The Movie

Beaches & Beyond - The Movie

The Crew go Shopping!

Hey guys, Pat here from Beaches & Beyond! Last week we made a short video on things that you may want or need when going to the beach! Our shopping location was Macquarie Centre in North Ryde and it was a great fun day had by all.

Enjoy!

Pat 

Freshwater

Freshwater Beach

Freshwater NSW

The Beach and Surrounding Areas:

Freshie is a great beach with an interesting history, but the major reason I chose to review this beach is because it is one of the best beaches to learn to swim and surf at. Possibly named due to a fresh water creek that used to run into the ocean in this bay, Freshwater had a contentious history in it's name and was officially called Harbord from 1923 to 2008, whereupon it regained it's former name due to popular demand. Another interesting facet of Freshwaters history is that in 1914 Duke Kahanamoku visited this beach and introduced surfing to Australia. The local Surf Life Saving Club regularly patrols the beach and is home to a fantastic community of people. 

View Larger Map

Transport:

Getting into this area is easiest by bus or car, with no train service in the vicinity. As it is a very short distance from Manly, many people simply walk to experience the spectacular sea views. 

Shops:

Only a few hundred meters away from the beach is a strip of shops including cafes, restaurants, general stores, pharmacists, fast food stores and many more. If you can't find what you need here then you can just head into Manly or Brookvale where you can find almost anything to suit your needs.

Nightlife:

There are two places that you have to check out if you like bevvie or two, one is the Harbord Diggers Club, with on of the most spectacular outlooks of any club I have ever been too, it is a must. The other is the Harbord Beach Hotel, which almost looks like a castle and their main function area is set up to look very Roman-esque. If you want something a little more fast paced you can head around the corner into main Manly where you'll find pubs and clubs galore.

What Else:

Along with a fantastic beach that is one of the easiest places to swim, there is also a tidal pool for those a little less keen on any waves. If you're looking for somewhere to stay then there are many places in Manly, Curl-Curl and Queenscliff or there is accomodation available at the Harbord Beach Hotel. 

Conclusion:

This beach is an all time favourite of mine, with a great swell and an awesome vibe, with a history to match, this beach is epic. Simply epic, five stars!

Pat

Cronulla Beach

  

Cronulla Beach

Cronulla, NSW 

Beach and Surrounding areas:

Located South of Sydney in Bates Bay, Cronulla is home to many of those in which participated in the Surf life saving championships. This patrolled beach enures the safety of locals and tourists as they have the largest surf life saving movement in the world, with over 1200 participants. The waves at Cronulla gives quite a surf, however does not compare to many others. Behind Cronulla Beach is Cronulla park, this park is ideal for the perfect picnic down by the beach, or just even that even stroll through the park while the sun beautifully sets.

Nightlife and Entertainment:

Having a large variety of nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and bars, Cronulla truely bring out a night of entertainment and fun. With the latest music found a Fusion bar which closes at 3 : 00 am, entertainment is just around the corner. More information is found here, regarding nightlife.

Transport:
Located 55 minutes train ride away from the City CBD, Cronulla can be quite time consuming to get to. If you do decide to drive there just keep on driving past the airport and the sign which directs you through to Botany Bay. More information is available on this site. Parking is free at Cronulla, however in some places, a small fee may apply.

Conclusion:

Overall Cronulla is a good place for an evening strol around the park, However it does not present a strong attribute found in other Sydney Beaches. I give this beach a 2 and half star rating.

Wilson L.

Hyams Beach

 

 Hyams Beach

Shores of Jervis Bay, NSW 

The Beach and surrounding areas:

Located 1 hours and 47 minutes away from Sydney, Hyams beach is truly a remarkable place to visit. The beach faces out towards the rears of the pacific oceans, displaying a fantastic view of the sea and it's exotic bush lands. Tides are not as strong as the previous beaches mentioned, however with it's stunning white sand beach, this itself will win you over. Hyams Beach is currently listed in the Guinness book of records for having the whitest sand in the world. Hyams beach is a perfect place fora quiet getaway just for the couple, or even the family.  

Transport:

There a numerous ways to get to Hyams beach and all this information can be found on this link.

Shops and Entertainment:

With a recorded population of up to 76 people in 2006, the location wise of Hyams beach and it's surrounding area does not revolve much around technological culture. Its difference is defined by the special attributes which surround the Beach. From the North side of the beach, it is surrounded by natural wildlife found within Jervis Bay National Park, where travelers can go hiking across the mountain ranges. The south side of the each displays a magnificent collection of wildlife animals, native Australian fauna and flora found within the Botanic Gardens and Booderee National park. Overall Hyams Beach may not contain much of a nightlife or entertainment, However the stunning views and bays especially with the white sand beach could win anyone over if they're expecting a peaceful getaway.

Other Recreational Activities:

There are many other recreational activities for the family not inside Hyams beach itself but the surrounding beaches including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, bush walking, and many more.  

A good 4 and a half stars!

Wilson L

Salamander Bay

 

Salamander Bay

Port Stephens- NSW

The beach & Surrounding Areas:
Salamander Bay is a beautiful place which offers its own charming and unique attractions to visitors and local.The area itself has many holiday resorts, caravan parks and apartments which can be enjoyed by young couples, retirees and large families. The bay is patrolled during busy summer months and school holidays to ensure all tourists and locals are safe in the beautiful ocean.


Transport: 

There are no train lines up to Salamander Bay, however there are buses and coaches frequently traveling up to Port Stephens. If holidaying up as Salamander Bay for a week or so, there are many places that you can hire cars to drive for the week. In addition, taxi's drive all around the bay, local buses and bike hire is also possible. Overall though, most facilities and entertainment are located in the central area of Salamander Bay; therefore walking is always a fun and healthy option!

