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Overview
This winter has proved a climatic conundrum for Sydneysiders. As August's mercury teases balmy days a plenty, its easy to believe summer's nearly upon us. Already, we're stashing away the blankets, swapping sweaters for tees and are unanimously choosing to drink and dine outdoors. Exclusively. However, shaking off the winter chill completely means it's time to peel yourself off the couch, turn off that episode of Top of the Lake and get outside to inhale the sweet, sweet scents of the summer to come.
Where should you start? Well, we'd suggest looking to the suburb where it's somehow always summer, Bondi. Along with its iconic sandy shores and beautiful coastal walk, 'The Bubble' has many a spot to help you press refresh for spring, no matter what your refresh style is. Whether that be a restorative yoga session or a reinvigorating plate of ricotta doughnuts, we've got your guide to doing spring right in one of our cities' most popular beach-side suburb.
HIT THE MAT
Grab a friend and get your blood flowing with an invigorating yoga class that's just a stone's throw from Bondi Beach. Sweat it out with heated vinyasa or find your balance in a restorative Yin session. Powerliving Yoga offers everything a seasoned yogi or yogi-to-be could need. Worried you'll be the worst in the room? Start out with a foundations practice, a good introduction for newbies wanting to nail all the basic alignments. The modern space delivers just the kind of soul-nourishing goodness you've been craving all winter long.
You can also groove along to a playful vinyasa sequence which combines soulful music tracks with flowing movement. And when its all over, chill out with a 15-minute guided group meditation to leave you feeling all kinds of zen.
CATCH A WAVE
Fresh, salty air, Bondi wouldn't be the same without it. And these are the last few weeks to savour it before the crowds begin to flock back into The Bubble. So, maybe you should finally commit to actually learning how to surf (if you don't know how to already that is). Get off the sand, head into the waves and jump on a board with some help from Let's Go Surfing, Bondi's only licensed surf school.
Providing everything from wetsuits to boards and even some zinc for your precious skin, the team of surfer pros run group lessons that run for two hours each. Let's Go Surfing will get you out on the sand first to learn the right board-mounting moves, then straight into the water you'll go to bob in the water and try to catch a wave. Gather you mates together for a morning of good times. Don't forget to laugh at yourself when you fall off your board, because you will. A lot. But once you catch that first wave, it'll all be worth it.
REFUEL AFTER A DAY AT THE BEACH
After surfing and perhaps a spot of yoga, you've probably worked up an appetite. A stop into Drake Eatery should sort you out. Serving up seasonal, modern Australian cuisine since 2015, this is a great beach-side spot to refuel after a busy day outdoors. Nab a seat at the bar for a glass of wine (or two), and snack your way through a board of locally sourced cheese and charcuterie. In the mood for something a little more substantial? Their dinner menu is made to share, with generous portions of sustainable produce.
Award-winning Sydney chef and owner Ian Oakes focuses on approachability, serving no nonsense dishes with plenty of seasonal veggie options and and locally sourced meats like duck from Redgate Farm and lamb from Mirrool Creek. Top it all off with ricotta doughnuts served with apple and creme patissiere.
TREAT YOURSELF
The sudden change in seasons can be pretty nasty to our skin. Going from chill, windy days to sunnier, drier conditions isn't exactly ideal for the ol' complexion. So sometimes it's worth bringing in the experts to help bring your skin back to life. That's where Face Plus Medispa comes in. With facial treatments like LED light skin rejuvenation and laser genesis therapy, the spa will help you press restart on your skin's overall integrity. Never been for a treatment before? Expect a holistic health experience that combines medical beauty procedures with traditional spa techniques. You can also opt for the nourishing body smoother, designed to re-mineralise your skin with sugars, salts and essential oils, or release months of tension with a deep cellular massage that uses volcanic stones designed to heal and soothe.
BOOK A STAYCATION
If you really need a break from it all for a total restart, book into the beach haven that is QT Bondi for a staycation. With incredible coastal walks nearby, some of the city's best eats at your doorstep and its proximity to the beach, the hotel holds 69 spacious guest suites, created by Australian designer Nic Graham to be the perfect urban oasis. Bright SoCal colours, vintage beach vibes and a stellar seaside setting — you'll feel like you're staying in a retro cabana.
The cutting-edge interiors, art by Australian-born London-based artist Shaun Gladwell and the luxuriant soaking tubs are sure to make it hard to hand back the keys at the end of your stay. The hotel also has plenty of recommendations to the area's must-see venues. Skip the plane ride, save the dosh and get lost in a new part of town as you taste your way through local bars and eateries, dabble in a spot of shopping and soak up some sun on the sandy shores.
ENJOY THE SCENERY
It's a classic for a very good reason. Stroll to North Bondi and you'll stumble upon on a small patch of prime grassy real estate. Loved by picnickers, dog-walkers and locals alike, the grassy knoll is an uncontested local favourite. There's no hard-and-fast formula to getting your grassy knoll experience right. End a morning stroll with a takeaway coffee in the grass; BYO drinks, tunes and good times for arvo hangs in the sun; or grab some fish and chips and watch the sunset over one of the best beaches in the world. The options are endless. Some may call it a strip of grass. We call it paradise.
QT Bondi is currently personalising 'feel-good' itineraries which could see you doing a combination of any of these things in one day with 'The Best of Bondi', or three days with their 'Bondi Staycation' package. Find out more here.