Life's a beach

Well, in Sydney it is, which is part of the reason why I am so in love with this city. It’s also incredibly convenient with kids. Give my daughter a bucket and a spade and she will happily spend the rest of the day building sandcastles, which beats looking for creepy crawlies in the park any day.

Since I often get questions about the best places to go around here, here’s my list of favourite Sydney beaches...

1.   Milk beach. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. This little Vaucluse-based gem has to be the best beach in the whole of Sydney. It’s a bit of a hike, not ideal with a pram, though it is do-able if you’re not afraid of a good workout. Quiet, especially mid-week, and gorgeous views of the bridge and city.

2.    Watsons bay. Touristy, yes, but who cares when you’ve got the best fish and chips and some of the most amazing views around. We go here a lot, though again, mostly mid-week.

3.   Camp Cove. Watsons Bay’s slightly quieter neighbour. Parking is a nightmare, but not impossible if you're happy to drive around for a while. Also the start to a beautiful loop walk around Sydney's South Head...

4.  Balmoral beach. A bit of a drive from my Eastern suburbs-perspective, but totally worth it...

5.    Bondi. Our local beach – and a real one at that... I love Bondi – even at the height of summer when it is over-run with backpackers and other tourists. The buzz is just incredible and if that’s not enough, then have a look at these waves...!

6.    Jibbon beach. A little further out in the Royal National Park but since you can see the city from here, I figure it can be included. I love love love this beach. Quiet, peaceful, and simply stunning, especially at sunset...

7.    While you’re there, check out nearby Bundeena beach too. A beautiful shady spot near the rocks provides perfect cover for those hot summer days...

Just mind the waves...

8.    Nielsen park. Perfect for swimming thanks to a top to bottom shark net that covers off a decent part of the bay.

9. Shelly Beach - Manly. Bondi's North shore-based "other half"... well, kindof. They are very different beaches, but equally iconic. I particularly love Shelly beach, which is just off Manly beach. Also the start of a beautiful loop track around the North head...

10.   Double Bay. I love this quiet little beach, that’s just a stroll down the hill from our house... Nearby Red Leaf pool is pretty amazing too...

These are my top ten beaches, if you think I'm missing any - or have any other tips - I'd love to hear about them!

xxx