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North Bondi Roughwater ocean swim
Sun, 13 Jan 2019
The North Bondi Roughwater ocean swim is one of the first ocean swims in the New Year, and a great opportunity to put those New Year’s Resolutions into practice.
As part of the event, there are two different swims to take on: a 1km and a 2km.
With the way the day has been structured, it is possible to take on both if you’re especially motivated.
It’s an event that can attract hundreds of competitors, so make sure you get in early.
Do the North Bondi double to WIN
The North Bondi Roughwater is one of two events run by North Bondi Surf Club, along with the North Bondi Classic in February.
Competitors who finish either of these races will have their name go into a random draw for one lucky male and one lucky female to win a trip to Hawaii to enter the Waikiki Roughwater, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.
As part of the prize, the lucky winners will receive: a return ticket for one person between Sydney and Honolulu, four nights accommodation at the Waikiki Parc Hotel, and free entry into the Waikiki Roughwater.
Each event completed will earn you one entry, and swimmers who finish both will have two entries into the draw
The draw itself will take place at the end of the North Bondi Classic in February, with the Waikiki Roughwater to take place in September.
Swim courses
The North Bondi Roughwater has two potential courses: a 1km event and a 2km event.
Both these are fairly straightforward courses, following the buoys around as you swim out from the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club.
North Bondi Beach itself is only a moderately hazardous beach.
It’s partially protected by Ben Buckler headland, and reduces wave height to 1m at the northern end.
The further south you go down the beach, the possibility of bigger surf and tricky rips increases.
The exact path the North Bondi Roughwater follows has the potential to change, depending on conditions on the day.
1km ocean swim
The 1km course is a smaller, replica of the main 2km swim that sits squarely inside the bay, not quite reaching the far flung corners like the 2km. Use this as your main goal, or go long by using it as a warm up to the 2km.
2km ocean swim
The 2km course starts in front of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and reaches into every corner of the bay before returning to the same spot on the beach.
While you’re there
After the North Bondi ocean swim, the suburb of Bondi is waiting for you to explore.
Over recent years Bondi’s cafe, bar and shopping scene has exploded, and there is something for everyone around every corner. You need to head off the well worn tourist path to find the gems.
Venture up Hall Street for the largest cluster of restaurants and cafes, and don’t miss family favourite Messina. Just a short walk behind North Bondi surf club, you can dine out at The Depot, Porch & Parlour, Speedos, or for something a little more cute and intimate, visit an OceanFit favourite, Mamma Mia India at 38 Wairoa Ave.
Are the kids Bondi Rescue fans? Why not play a game of hunt the lifeguard! Hoppo, Harries, Deano and crew can be spotted around the beach and are up for photos (as long as they’re got the beach under control).
Travel and parking
The Bondi Beach carpark has 100’s of paid parking spots, but you’ll need to be early to beat the locals. At $8/hour you might need to budget it into your day’s experience. If you venture deeper into the suburb away from the beach you’ll pass through paid 2-hour parking zones and then into free all-day parking.
The hot tip is to catch public transport and enjoy your day out in Bondi after the swim to make the travel time investment worth it. If you must drive, follow Campbell Parade to the end until you reach Military Road, then head up past the golf course for all-day free parking. It’s downhill to the beach, but you’ll need to save some energy to get back up!
