Best beach location in sydney?

hi,

I'm looking to stay in sydney 30th dec-5th of jan and have decided more or
less to stay at one of the beaches rather than in the city centre (which is
already booked up anyway!). Not having been before I was hoping to survey
opinion as to the best location. Would like reasonably laid back atmosphere
(so in the right country) and easy access to centre. Would go for scenery
over surf probably, although decent waves are good. Is bondi too
overdeveloped? How about coogee vs manly?
I guess everywhere will be busy this time of year, are there any that become
too full for comfort?

if you know about specific places we are looking with mid priced hotels
(flexible on price but would expect to pay about 100-200 ausd per night for
a double room), although

thanks for any advice, I've found this newsgroup most useful

"Anthony Bagnall" wrote in message
...
hi,

I'm looking to stay in sydney 30th dec-5th of jan and have decided more or
less to stay at one of the beaches rather than in the city centre (which
is
already booked up anyway!). Not having been before I was hoping to survey
opinion as to the best location. Would like reasonably laid back
atmosphere
(so in the right country) and easy access to centre. Would go for scenery
over surf probably, although decent waves are good. Is bondi too
overdeveloped? How about coogee vs manly?

Bondi is great. Yes, its very developed, but:

1. Spectacular great scenery (take the walk around the headland to
Tamarama - most beautiful coastal walk in the world that I have ever been
on).

2. Good surf (though most Sydney beaches have this).

3. Loads to do, places to eat, hotels, restaurants etc.

4. Closest beach to city centre (few kms).

I don't know exactly what you mean by laid back. Bondi is quite a scene,
with lots happening by day and night, but if you just want to lie on the
beach and chill you can do that as well.

I would avoid Manly. Its quite seedy and has noticably deteriotated over the
last ten years. Lots of violence at night (drunken yobbos). Easy to get to
and from the city by ferry, but convenient for nowhere else. The drive is a
pain.

Coogee I don't know so well.


I guess everywhere will be busy this time of year, are there any that
become
too full for comfort?

if you know about specific places we are looking with mid priced hotels
(flexible on price but would expect to pay about 100-200 ausd per night
for
a double room), although

thanks for any advice, I've found this newsgroup most useful



100 - 200 ausd per night should buy you a very nice hotel room in any of
these places.

thanks for the advice peter. By laid back i meant, from what you say, not
like manly! (i.e. drunken yobbos)


"Peter Webb" wrote in message
u...

"Anthony Bagnall" wrote in message
...
hi,

I'm looking to stay in sydney 30th dec-5th of jan and have decided more
or
less to stay at one of the beaches rather than in the city centre (which
is
already booked up anyway!). Not having been before I was hoping to
survey
opinion as to the best location. Would like reasonably laid back
atmosphere
(so in the right country) and easy access to centre. Would go for
scenery
over surf probably, although decent waves are good. Is bondi too
overdeveloped? How about coogee vs manly?

Bondi is great. Yes, its very developed, but:

1. Spectacular great scenery (take the walk around the headland to
Tamarama - most beautiful coastal walk in the world that I have ever been
on).

2. Good surf (though most Sydney beaches have this).

3. Loads to do, places to eat, hotels, restaurants etc.

4. Closest beach to city centre (few kms).

I don't know exactly what you mean by laid back. Bondi is quite a scene,
with lots happening by day and night, but if you just want to lie on the
beach and chill you can do that as well.

I would avoid Manly. Its quite seedy and has noticably deteriotated over
the
last ten years. Lots of violence at night (drunken yobbos). Easy to get to
and from the city by ferry, but convenient for nowhere else. The drive is
a
pain.

Coogee I don't know so well.


I guess everywhere will be busy this time of year, are there any that
become
too full for comfort?

if you know about specific places we are looking with mid priced hotels
(flexible on price but would expect to pay about 100-200 ausd per night
for
a double room), although

thanks for any advice, I've found this newsgroup most useful



100 - 200 ausd per night should buy you a very nice hotel room in any of
these places.

"Anthony Bagnall" wrote in message
...
thanks for the advice peter. By laid back i meant, from what you say, not
like manly! (i.e. drunken yobbos)



At Christmas, most decent accommodation at Manly or Bondi would be heavily
booked. Sydney's beaches are all suburban locations with plenty of locals as
well as visitors. If you want peaceful locations, you would need to get away
from the Sydney area, but I am not sure if that is really what you desire.

Geoff Lillico

On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 14:07:20 +0100, "Anthony Bagnall"
wrote:

hi,

I'm looking to stay in sydney 30th dec-5th of jan and have decided more or
less to stay at one of the beaches rather than in the city centre (which is
already booked up anyway!).

You might want to try one of the beaches a little further out, yet
still convenient. As you said Coogee is great, but you might find the
prices to high for that period.

Have a look at Cronulla, great beach, less hectic, and the train goes
direct to the city every 1/2 hour. You could also take the ferry from
there across to Bundina for a day trip in the Royal National Park.

Tom

I almost think it would be harder to get hotels away from the Sydney area
for Dec 30th - Jan 6th. Everybody in Sydney is on holiday during this
period, but comparaitively few Sydney residents would be renting hotel rooms
actually in Sydney. OTOH, the coast north and south of Sydney will be packed
out with Sydney people getting out of the city for a few days (myself
included).

I definitely agree with your observation that Sydney suburban beaches in
general (and Manly and Bondi in particular) are not going to be peaceful
during the first week of January, particularly if it is hot.


"Geoff Lillico" wrote in message
...

"Anthony Bagnall" wrote in message
...
thanks for the advice peter. By laid back i meant, from what you say,
not
like manly! (i.e. drunken yobbos)



At Christmas, most decent accommodation at Manly or Bondi would be heavily
booked. Sydney's beaches are all suburban locations with plenty of locals
as
well as visitors. If you want peaceful locations, you would need to get
away
from the Sydney area, but I am not sure if that is really what you desire.

Geoff Lillico