Lockdown Walks Down Memory Lane: Balmoral Beach, Sydney, Australia
Having travelled to the other side of the world for the last walk, I thought we might want to stay down under for a little bit longer, top up on that tan, and check out another one of my absolute favourite places.
No hiking efforts required for that one, I think we’ve done plenty of that yesterday. Today, I want to treat you to a more relaxing beach stroll in Sydney, away from the Bondi and Manly crowds, the two main beaches tourists usually flog to. Don’t get me wrong, they are lovely beaches and definitely a must when in Sydney, I’m sure I’ll bring them up again in future posts. To stay with the hidden treasure theme of Tassie though, I’d like to take you to Balmoral — not the royal holiday home in Scotland, although today’s walk destination is named after Balmoral Castle, so you were not too far off. As promised, you’re in for a beachy treat and given its tucked away location, you might still feel a bit like royalty, so let’s get going.
How do we get there?
Depending where you are in Sydney, you can either hop on a ferry at Circular Quay making your way to Taronga Zoo in Mosman to then take a connecting bus from there, a trip that should only take about 30 minutes. Or bus* it all the way from Wynyard Station, which only takes about 15 minutes to get you to Split Road from where you’ll walk towards the blue sparkling bliss awaiting you today.
*Knowing myself, I probably took the bus to keep journey costs as low as possible and not minding the extra steps allowing to explore even more and test those rusty navigation skills. If you venture out on a Sunday though, feel free to splurge out on all the ferries as you’ll get unlimited travel on public transport for a daily total of AUD 2.80 with your Opal card, similar to the Oyster card in the UK. You might remember the ‘Sunday Adventures’ I mentioned in my About section? Well, besides living in a hostel towards the end and not knowing how long I’ll get to stay in that beautiful country, this was probably one of the main reasons for starting those to ensure I get to see as much as possible of New South Wales. And I think I did quite well getting as far as Newcastle up North and Wollongong down South for less than the price of a coffee. Travelling on a shoe string is the best way to go sometimes, maximum value for minimum expense. Today though, we’re exploring in style. I mentioned royalty after all, so let’s check out a somewhat posh suburb of Mosman in Sydney, Balmoral.
Due to its harbour-side position, Balmoral Beach is shielded from winds and big waves, resulting in calm waters making it the perfect swimming enclosure and picnic spot — I did say today is all about relaxing.
May I throw in another personal recommendation? If keen on a little snooze, quietly reading a book while soaking up the sun, or enjoying the sea breeze while listening to the glorious sound of waves crashing, head over to Rocky Point Island a bit further down the esplanade. The island is accessible via an arched concrete bridge making it also a quite popular spot for wedding ceremonies, so keep your eyes peeled, and bodies appropriately covered, just in case.
Rocky Point Island is right next to the Rotunda, home of Shakespeare by the Sea (or Bard on the Beach as it is called since 2011), a summer outdoor event that’s been running since 1987. Something worth noting when planning your next visit, maybe?
For the more active ones among us, Balmoral is also perfect for sailing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, snorkelling, you take your pick. Before we break off though, how about a little refreshment at the Boathouse first, another popular place at Balmoral which tends to be rather busy. Luckily, we’re not too keen on sitting inside anyways, right? So, grab a drink to go and join me in the back where we can let our legs and souls dangle for a little while watching the world and pelicans go by, as you do.
After that little hydration stop, how about a stroll along the beach itself? Or do you think you’re done with Balmoral already? Well, if you are, no worries. I was planning on showing you Edwards Beach, which is on the other side of Rocky Point island — two for one beaches, what more can you want from a lockdown walk, ey?!
The tide is out, so if we reach the other end fast enough, we can even check out the rocks that are usually covered by water, some of them offering quite interesting views. Do watch your head and where you put your feet though, as the rocks can be slippery. I usually go barefoot to feel the sand under my feet, slowly sinking into it, perfect natural peeling and rather soothing sensation. Just thinking about it calms me down already.
Adding the sounds of the ocean on top of that, I could truly go for that snooze I mentioned earlier. Before I do though, a quick food recommendation before you go your own way. Being right next to the ocean, Fish and Chips is probably the obvious choice and Balmoral has one of the best places to satisfy that urge at Bottom of the Harbour, a long-standing fish and chipper right across the road from Balmoral Beach. It’s hard to miss with people queuing no matter the weather. A bit pricier given the area but the food is worth it, with New Zealand hake being their centrepiece closely followed by their lightly crumbed and buttery calamari, yum.
I remember heading over to the boardwalk to sit down for my fishy meal back in 2018. There is a grassy park right next door though, if you don’t want to walk far with fried deliciousness tempting you, or just go straight back to the beach and have a sit down there. Anything’s allowed when fish and chips are involved, something a cheeky seagull decided as well when I was digging in.
Having jealous eyes following your every move and the sea breeze tickling your nose probably adds another layer to the whole experience while being a well-deserved treat after our coastal stroll — perfect little break from the daily hustle and bustle, which I hope you enjoyed as much as I did?!
Besides offering a nice break from the lockdown blues, reliving that day and thinking about my time in Australia which did have an expiry date in the end, was also a good reminder how important it is to squeeze the most out of every day and continue exploring wherever you are, something we tend to be good at when on vacation but sometimes forget when living life in general.
On top of that, I made it a habit to say Yes to any offbeat recommendation and new experience coming my way which not only led me to find Balmoral but also win my very first official yachting race — from volunteering as ballast to part of a winning team, …but that’s a story for another day.
For now, I shall let you linger in that beach day state, and have a think where I can take you next. Until then, happy daydreaming and keep exploring! 🏖🎒🙋♀️
When was I there? 9 September 2017
