Hidden Cove
A friend of mine, CK, has a love of beaches and water. The weird thing is he’s not a big fan of swimming or surfing, as far as I can tell. Why do I say this? Because every time we end up at the beach on a Saturday afternoon, I end up swimming in the sea while he would usually relax on the beach (rarely still) or fly his sports kite.
This, however, works as an advantage for me. This bloke CK here is an intrepid fellow. As a result, he would drag me to small hidden beaches. The travel time may be an issue and accessibility can be cumbersome but worth all the effort in the end.
One example would be La Perouse. This is a small cove tucked away in Botany Bay, just off Botany Bay National Park. There are small coves to call your own here. And if you rent a boat, you can get your boat to a small, even more secluded spot and get even more privacy.
Just imagine the things you can do: private barbeque with friends or a trip just fo two.
Down the footpath leading from the car park and the bus stop, the first beach is a gem in itself. Rocks dot one part of the shore, protecting it from the Pacific and Botany Bay waves, while the beach, though not dazzling white as those in Fiji or Koh Samui, is as good as you can get. Best of all, because of it’s remoteness in comparison to the other beaches, it is largely empty. The most would be 6 other beach goers next to you. Better than the tens on Maroubra or even hundreds on Bondi.
The water here is crystal clear, though you may want to be cautious at your first dip. It may be warm or even hot on the beach but the water is cold. Nonetheless, the water is extremely clear, so much so you can see the grains of sand next to your feet. As a result, this place is frequented by snorkellers, taking advantage of the non-existent crowds and underwater visibility.
Apart from the beach itself, the scenery would make you feel as if you weren’t in Sydney at all. In Bondi, Manly or Coogee, the beaches may be wide and renowned but are either highly commercialised or lie within a residential area, hence not much greenery around. La Perouse is surrounded by trees. All you see would be either green or blue. The only structures around would be a large house on a hill, footpaths and the public toilets.
If you’re hungering for some form of civilisation from your castaway paradise, out in Botany Bay would be a small fort on an island, connected to the mainland by a causeway. A little further down the harbour, you’d see the Ports of Sydney and venture you eyes further, a wide expanse of beach; the kite-surfer’s Mecca of Doll’s Point.
You get nature’s splendour amidst the wheels of industry and progress of urbanisation. To get here, you can either drive straight from Sydney city on Anzac Parade which leads to the La Perouse car park, or you can catch any bus which says La Perouse. Another option would be to rent a boat from Elizabeth Bay or Neutral Bay and drive it all the way down south (after the Sydney Heads and Watson’s Bay/Military Cove) until you reach the mouth of Botany Bay. This shouldn’t be too hard. Just look for the tankers and cargo ships. The trip via boat is worth it.
This would be my first post on Sydney from the experience of an expatriate. There’s more to come. I could have chosen food or nightlife for starters but this beach is what represents Sydney best, personally. In a city busy and brimming with life, you will always find a little treasure which sets it apart from every other major urban centre. If you have any topic suggestions, do send them my way. I’ll get right on it. Cheers!
