Reef Beach, Sydney

One of the best things about spending time at Oakvale is that on the neighbouring property lives two boys, both around the same age as our little guy.

Reef Beach

Reef Beach

Alfie spends every daylight hour with them and it’s all old-fashioned fun which means being outdoors and doing things like riding dirt bikes, playing with the hose, collecting firewood, building bonfires, jumping on the trampoline and running into barbed wire fences and ripping the skin off your face.

The girls love an outing

The girls love an outing

It’s always sad for Alfie when he has to say goodbye to his outdoorsy mates but this time we were in luck because on the same day we were leaving the farm, they were heading to Sydney to spend a few days on their yacht.  They invited us to meet them at Reef Beach and spend a day with them on the water.

Kitted out

Kitted out

Along with Arabella, we met up with them on a glorious day of 32C (90F) where there wasn’t a breath of wind or even a cloud in the sky.

A rowing lesson for my little guy

A rowing lesson for my little guy

Reef Beach has a colourful history in that for over 17 years it was a nude-bathing beach.  Labor premier, Neville Wran declared the beach that’s opposite Manly Cove, a nudist beach back in the 70’s.  While the ‘naturalists’ all enjoyed this, the vast majority who did want to enjoy the very picturesque beach with their clothes on, couldn’t.  It seemed selfish that such a pristine and pretty spot could only be enjoyed by so very few and so with a change of government, in 1993 the beach once again became a place those who think it’s normal to wear clothes, could enjoy.

Heading to shore

Heading to shore

The water at Reef Beach is very clean and the beach is pristine and surrounded by bushland.  There are many rocky platforms which is where the nudists used to like to recline.  It’s a small beach and parking’s a problem so you’ll never find Reef Beach crowded.  I think it’s one of the most special beaches in Sydney.

Beautiful, clean waters

Beautiful, clean waters

We arrived at around 11am and there were only a few people at the beach.  I hadn’t had an ocean swim so far this season but the water was so inviting I put on my flippers and swam to the shore.  The water wasn’t as warm as I would have liked but it was certainly invigorating and once I was out of the water the outdoor air temperature quickly warmed me.

A good place to recline

A good place to recline

If I wasn’t in the water I was reclining on one of the boat’s day beds with a glass of chardonnay or mineral water in my hand.  It was incredibly peaceful and relaxing and although only Spring, it was a perfect summer’s day.

Making a splash

Making a splash

In terms of food, I didn’t make anything but rather went to the shops and bought bar-be-cue chickens with bread rolls and coleslaw.  This was a perfectly adequate lunch to enjoy in the fresh outdoors and just when the food ran out the ice cream man arrived in his boat and pulled up alongside.  He sells Magnums, Cornettos and Gaytimes for a fortune but who can resist!

Fun in the sun

Fun in the sun

We took the three boys for a hoon around the waterways and when we came back, had one final swim and it was time to head back to our mooring.  There were no injuries and we only lost one pair of $40.00 flippers.  I’d call the day a success.

The reluctant swimmers

The reluctant swimmers

If you’d like to visit Reef Beach, it’s at Dobroyd Point.  If you’re not arriving by water, from Forty Baskets Beach you trek through the bush for about 15-minutes until you arrive at the beach.  Once there, the facilities are basic but the views and the setting are worth it.

Farewelling our friends

Farewelling our friends

Reef Beach:  Dobroyd Point, Sydney

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Comments

  1. What a fabulous day!
    Have a happy week ahead Charlie.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  2. omg this would have been a perfect spot to visit during today’s heatwave! The water looks incredible, even if you do say it was a little “fresh”. lol

  3. Whoa! What a happy family bonding. You can see the happiness in the kids faces 🙂

    ~Do drop by and say hello 🙂
    Gourmet Getaways

  4. What an amazing day – this looks like a special beach indeed, and lovely friends to enjoy it with. I’m impressed by the idea of an ice cream boat too! Your weather is looking very summery – I hope it lasts and you have some more days like this even before summer starts.

  5. What a delightful get-away. The water looks incredibly inviting and I’m not a water-lover/swimmer. Good on Alfie to enjoy good old-fashioned fun with his friends.

  6. Your home is a virtual paradise. 🙂

  7. Such fun!
    Love those kids.
    Dig those puppies. Adorable.
    Great toes!
    xx

  8. Even the girls went swimming! Perfect day indeed.

  9. Ohhh, what a glorious day!!! Alfie’s mates sound fabulous. His adventures sound like the ones I had with my three brothers. 🙂

  10. Reef beach is gorgeous, and I’m definitely envious of your summery temperatures! So glad you didn’t have to strip down fo admittance 🙂

  11. What a wonderful day Charlie! Very cute to see your little doggies having a paddle too 🙂 So funny to hear about the ice cream boat. In our neighborhood all the kids go running or biking after the ice cream truck, I was imagining all the kiddies desperately swimming after the boat, clutching the money in their teeth! Personally, I’d much rather a Cocktail Boat- I’d definitely be chasing after that one 🙂 xox

  12. Dear Charlie,

    What a beautiful day out in the sun! I’m looking forward to the next 5 months to work on my tan.

  13. Sounds like an awesome place, we got a new puppy yesterday – a picture on the blog, will update more in a day or so 🙂

  14. Charlie, it looks like one heck of a great place to chill out and spend some qual time with the fam. Just gorgeous… All of you. xox

  15. For once, our weather is the same! We had 90F here in October and it’s crazy hot. Normally I would feel envy looking at your nice warmer weather in our fall weather… What a fun day at the beach (in water!)! I love hanging out with people who have the same age kids. I feel I could get rest and enjoy without worrying too much about the kids. =P Seems like you had fun!

  16. What a beautiful day! My kind of relaxing! We used to have some clothing optional beaches near us, and I think one or two coves still exist. As a child, in particular, I found this such a curiosity! I stumbled upon one cove in Laguna Beach a few years ago while taking a long walk along the sand–maybe two miles from where I started! I rounded the corner and “Voila!” I don’t actually think this remains a sanctioned place for nudity, but it’s well enough hidden the bathers didn’t seem to care. I walked on by…as quickly as possible, looking quite conspicuous in all my layers, I’m sure. I’m glad the girls got a little swim in, too! Fun, fun day!

  17. Goodness we need to move. Spring and you can be in the water?! It’s only just fall and we have the heat on and are wearing sweaters. What a lovely day – the sky is a perfect blue!

  18. oh that looks like the most perfect day! I just adore your dogs too 🙂

  19. this sounds lovely but so hot already in Spring. apparently it is going to be a very hot dry summer. eek!

  20. It is a beautiful place 🙂

  21. Hi Charlie, sounds like a great day, beautiful beach!

  22. Wonderful! I have been landlocked far too long!

  23. I was about to ask if the girls liked to swim and then there they were, albeit reluctantly. What a gorgeous place for an outing.

  24. Looks like a fantastic day was had by all! Love your sweet little fur babies.

  25. What a fun day and fantastic beach! There’s nothing like swimming in ocean sea water. I miss it so much!

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