Sydney: Activities

• swimming

  Given Sydneysiders' love of watersports, it should come as no surprise that there are more than 100 public swimming pools in Sydney. The Andrew 'Boy' Charlton is especially good for a splashy romp. The harbour beaches at Camp Cove, Nielsen Park, Balmoral and Chinaman's Beach offer picturesque swimming, but no waves. If you want to go bodysurfing, head for Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte on the south shore, and just about any of the beaches lining the 30km (19mi) stretch of coast from Manly to Palm Beach on the north shore.

• boating

  The best way to see Sydney Harbour is by getting out on the water. Take your pick of sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing opportunities. Spit Bridge and Balmoral are the best places to hire equipment.

• surfing

  Depending on your abilities, you should find a beach that suits you. Good surf beaches include Bondi and Tamarama on the south shore and Narrabeen, North Avalon and Palm Beach on the north shore.

• diving

  The best shore dives in Sydney are the Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail, north of Coogee; Shark Point, Clovelly; and Ship Rock, Cronulla. Popular boat dive sites are Wedding Cake Island, off Coogee; around the Sydney Heads; and off the Royal National Park. In Manly, you can make beach dives from Shelly Beach.

• walking

  There are plenty of coastal bushwalks in the Royal National, Ku-ring-gai Chase and Sydney Harbour national parks. The 8km (5mi) Manly Scenic Walkway follows the harbour from the north shore beachside suburb to Spit Bridge on Middle Harbour. Another spectacular but much shorter walk is along the cliffs from Bronte to Bondi Beach.

• horse riding

  You can hire horses to ride in Centennial Park, the large park between Paddington and Bondi. The park vies with Bondi and Manly promenades as the favourite jogging and inline skating spot.

• golf

  Despite the astronomical real estate costs in this city, golf enthusiasts still lay down the green for over 80 local golf courses.

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