Books: Secret Sydney, Touring New South Wales

By BARBARA HARRIS

Secret Sydney by James Cockington
New Holland
$29.95


Touring New South Wales by Bruce Elder
New Holland
$39.95

When I first saw Bondi 20 years ago I was dreadfully disappointed. It was seedy, and when the winds were wrong you'd be swimming in sewage on Australia's most famous beach.

The effluent problem has long been fixed and Cockington tells us the suburb is now a magnet for celebrities where you can sit on the bar stool that Neighbours star Jason Donovan fell off, learn what it takes to become a Bondi Iceberg, and discover a garage that was once home to a legend, Gelignite Jack, king of the car-racing circuit, collector of skulls including human ones, and all-round larrikin. His nickname, by the way, comes from his own unique way of livening up race trials.

The offbeat is all fodder to Adelaide-born Cockington, who has a keen, if sometimes black, sense of humour in these walking tours of his adopted city.

He follows in Alfred Hitchcock's steps to visit The Gap in Watsons Bay which has been fatally attractive for so many (the Psycho director was more than a little ghoulish in his choice of a photo opportunity). For more tranquil inspiration, a little further up the bay, is the chapel of the cliffs with a dizzying floor-to-ceiling window which looks out to South Head. A kea lectern, carved by a craftsman from the Devonport naval dockyard, gives a local connection, too.

And for water babies Cockington tells of a fab way to see blue gropers at Gordon's Bay, which is tucked in between Clovelly and Coogee. Instead of taking the cliff path, divers, and on a clear day snorkellers, follow an underwater trail - 620m of chain - to frolic with these gentle giants. And swimmers, of course, avoid one of the great scourges of the outdoors - joggers.

Witty and informative, this book is definitely worth packing in your bag next time you're crossing the pond.

If you're exploring further afield, Touring New South Wales is a comprehensive guide that can help you make the most of your visit to the state. It has good maps, clear instructions on how to get to places, highlights along the way and how long it will take.

Plus, it may stop a few family feuds if you thumb through it before you leave and plan a route that keeps everyone happy. With a bit of forethought it's possible to take in impressive rainforest, great surf spots, even hallowed turf for cricketing fans - Bowral, where Sir Donald Bradman developed his batting skill - and some chic holiday resorts.