A local's guide to Bronte and Tamarama

While its bigger, more beautiful neighbour often gets all the Insta-fame, these beautiful ocean baths are very deserving of a dip too. Built into the rocky cliffside, stairs lead down to a shallow-ish pool area, which is great for families and little nippers. There’s a small wooden barrier, which divides the pool up, so lap swimmers can do their thing (it’s not very long though, making it more suited to a leisurely few laps rather than a serious swim). Also try and get here before 7am – watching the sun breach over the ocean’s horizon from this vantage point is pretty special.

This unassuming Vinnies on Bronte Street is about a 20-minute walk from Bondi Junction, but well worth the stroll. We were expecting to encounter a cute collection of fashion and knick knacks along the same lines of our other favourite set-ups from the St Vincent de Paul Society, but this spot knocked us off our secondhand boot-clad feet. When you enter the little blue shop you're transported, Narnia wardrobe-style, into an expansive, magical land of pre-loved bargains. There are multiple levels and nooks and crannies to explore. Start by wading through the somewhat haphazardly packed racks of ladies' outfits. We found a treasure trove of snazzy numbers like a $12 pair of jungle-print capris and a black denim Country Road skirt we’ve been waiting our whole life for, and under $14. There are big-hitters in the jacket department – a sleek Sass and Bide coat will set you back $140 – and slightly pricier outfits on the retro rack. If you manage to tear yourself away from the cool threads, you’ll find a room dedicated to well-organised glassware, ceramics and wacky mantlepiece-making figurines. You could add a Viking-style set of four heavy-bottomed beer mugs to your kitchen collection for only $8. Then, head down a few stairs past the men’s clothing section – where you’ll find a healthy selection of T-shirts around the $10 mark and business button-ups for $15 – and check out very chic armchairs for $140 next to a small library of paperbacks starting at $2. Or, go up another set

Bronte Park ticks the boxes when it comes to barbie spots: plenty of hotplates; a beach; and lots of green space for that essential game of cricket. Easily accessed via public transport, it's Sydney's best spot for a cook-up, so pack the family, the esky and everyone you know. (Insider tip: the park gets busy, especially on perfect summer days, so make sure you get in early for pan space)

The studio’s alumni include Dr George Miller, the creator of Mad Max and Happy Feet, and Mary the Crown Princess of Denmark. Start with a four-week “unlocking creativity” workshop and move onto the ten-month Novel and Script First Draft course to break down the huge task of writing your life-long dream of becoming the next JK Rowling.

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