What else: 
Salamander Bay is the perfect place for families and friends to enjoy a holiday away! There is Salamander Bay shopping centre in the heart of the town and many restaurant and cafe's to visit for a breakfast, lunch and dinner! A day trip up to the Bay is made perfect and easy as there are shops all around for any occasion or entertainment need. 


Overall, Salamander Bay is a perfect place for families to enjoy time away from their busy schedules.  The accommodation in the area is of high standards with many relaxing facilities to enjoy. I give Salamander Bay a 4.5 star out of 5 as I've been there many times and my experience has always been highly relaxing and enjoyable!

By Natasha D.

Dicky Beach

Dicky Beach

Dicky Beach QLD

The Beach and Surrounding Areas:

The Sunshine Coast is home to many beautiful beaches with calm, warm waters. I chose to look at Dicky Beach in particular because of the iconic wreck of the SS Dicky which can be found on it's shores. The area itself is home to a large caravan park, a small strip of shops and restaurants, a skate park and the Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club. The beach is patrolled and the SLSC won the DHL Queensland Surf Life Saving Club of the Yeah in 2009, so you can feel safe in their hands. You can sometimes get a good swell if surfing is in your schedule, but for the general swimmer or families the waves are gentle and great to learn to swim in. An added benefit of this beach is that it is quite flat, great for those interested in some skimboarding.

View Larger Map

Transport:

As there is no train line going to the Sunshine Coast, this area relies mainly on buses for public transport, there are a few taxis around as well. If travelling into the area from Brisbane, the easiest way to get here is via a train to Landsborough and then catching a Sunbus to the coast. Brisbane Rails train schedule can be found here and the Sunbus timetables can be found here!

Shops:

There is a small strip of shops just up from the beach which include surf shops, cafes, restaurants, a pharmacy and a great little fish'n'chips place called The Fishmongers Wife, they do a great fish and chips for a reasonable price. 

Nightlife:

The Sunshine Coast has a few spots where the parties go well into the night, Dicky Beach, unfortunately, isn't one of them. Apart from a few restuarants, most of the area closes down as the sun goes down. If you are looking for a bit more of an exciting night, you can head down the coast about 5 minutes towards Caloundra, where you will find a number of pubs, clubs and taverns that are open 'til late. Otherwise you can head north towards Mooloolaba where at the Esplanade you can find numerous clubs, check our the Wharf Tavern if you head there, usually goes off.

What Else:

The big seller for Dicky Beach is the closeness of accommodation, with the caravan park being 500m from the beach. It makes holidaying in this area easy and comfortable, for more information about this holiday park please visit this link. One final must when visiting Dicky Beach is to visit the wreck of the SS Dicky, as sadly one day it will have completely washed away, and I know in my repeat visits to this beach I have noticed a slow reduction in size of the wreck.

Conclusion:

All in all I find this beach to be a fun, relaxing beach, with calm waters and a good feel to it. The only possible reason I can find to give it less than five stars is it's lack of nightlife, but this can be found just around the corner in other suburbs. I give Dicky Beach 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Cheers,

Pat

St Kilda Beach

St Kilda Beach

St Kilda VIC

The Beach and Surrounding Areas:

The area of St Kilda is a fascinating one, initially a place where the wealthy came to live beside the sea it gradually became home to people from many different walks of life. Described as a red light district with parallels drawn between it and Sydney's Kings Cross, this whole area has been a very happening yet dangerous scene. Moving on to the beach itself, although being one of Melbourne's most famous beaches, with the St Kilda Pier and the Sea Baths, my initial experience wasn't the most well formed. In short, be careful where you tread on this beach as it is still an area frequented by many individuals who don't seem to want to clean up after themselves. Although there is next to no surf there are still many water related activities such as jet-skiing, windsurfing, sailing and kite-surfing along with many areas to swim.  

View Larger Map

Transport:

Melbourne is the home of public transport, in my opinion at least. With trams, buses, trains, ferries and taxis as far as the eye can see. Getting around is incredibly easy and the tram, train or bus trip into the CBD is quick and interesting. Tickets can be bought in many locations, news agents, food stores, conveinience stores and ticket machines near the stops. 

Shops:

Shopping around St Kilda is amazing, with restaurants, cafes, bars, fast food, clothing, jewellery, thrift shops, grocery stores, almost anything you can imagine. If you can't find what you want here, Chapel Street is just a short tram ride away. 

Nightlife:

The nightlife in St Kilda is booming, being a former red light district this isn't that far fetched an idea. With many small pubs, clubs and bars along with restaurants, almost all of which are licensed, this area provides a fantastic place in which one can go out on the town. A few places to look out for in particular are The Prince, located on Fitzroy Street, just opposite Cleve Gardens, a place where you can find many interesting people and some great live and local bands, The Esplanade Hotel is also just around the corner and is a great hangout for many music lovers, further along The Esplanade you will find the Vineyard, an amazing place where you can meet some of Melbourne's elite, although it can be quite hard to get into. All in all the nightlife in St Kilda is definitely one of it's major highlights.

What Else:

A few other things are worth noting, such as the numerous places to stay in this area. There are many backpackers, hotels, inns and easy to rent apartments, accommodation for any budget. There is also Melbourne's Luna Park which is located on The Esplanade, always a fun place to take the kids or even for the big kids. A final event that must be mentioned are the St Kilda Night Markets, running over summer on every Thursday night in O'Donnell Gardens, it is a spectacular that cannot be missed.

Conclusion:

St Kilda is a fantastic area and is a must on anyone's visit to Melboure, the only let down would be the beach itself but that was only my experience, because of this I'm only giving this beach 3 out of 5 stars.

Cheers,

Pat