h31per

G'day!

We're currently in the process of planning where to go on Christmas Day; what to do, what to eat, blah blah blah...

It seems odd, but I have no idea about any of this. It will be our first Christmas in Oz, and our first ever away from family in the UK.

We're looking for a beautiful beach that wont be over-busy, like Bondi will be, and we're thinking that we'll raid the fish market and spend the day on the beach with a barbie and a bottle or two. I was thinking about heading down to Jervis Bay and checking out some of the beaches down there. We should be mobile by then, so travel shouldn't be an issue. Any thoughts so far?

Also, about food - as I said we're thinking seafood. Maybe prawns, a lobster, and maybe a flathead to keep us going through the day, along with salad, bread, etc. I've never bought fresh fish before, so how many XL prawns would I get for 1 kilo? When it comes to cooking, I know that some beaches have barbies that you can use, sometime for a cost, but if not, what kind of barbie should I look to buy? I hate disposable jobbies, but don't want to rock up at the beach with something completely inappropriate.

Any thoughts, ideas and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks =)

Alfresco

Sounds awesome! Are you still in Berkshire?

We're in QLD so can't help.

h31per

No, in Sydney now. Should update my profile i guess.

Alfresco

asher

north beach cronulla, wanda, eloura 1 hour on the train from the cbd, free car parking ..hang on why am I telling you! No no don't come to Cronulla lets keep it empty

spottydog

Is alcohol allowed on any of the Sydney beaches?

If you are planning on going further away I'd check out rental options to as at this time of year many rentals become a minimum of 7 nights.

We went to one of the Cronulla beaches on our first christmas before going home for a barbie which didn't really feel christmassy to me (we were staying in the Shire at the time)

ozzieeagle

I wasnt sure whether Bondi got busy on Xmas day or not. So I thought I'd check.... heres a picture from last year.



Now I'm not sure if it really got packed years ago or not, but I've not heard of it being packed with people at Xmas time.... Public Holidays are a totally different issue, always packed then.

I dont think as many people go to the beach at Xmas time as people think... certainly not in Victoria. There again the weather generally doesnt allow for it. New Years eve is normally a busier time for the beach, in Victoria at least.

Just wondered how many people have actually spent Xmas on the beach.... I've never done it in the 30 years I've been here.

ozzieeagle

Hmmm maybe the last picture was early or something.... here is 2005

spottydog

it rained Christmas Day here last year, a friend went to Bondi beach as he felt he ought to on his first Christmas here and was nearly the only person on the beach

Red_V_Roger

Don't tell them Pike!

Dreamy

Don't you think the raining issue might have more to do with the numbers at the beach?

Last Christmas the weather was bad for several days, not just raining but cold too (oh, I'm such a wuss after 2 years in Qld). I'd have thought that the beach would be much more like OzzieEagle's photo than yours if the weather was more typical.

Our first year we were in Qld and went to the beach for a couple of hours on Christmas Day - it was heaving! Managed to have an international cricket match too

spottydog

Yep thats why there is such a difference in the numbers between the photo's Ozzie posted. In 2005 I too was on a beach in the sun (hence the busy 2005 Bondi photo ozzie posted), last Christmas I was sitting inside a boat which couldn't leave the mooring as the weather was so awful (hence the quiet photo Ozzie found for 2009, you'll always get some backpackers that are only here for a year and have to do Bondi Beach Christmas)

Beedubya

I'm not sure where you are located, but not quite as far as Jervis Bay is the Wolllongong area, lots of good beaches, Austinmer, Thirroul, North Wollongong.

Some nice seafood restaurants overlooking Wollongong Harbour too if you don't feel like cooking.

http://www.southcoastleisuretimes.co...rroul-towradgi

EmmaKate

We are in Mollymook which is another half an hour on from Jervis Bay. Beautiful but realistically you're looking at 3 - 4 hours (depends where in Sydney you are). We've only been here a couple of months but apparently the locals stay at home around Christmas as the population triples with holidaymakers!

My advice would be if you're looking at coming down the coast book somewhere to stay soon (so you can have your couple of bottles!!).

I was in NZ for 8 years before coming here and still haven't got used to the warm Christmas and lack of Christmas Lunch!

I'm sure you'll have a great day whatever you do

steen1976

Spent a couple of hours on Maroubra beach a few years ago on Christmas day and that was quite quiet. It's a cracking beach but there are probably more picturesque places to go.