Here comes the (Sydney) sun……do do do dooo!

Have you seen the Sydney weekend forecast everyone??

Saturday Sept 17th – 26 and Sunny!

Sunday Sept 18th – 26 and Sunny!

Sundown Beach Towel

 

That has to be the best excuse ever to break the winter beach drought, grab a towel and get on in….even if the water is cold, you’ll warm up quickly! See you on the sand swimmers……

Here comes the (Sydney) sun……do do do dooo!

Have you seen the Sydney weekend forecast everyone??

Saturday Sept 17th – 26 and Sunny!

Sunday Sept 18th – 26 and Sunny!

That has to be the best excuse ever to break the winter beach drought, grab a towel and get on in….even if the water is cold, you’ll warm up quickly! See you on the sand swimmers……

Beach time Thai style: Koh Phangan

This little Thai island has played host to many a backpacker on a quest for the ultimate party. True, its full moon parties are famous (albeit little 1990s), but there was something special here well before the boppers.

Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan translates roughly to Sandbar Island. Nice sandbar to be marooned on. You get there by boat from the city that has become Koh Samui – another nice place but pretty busy and touristy. South East Asia is beautiful. It’s warm, friendly and cheap to travel. It’s allure means lots and lots of travelers make their way there and the unavoidable impact on the place is noticeable.

Thai Island Paradise

Every time I go back it seems so much has changed – and yet it is still so very South East Asia. It’s been a while since we were in Koh Phangan so I can’t vouch for how it is holding up, but it was magic when I  was last there!

Captain at the helm

A pretty pair of swimmers

We always dress our mini me’s better than we do ourselves! Fancy this, designer that, coordinated and layered, comfortable and wearable. No longer….let’s remember who’s number one around here. Time to make your mark poolside with your very own Terry Rich Beach Robe.  Sure, little miss can have one too, but here’s lookn’ at me kid!

Mother & daughter Beach Robes by Terry Rich

Pretty Little Tama

Tamarama is a tiny little city beach with a big reputation. For such a small spot, it carries a lot of profile with many local Sydney celebs and the like calling it home, or a least their local swim spot.

Tamarama Beach, Sydney

The beach and surrounds are very pretty, tucked way down below the road that passes it by. But the seaward rip pulls quite strong when the swell is up here – so don’t let bravado get in the way of common sense. If the waves look big and rough, stay out of the water unless you know you can handle it. Plenty just lay on the sand looking sexy or hang on the grass while their steaks sizzle on the BBQs.

Tamarama looking south

Tama (local lingo) is a good choice if you’re thinking of a little beach party and want to avoid the crowds at some of the bigger, well known beaches. On a quite day it can be just you, the sand and the pacific… beautiful.

YEAH…first whale spot of this years northern migration. Off Whale Beach 11:00am

We love seeing the humpbacks cruising up and back the East Coast. Their northern leg has started with the big guys heading north to warmer waters for winter. We weren’t trying, but just like that a big whale spout popped up in our sights this morning! Sorry no photo – the shot below is something someone prepared earlier!

Whale, Sydney Harbour. Yes....they do come inside every now and again!

What a nice accompaniment to the coffee, the banana bread and the ‘cool’ westerly wind. Sydney is coooold today…you wouldn’t know it looking from inside with all the sun shinning, but get caught in a shady, winter spot and you’ll feel the winter bite!

There’s heaps of whale watching cruises that regularly head out from Sydney.  They a great – you really can get quite close to the whales, and just beeing out there is beautiful. Pick a low swell day if you are like me without any sea legs!

You could start with these guys – pretty big and well know. But ring around and see what deals you can get.

http://www.whalewatchingsydney.net/

Palm Beach Lighthouse

If you stand at Palm Beach and look North there is a huge headland in your sites. This is known as Barrenjoey or Barrenjoey headland. I think the name is derived from the local Aborigine dialect meaning wallaby but don’t quote me?! Anyway, as a headland it is impressive and beautiful. The natural form remains as does the local trees, shrubs and many of the local animals. It is a bit of wildlife refuge and there are many good people that volunteer their time to keep it this way.

Looking north to Palm Beach Lighthouse

Right up on top of the headland is a great old but working lighthouse. Made from sandstone quarried locally I’m sure, it stands proud to warn seafarers there be rocks about! You can walk up there – it’s a great walk. Drive to the end of the car park behind the beach (on the lower Pittwater side of the sand spit). Walk north along the sand on the bay side until you see the signpost to the lighthouse (about 500 meters along to the right). The bush path starts here and meanders up the hill to the top.

Beautiful Palm Beach Lighthouse

Take your camera as the views and shots are fantastic. Once up top you can look back down the beach and across Pittwater to the south. Look out to sea at the right time of year for the migrating humpback whales. They are easy to spot if the wind is calm – look for the white water spurts or the big breach splashes if you’re lucky.

Looking south to Palm Beach

Pack a drink and some nibbles… not sure if there is anything you can buy up there. You can finish off by traversing down to the beach side for a swim then the walk back. This is as far north one can go up the northern beaches from Sydney. To get any further north you need to either take a boat or ferry or swim! If you are driving, the only way up is the long way round the back, through Pymble and the Pacific Highway well west. For my money, no need to look further than Palm Beach. It’s beautiful.

When did you last buy a new beach towel for yourself or someone special?

Is it time to toss your tardy beach beach for something a little more Luxe?

Terry Rich Beach Towels

Sydney harbour’s best kept swim spot – Beautiful Milk Beach

This place really does exist. A sandy beach with warm shallows on Sydney Harbour looking at the Harbour Bridge and with no one else around! There wouldn’t be a more spectacular beach setting anywhere in Sydney. You can even snorkel the rocks spotting bream, leather jacket and the odd octopus.

Milk Beach, Sydney Harbour

The reason it’s not over-run with hoards is it’s secret location – it’s very hard to find unless you are approaching from the water. To get here you need to drive out around Sydney Harbour to the exclusive suburb of Vaucluse. Drive toward the well know Harbour Beach Neilson Park (covered in another destination report), but stop before you get there, in front of the beautiful white old mansion on the left, just before the headland park starts – it’s called Strickland House.

Saving memories....Milk Beach, Sydney Harbour

It is a public place so you are allowed on the grounds – walk down the driveway, past the house and keep going till you reach the water where you can take in the million dollar views for free. You can either work for your whole life, save every penny, and win the lottery to buy a waterfront house here, or do as we do and just head to Milk Beach with a picnic and a smile.

Show me how to get there please! : http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Milk+Beach,+Vaucluse,+New+South+Wales,+Australia&aq=0&sll=-33.987701,151.231967&sspn=0.0232,0.036478&doflg=ptk&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Milk+Beach&t=h&z=14&ll=-33.856044,151.267107

A nice little whale beach holiday stay….great location….great views

Whale Beach Beauty