Covid NSW: How Sydney is beating the lockdown blues

Find out how Sydneysiders are staving off cabin fever as the city enters its seventh week of lockdown.

Sydneysiders are taking to the greens, courts and great outdoors to legally stave off cabin fever while weekend sport, gyms and pools all ­remain off limits.

Strict lockdown rules allowing only households or groups of two to exercise have spawned a new generation of devotees of sports like golf and tennis.

Bondi Golf and Diggers pro golfer Shaun Coneyworth said “it’s been crazy” at his eastern Sydney golf club, with weekends fully booked and many new players taking to the fairways.

Bondi golfer Casey Hurrel, 19, said he’s found he has much more time to get onto the course since lockdown. “I’ve seen so many fresh faces, and new members coming back more and more.” Picture: Damian Shaw

“Fridays and weekends are fully booked and we’re also getting heaps of bookings during the week,” Mr Coneyworth said.

“It’s been really good for us and people in general to get some fresh air and exercise.

“There’s plenty of new faces and we’ve also got a lot more ladies which is great.”

Exercise Physiologist Drew Harrisberg said lockdown can be both physically and psychologically tough and “the endorphins released when we move” are important for our head and our bodies to beat the shut-in blues.

“Play sport, go for a hike, take your dog for a walk,” Mr Harrisberg said.

“Lockdown can be psychologically tough and for some people exercise can have antidepressant ­effects.”

Harry, James and Thomas Woods mountain biking in Belrose. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Mr Harrisberg said playing Covid-safe sport during lockdown is an enjoyable way to stay fit.

“The beauty of playing sports like tennis and golf is that you can spend long periods of time outside in fresh air and soak up some sun,” he said.

“It’s also great because it is unstructured so you don’t have to count reps or sets of exercises and can just move your body in a way that’s enjoyable.”

Mountain bike riding is also one of the few recreational activities Sydneysiders can do, with newbie and veteran riders making the most of the city’s trail rides.

James Woods from Belrose said he is spoiled with a maze of mountain bike tracks in his northern beaches Covid bubble and has found mountain bike riding “a great distractions” for his family.

“It’s been really good for everyone’s mental health because when you’re mountain biking you’re not concentrating on anything but mountain biking so it’s a really healthy distraction for me from work and thinking about Covid,” Mr Woods said.

Thomas Woods. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Harry Woods. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Mr Wood said mountain bike riding is an activity his whole family can enjoy together, even in weekday work and lunch breaks.

“The boys are 11 and 13 so they’ve been really good with the homeschooling but it’s also nice as a family to get outside on their breaks and have a quick blast on the bikes before they get back on with their work,” he said.

Mr Woods said while his family are regular mountain bikers they “definitely ride more since lockdown.”

“Our Saturdays, both kids play soccer and I play soccer so we all go different directions and don’t meet back up until I finish playing around 5 o’clock.”

“So mountain bike riding is a nice thing that we all do together.”

Originally published as Covid NSW: How Sydney is beating the lockdown blues