The forced closure of Bondi Beach around a month ago made worldwide headlines and signalled the beginning of raft of strict restrictions for Sydney and Australia. And now, just four weeks after a hoard of beachgoers ignored the governments social distancing advice; two of Sydney’s most popular beaches are set to reopen – but with a few very important caveats.

Bondi and Bronte beaches will reopen from Tuesday April 28th for surfers and swimmers only, as a way to allow safe water-based exercise for local surfers and experienced swimmers.

Surfing and swimming activities will only be allowed between the hours of 7am and 5pm on weekdays. And the council is set to review the measures on an ongoing basis, including considering about whether to provide access on weekends.

In a statement released yesterday, Major of Waverley Paula Masselos said the ‘Swim & Go’ and ‘Surf & Go’ measures meant that surfers and swimmers would be required to exit the water as soon as they finished exercising and return home.

She also stressed that: “Waverley’s beaches remain closed to all land-based activities including social gatherings, sunbaking, walking and jogging.”

And just in case you’re thinking about ruining it for the rest of us (again), be warned: access to the water will be via designated entry and exit points managed by Council Rangers. These entry points are designed for surfers and experienced ocean swimmers only.