Peninsula sizzles as New Year heatwave hits its stride

LOCALS and tourists flooded to the peninsula’s beaches to find relief from scorching temperatures, while ice cream sellers did a roaring trade

Julia Benedetti, 9, and brother Danny, 12, take a splash to cool down. Photo: Martin Lange

• Family fun before the holidays end
• Heatwave looms for the northern beaches

BEACHES were packed as the peninsula sizzled yesterday.

The mercury hit 38C at Terrey Hills as the new year heatwave reached its ­scorching peak.

Manly and the beaches were kept a degree or two cooler thanks to a refreshing sea breeze.

Isaac Wheaton, 3, from Narraweena keeping cool in the hot weather. Photo: Martin Lange

Beaches were awash with towels, while families and holiday-makers flocked to hot spots such as Narrabeen Lagoon to cool off.

Manager of Manly Surf N’Slide, Simon Watt, said the waterslides had been busy all day, with around 200 ­visitors turning up eager to cool off.

“We’ve been busy from when we opened this morning. People are just trying to escape the heat,” he said.

Chloe Mitchell and Channel Mitchell with children Izaiah Stockings, 6, Alegra Ribeiro, 4, Romen Robeiro, 7, Shaniah Stockings, 2, and one year old Giselle Robeiro enjoy the water. Photo: Martin Lange

“The stand-up paddle boards that are out front on the water have all gone out today, too,” Mr Watt said yesterday, as customers clamoured for the slides.

Ice cream shop P & N’s Daily Scoop on Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen, said people had been “cramming” through the doors not just yesterday, but all week.

“It’s been good and we’re expecting more,” said owner Nancy Laver. “A lot of customers are holiday-makers.

Many beachgoers took their own shades. Photo: Martin Lange

“They get their cold gelato and then they go back to the beach.”

While the most popular gelato for combating the heat was chocolate, there had been a surge in cooling sorbets, “particularly our mango and coconut lime”, Laver said.

Malouf’s Pharmacy on Manly Corso also did a roaring trade — in sun cream.

“Sun cream, hats, sunglasses — it always helps business on very hot days like these,” said pharmacist and owner John Malouf.

Bridie Smith, 3, and Raymond Smith, 10, from Narrabeen build sandcastles. Photo: Martin Lange

“A lot of people come in to escape the heat as it’s nice and cool in here.”

He added that while there was a boom in sun cream sales, not everyone was sensible about sun safety.

“I expect to see people buying after-burn creams in the next couple of days — that’s what usually happens after weather like this,” he said.

Deborah Williams, pharmacist and formulator of sun protection cream for teens Girl Lane said that while prevention is better than cure, people could ease accidental sunburn by replacing fluids by drinking plenty of water.

She also advised cooling down in a bath or shower and apply a soothing hydration spray which contains aloe vera.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a cooler change would be noticeable today before temperatures warmed up to around 33C on Friday and Saturday.

Sunday will bring cooler temperatures again.