BONDI Beach is Australia's most famous beach, attracting over 2.5 million visitors per year.
So what makes this kilometre-long stretch of coastline so popular – and where exactly is it located?
Where is Bondi Beach?
Bondi Beach can be found on the south-eastern coast of Australia, in the suburbs of Sydney, the country's largest city.
Express buses travel from the centre of Sydney out to Bondi Beach, taking around 30 minutes to complete the seven kilometre (four mile) journey.
People travel from far and wide to visit Bondi Beach, with nearly 1.7 million international visitors sunning themselves on the famous coastline each year.
Why is Bondi Beach so famous?
Bondi Beach is considered a must-visit location in Australia, and has been drawing visitors from all around the world since the 1930s.
Bondi Beach is famous because its glistening ocean, pristine golden-white sands, and wild surf, are side-by-side with the cafe culture, high-end restaurants, and designer shops of the city lifestyle.
Unlike many other beaches, Bondi boasts warm weather all year round, and has world-class waves for keen surfers.
Images of Bondi Beach can be found right across the world, from postcards to TV.
And Australia makes a lot of tourist income from Bondi, with over 2.5 million people visiting each year, both from Australia and abroad.
Bondi Beach also holds the Guinness World Record for the largest swimsuit photoshoot.
It also has a packed calendar of events and festivals, including 'Sculptures by the Sea', a 'Festival of Winds' kite festival, and the 'Bondi Winter Magic Festival'.
Why is Bondi Beach so dangerous?
Sun, sea, and atmosphere, all the reasons we love to visit Aussie beaches, are also the things that make them potentially dangerous.
The sea at Bondi is amazing for swimming and surfing, but it can be rough, with riptides and unpredictable depths.
Even a strong swimmer can be pulled out to sea, so people are urged to stick to the rules.
Safe swimming areas are marked between red and yellow flags, surfing areas between black and white checked flags.
There can be also Box, Irukandji, and Blue-bottle jellyfish at Bondi Beach – although jellyfish are more common in Northern Australia, between May and November.
Box jellyfish are larger, and more dangerous, with some calling them the most lethal creatures in the world.
At best, their stings cause pain, disorientation, and difficulty breathing, and people need to seek emergency treatment if they are stung.
Irukandji cause milder problems, but are harder to spot because they are small and translucent.
Blue-bottle jellyfish are small and bright blue. Their stinging pain gets better within half an hour, and the swelling within a few days.
Sharks like to visit Bondi Beach too – but more people die of drowning than shark attacks.
The burning Aussie sun is another danger. Visitors are advised to use suncream, cover up with loose clothing, seek shade from the brightest midday sun, and keep hydrated.
Bondi is a busy beach, with as many as 50,000 people visiting on a good day.
The advice is to keep a good eye on your possessions and not to leave anything unattended.
Are there sharks at Bondi Beach?
Yes, sharks are often spotted at Bondi Beach, and there are shark nets to protect people in the water.
Grey nurse sharks, which are known for being the most friendly shark species towards humans, are often seen at Bondi.
Swimmers and surfers have been in the water at Bondi while sharks feed on schools of fish nearby.
Still, people are advised to avoid the sharks and keep away from the schools of fish where the sharks feed.
Shark attacks have happened at Bondi, and more dangerous shark species, like Great White, have been seen there.
What can you do at Bondi Beach?
Bondi Beach has beautiful sand and sun to lie around, play sport, or picnic on.
The grassy hill at one end is a popular hang-out spot for a barbecue.
You can play golf or go whale-watching on the spectacular sandstone headlands.
In the sea the surfing conditions are excellent and, and mostly at the south end of the beach, professional surfing lessons are available too.
You can also go sailing, and find lots of other boating activities, plus swimming, in the sea or pools.
There’s a public pool at one end and the famous Icebergs pool at the other.
On the beach front, Campbell Parade, offers the bustle of a city.
There are boutique and larger designer shops, plus a fashion market on Saturdays and a farmer’s market on Sundays.
The beach-side cafe culture has been described as a village of award-winning cafes, restaurants and hotels.
From Bondi Beach you can walk along the cliff tops to other beautiful beaches.
The six kilometre Bondi to Coogee costal trail is one of Sydney’s most scenic walks, past cafes, parks and picnic spots, to Coogee beach.
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Or there’s a slightly shorter and less busy stomp to Watsons Bay.
You can go to Bondi Beach for festivals too – such as the 'Festival of the Winds' kite festival in September.
'Sculpture by the Sea' festival happens in October and November, and through January and February there are open-air cinemas.
And get your skates on for the ice rink at Bondi Winter Magic Festival, from June through to August.
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