Bondi Beach Travel Tourism Media

Bondi Beach

"Bondi" or "Boondi" is an Aboriginal word

meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks.

Bondi Beach is a popular beach and the name of the surrounding suburb in Sydney, Australia. Bondi Beach is located 7 kilometers east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council, in the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi, North Bondi and Bondi Junction are separate neighboring suburbs.

The Beach

Bondi Beach is about one kilometer long and has many tourists visit throughout the year. Surf Life Saving Australia has given different hazard ratings to Bondi Beach in 2004. While the northern end has been rated a gentle 4 (with 10 as the most hazardous), the southern side is rated as a 7 due to a famous rip current known as the "Backpackers Rip" (also known as the "Bondi Tram" or the "Bronte Express" because you would supposedly end up at Bronte - two beaches south - if caught in it). In actual fact, there are up to five rip currents operating along the beach, the Backpackers' Express being the one closest to the designated swimming area. There is an underwater shark net shared, during the summer months, with other beaches along the southern part of the coast.

Sport and recreation

Bondi Beach is the end point of the City to Surf Fun Run which is held each year in August. The race attracts over 63,000 entrants who complete the 14 km run from the central business district of Sydney to Bondi Beach.

Other annual activities at Bondi Beach include:

Flickerfest, Australia's premier international short film festival in January

World Environment Day in June

Sculpture By The Sea in November.

In addition to many activities, the Bondi Beach Markets is open every Sunday

Many tourists spend Christmas Day at the beach.

Bondi Pavilion

Bondi Pavilion is a community Cultural Centre located right on Bondi Beach, which features a theater, gallery, rehearsal, meeting and function rooms, art workshop, pottery and studios. Bondi Pavilion is the Centre for major festivals performances throughout the year.

Lifesaving Clubs

Bondi Bathers Surf Lifesaving Club is the world's first surf lifesaving club and North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club is a federation club. Both clubs were founded in 1907.

Bondi members invented the surf reel and many other icons of lifesaving. Surf Lifesavers from both clubs were involved in the largest rescue ever on a single day, known as 'Black Sunday'.

Bondi holds the most Australian Surf Lifesaving Championship gold medals in rescue and resuscitation)

Bondi Icebergs

The Swimming Club's origin dates back to 1929 and owes its origins to the desire of a band of dedicated local lifesavers who wished to maintain their fitness during the winter months. They formed the Bondi Icebergs Winter Swimming Club and drew up a constitution and elected office bearers. Included in the constitution was a rule that to maintain membership it was mandatory that swimmers compete on three Sundays out of four for a period of five years

In 1994, female members were admitted.

In 2002 the Club opened their new renovated premises

Bondi Beach Commercial area

Bondi Beach has a commercial area along Campbell Parade and adjacent side streets. Bondi Beach features many popular cafes, restaurants and hotels, with spectacular views of the beach. Hotel Bondi is a famous landmark opposite the beach featuring a number of popular bars and restaurants. The nearby Swiss Grande Hotel Bondi Beach is also a landmark development opposite the beach.

Golf Club at North Bondi

Notable Residents

* James Packer, businessman
* Larry Emdur, TV presenter
* In March 2007, Waverley Council started proceedings to evict a hermit from a site overlooking the beach. Jhyimy "Two Hats" Mhiyles came to the beach during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Since then he has become something of a local celebrity for his lifestyle and poetry recitals to visitors. Residents and tourists put together a petition entitled "save the caveman" of which allowed Jhyimy to continue residing but under certain rules. (Credit: Wikipedia).

* David Gyngell
* Jaime Wright
* Kerry O'Brien
* Gyton Grantley
* Erica Baxter
* Annalise Braakensiek

Other

Richard Branson often visits Bondi Beach when in Australia

Bondi Beach and Celebrities

Bondi Beach has been used as a location for a few Australian and International movies and television series.

Bondi Rescue is a reality television series filmed on Bondi Beach

(Credit: Wikipedia).

(Photos taken by Patricia Feijoo)

Profiles

Bondi Sport & Fitness