of Sydney which is famous for its unpoilt beaches and scenic beauty. A lot of speculation exists about the name of this beautiful place, but no one knows why it is so strangely named. The earliest record of this name is a penciled note in surveyor James Meehan’s field book where he marked the place with the alphabets DY. There is another school of thought that feels that DY is a name that came from the local aboriginal language. In common parlance the place began to be referred to as DY which slowly evolved into two words Dee Why by 1950.

The beautiful Dee Why Beach is a long stretch of little over a kilometer overlooking the Tasmanian Sea. It is a favorite destination for surfers, body boarders and explorers. If you have had your fill of the beach, you can explore the area further. Cast your eyes northwards and you will see the majestic dunes that separate the beach from the Dee Why Lagoon. Towards the south is the lovely Dee Why Reserve, which is a popular picnic spot around ancient pines. The reserve is worth a visit. It has well beautifully located picnic areas, well maintained paths, platforms, a promenade area and even a war memorial that has been restored recently.

In keeping with the sporty and out-door ethos of Sydneysiders, there are two playgrounds near by. It is the headquarters of Australia’s Oldest Surfboard Riders Club, Dee Why Surfing Fraternity. It even has the Long Reef Golf Course which is very beautiful.

Nature lovers will really enjoy The Dee Why Lagoon which is a well recognized wild life refuge spread over about 77 hectares. It is a bush land that is swampy and home to local bird life and also migratory birds. Bird watchers can spend many hours watching these lovely and colorful feathered creatures, many of them rare and exquisite. Not so long ago there were many black swans to feast your eyes on. Though they are not so plentiful now, there still are many to admire.

All this scenic beauty is situated conveniently. You can easily board a bus that goes to the northern beaches; all of them stop at Dee Why Main. Since it is very close to Pittwater road, you could drive down for a wonderful day at the beach. It can be crowded on weekends as many people love spending their weekends sunbathing or surfing. On week days the beach is not so crowded and you can easily find a secluded spot and enjoy a relaxing day.

Dee Why is home to Warringah Mall, Australia’s largest indoor and outdoor shopping centre. It also has many cheap eateries serving seafood. You could find a meal that suits any budget, from the very economical to the exclusive gourmet style food.

If you are in Sydney, you should visit the beautiful Dee Why beach and lagoon which is very close to Sydney and experience the scenic splendor.