Is this the smuggest place in the world? Yes, says Cameron Wilson, but with its beautiful harbour, great beaches and wonderful climate, Sydney has every reason to be pleased with itself

• Published in: Sunday telegraph (London, England)
• Main Author: Wilson, Cameron
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) Daily Telegraph 26.09.2010
• Subjects: Adults; Beaches; Ferries; Hotels & motels; Nightclubs; Opera houses; Public transportation; Restaurants; Swimming; Zoos
• ISSN: 0307-269X

'The problem with you Sydneysiders is you've got the harbour and the beaches, so you just sit around feeling good about the fact you've got the harbour and the beaches." I've planned to sneak in an afternoon swim, and as it's the tail end of the Australian winter, the Icebergs seems appropriate. Bondi Icebergs, one of Australia's most venerable swimming clubs (it opened circa 1890), is at the south end of Bondi Beach, with an extravagant restaurant, a bar bistro and the most stunningly situated Olympic-size saltwater swimming pool on the planet. It's also the perfect winter venue, as the entry fee includes use of the sauna, and the poolside deck is a great vantage point for whale-spotting. Swimming in the sea in Sydney was illegal during the hours of daylight until 1902 The sky's the limit: brilliantly coloured kites add to the magic of Sydney's Bondi Beach