Scultpures by the Sea 2024 is through its first week and comes bearing a payload of exceptional works. 100 artists from 16 different countries have their work on display.

The sculptures stretch from the coastal track near the Icebergs club at South Bondi through to Tamarama Beach.

Two of the sculptures on the sand of Tamarama beach have the unexpected theme of skin cancer. One is made of black fabric which changes shape to resemble a cancer and three pieces of toast draw further attention to the risks of sun exposure.

Another sculpture that will appeal to beach lovers is a shark emerging from a peeled banana skin. The shark appears to be a great white with a wide-open mouth. You can’t help but have a second look.

An amazing contrast! Banana gives birth to shark?

Local surfers with any anxiety towards sea life that bites are advised to ignore this one.  Nothing like seeing a shark to raise confidence as you head out to the surf.

A white spaceman by the artist known as Malarky is perched on the cliff above Tamarama Beach. The statement behind the work is that our species failure to care for the earth makes it destined to return to nomadity.

King Kong makes an appearance courtesy of the artist Denis Defrancesco.

This large reclining fellow was a crowd favourite with his golden balls providing an irresistible photo opportunity. One spectator put her dog just near the two lumps and took photos from all angles!

That’s gold!

Moving onto another metal, stainless steel, a rocket ship has captured one of the most sort after positions on the sculptures circuit. It is just over 8 metres tall.

The second last photo is of a sculpture comprised of granite and rock created by Professor Shen Lieyi. In a highly competitive field this work was judged the winner of the Aqualand Sculpture Award of $100 000.

Sculptures by the Sea is a fine outing and the entry price is zero. Try to avoid the weekend if possible or get there early or late.

On the walk back to our chariot we had the pleasure of passing a wonderful art deco house painted in sky blue. Last photo below - congratulations to the owners.

dont bring this beast back from the beach

sun bakers beware, not much fun being toast

get this banana off me

Big boots to fill

King Kong meets local mut

stainless and ready to rocket

winner of the big bucks, work titled, Tracing

art deco beauty

As all tracks and trails in the Royal National Park were closed due to a total fire ban yesterday’s tour of the Royal National Park was replaced by a trip to some of Sydney’s finest beaches.

Exceptionally warm weather in the last few days (5 consecutive days over 29 degrees celsius) has made it feel like we are in the middle of a summer heat wave.

We visited the Eastern Suburbs beaches of Bondi, MacKenzie’s, Tamarama and Bronte and the day included several walks at different beaches, a swim at Bronte baths and lunch at Manly Beach.

The first walk was from North Bondi to MacKenzies Beach where the four legged brigade happily frolicked on the beach.

Tamarama was not open to swimmers but did provide nice conditions for board riders with smooth shapely waves.

Bronte’s most popular spot was the baths, which had the whitewater from waves occasionally breaking into it.

The water temperature was on the cold side but became reasonable if you swam around for a while.

By the time we reached Manly in the early afternoon the wind had kicked in robbing the northern beaches of shapely waves - just mush.

A few beach pictures from yesterday and one of a mural at Bondi Beach.

Bondi promenade

MacKenzies Beach may be tiny but the dogs dont mind

a splendid sight

and another

rights

Bronte baths

too easy

Waverley Cemetery is one of those places that is overlooked by visitors to Sydney but well worth a stop - the coastal views are spectacular!

The coastal walk way from Bondi to Coogee runs just below the eastern edge of the cemetery. A walk along this impressive scenic pathway offers the chance to make a detour into the cemetery.

The second reason we find it appealing relates to the history and attitudes that are captured in a cemetery. Many of Sydney’s well known people have been buried here and Waverley cemetery contains an expansive collection of death memorabilia, including sculptures, graves, vaults, mausoleums and memorials.

The cemetery opened in 1877 and an intact drinking trough for horses remains on the pavement near the cemetary entrance. There is a vast quantity of stonemasonry on display including sculptures of angels, neo classical symbols and tombstones.

The cemetery is well laid out and designed with many internal roads and retaining walls. Fatigued cortege members may choose to rest in a number of sandstone shelters interspersed throughout the grounds.

The stand out monument in Waverley Cemetery is the Martyr’s Monument which is dedicated to the 1798 uprising against British rule in Ireland. The remains of one of the leaders of the rebellion, Michael O’Dwyer and his wife, reside here.

The memorial includes a large Celtic cross and also commemorates the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Long Kesh Hunger Strikes in 1981.

It is estimated that around 100 000 people have taken up digs at the cemetery, ranging from poets (Henry Kendall and Henry Lawson) to well known business people, politicians and sporting stars.

A Sydney tour of Waverley Cemetery is easily accommodated in our Sydney Bespoke Tour. Get in touch and we can discuss.

Two Irish Wolfhounds guard the entrance to the Irish Memorial

Angelic embrace

something is alive in the cemetary

a graceful sculpture remembering a woman who passed away in 1910