Of course the main reason we live in Sydney is the beaches, which remain largely somewhat accessible to the general population if they've got a full day off in summer (most of which will either be spent on public transport or looking for a parking spot).

And the best beach in Sydney is... Freshwater. Why? A number of reasons. One is the lack of tourists, which makes it feel like a locals haven tucked away out of the city. The second is that unlike Mount Druitt, this Sydney name is actually somewhat accurate: the water is generally clean and fresh, with half-decent waves.

And the final reason is the Harbord Milk Bar, just up the street, which has the best thickshakes in the world. The best way to end a long day of sunburn, dumpings and sand up your nose, is a Harbord thickshake made from almost a whole tub of ice cream.

The Harbord Milk Bar is at 30 Lawrence St, Harbord across the street from the Vintage cellars. Get the wife to make it if you can, only she uses New Zealand's annual dairy worth in Ice Cream.