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AUSTRALIA: For centuries, visiting the seaside was thought to be a panacea for everything from depression to tuberculosis and digestive problems. Our ancestors might have been onto something, as studies in scientific journals show that spending time by the ocean can be good for a person’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Research also shows that many people associate the colour blue with feelings of calm and peace. While this might seem a touch ironic given that someone who is feeling down is said to have “the blues”, looking at the ocean apparently changes the frequency of our brain waves and puts us in a mild meditative state. No doubt it helps if the ocean is sparkling blue.
Most Australians don’t need convincing about the restorative powers of fresh sea air and salt water. Enjoying the beach and the great outdoors is chicken soup for the Aussie soul. After months of lockdown, a beach getaway that won’t break the bank is looking very appealing.
A one-kilometre strip of white sandy beach combined with great surf has earned Sydney’s Bondi a reputation as one of the country’s most popular beaches. But there’s much more to do in Bondi than just going for a swim - think shopping, eating, and walking.
Get the heart pumping and the legs moving again with the four-kilometre round-trip walk from Bondi to Bronte, or if you’re feeling really energetic, extend it to a 12-kilometre round trip and walk all the way to Coogee. Take a dip in the ocean at Coogee, just 200 metres from Adina Apartment Hotel Coogee, which like the Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach is ideal for family holidays, with full kitchens for self-catering.
In Newcastle, holidaymakers have a choice of eight wonderful beaches where they can feel the sand in their toes and breathe the fresh sea air. Newcastle Beach is less than 30 minutes’ walk from the Travelodge Hotel Newcastle, while Stockton Beach with its awe-inspiring sand dunes is a 20-minute drive away. Big and little kids alike can release all their pent-up energy by sandboarding on the dunes, which are up to 30 metres high and stretch for 32 kilometres, the longest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are 21 beaches (who’s counting?) on Queensland’s Gold Coast, where the sunny, subtropical climate and ocean waves are perfect for surfing, swimming and long walks on the sand. With a prime position in the heart of Surfers Paradise, moments from the beach, Vibe Hotel Gold Coast is ideal for families and a chilled-out place to return to after a day in the sun and sea.
With 50 kilometres of metropolitan coastline, Perth has an enviable choice of beautiful beaches, including the soft white sands of Scarborough, where the Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough has a prime beachfront spot. The evening sun dips spectacularly into the Indian Ocean in the west, adding further salve for the soul.
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