Every Sydneysider has a favourite beach, a spot they swear by. For some of us, this hasn't changed since childhood – and it's nostalgia that keeps drawing us back. Others will spend each summer whittling down a favourite through trial and error. Then there's those who will go wherever there's a free car park. Fair play.
From good old Bondi to a coastal oasis within the Royal National Park, the RUSSH editors share their favourite Sydney beaches for cooling off.
Kirsty Thatcher
Digital Editor
Shark Beach! I think swimming here is even sweeter this summer knowing it's been closed for so long. I also love that you can get a snack (or a cocktail) from the kiosk to keep you fuelled for a long afternoon on the sand. I love Camp Cove for similar reasons. And if I'm feeling like a solo swim, I love taking a book to Lady Martins. Lastly, I will never say no to a swim in North Bondi, particularly if it's followed up by a sunset dinner on the grassy knoll.
Elyssa Kostopoulos
Content Director
At the end of Cronulla’s famous Esplanade walk, lies a rocky oasis with the clearest water the coastal suburb has to offer. Salmon Haul is no secret to the locals but it’s intimidating, steep stairs tend to keep new patrons entering from street level. It’s at its best mid-week during February, once the school holidays are over. There’s not much else around, so be sure to pack enough sustenance and sunscreen to last you the whole day. Once you set up shop, you won’t want to leave.
Sophia Serafin
Implementation Manager
My ultimate happy places to swim and soak up rays are Bronte's Bogey Hole, and Clovelly’s South Side cement. I’m even more joyful when watching dogs play in the surf - so I’ll often be at Mackenzie’s bay during mid-low tide, North Bondi Rocks, or Lady Martins in Point Piper. All so magical. Never regret a dip.
Mia Steiber
Digital Strategy Director
Where to begin when there are so many heavenly Sydney spots? South Curl Curl Beach has some of the best views in the entire city and it’s generally blue-bottle-free. Just around the corner, Freshwater Beach is a crowd favourite. Try sitting along the rocks around the left if you want the best spot. But if you want to beat the crowds, North Avalon Beach will always have plenty of space for you to sprawl out undisturbed.
Alys Hale
Music Editor
For someone quite pale, I am a big fan of the beach. Yes, I have a huge hat and my swimsuit has sleeves but I love getting thrown around by waves like an uncoordinated juvenile dolphin. I love going to Maroubra for a wave frolic and for excellent people watching. I find Whale Beach very romantic and worth the drive. If I am feeling more sedate, then Yarra Bay is the one for me. I am a member of the sailing club there (of course, I don’t sail) but it’s a perfect time warp in that club; the fish is excellent, especially when accompanied by a cold beer on the balcony.
Jaime Carmody
Digital Marketing Specialist
Ahh, the beach, the place where I feel completely at peace. Lately, I’ve been loving my morning swims at Bondi or Clovelly, and I’ve also been soaking up plenty of time at Mackenzie’s Bay with my dog, Jack. Summer, please never end!
Samantha Corry
Assistant to Editor in Chief
My comfort beach is Camp Cove at Watsons Bay – a bit of a nightmare for a park, but if you find one it's so worth it. The water and view is beautiful and there’s a little shack of a canteen store that sells sorbet in fruit peels and orange juice in pouches. If I’m feeling a bit lazy and in need of a quick dip I will go to Malabar Beach as it's my local. I love it because not many people visit and it's a great place to sit and read a book all day.
Hannah Cooper
Executive Fashion Director
I am not a big fan of swimming in the ocean (yes, I know) but I am a big fan of lying on the sand under a beautiful tree, reading a book. For this reason it’s Redleaf all the way for me, if I can find a park.
Serafina Angeli
Campaigns Manager
On a normal day, a morning walk, ending up at Redleaf swim is a non-negotiable when the UV is peaking. But on weekends, when I’m craving something inimitably summer, an afternoon dip in Palm Beach fizzling into an aperitivo hour is a favourite.
Koby Dulac-Daley
Fashion Assistant
My go to spots when the sun is out are all originally quiet bays that have gone viral on Instagram — so not so quite now. On the north side, Chinamans Beach has an ice cream boat that comes to shore to deliver sweet treats. I also love Little Bay, it's located in the cutest cove! You can walk along the rocks for the kind of coastal experience that you don't usually get in Sydney. But Gordon's Bay is the most stunning out of the three, with the clearest waters. Be warned: you have to get there early on a nice day to claim your beach real estate.
