Rain in Sydney and record-breaking cold in Victoria is down to an abnormal “anticyclone” that could go down in history.

National weather forecast for Friday July 5.

National weather forecast for Saturday July 6.

In Royal National Park, 50km south of Sydney, the heritage-protected shacks of Era Beach are accessible only by a 2km trail. Meet owners preserving Australian history.

The beach communities at Little Garie, Era and Burning Palms in Australia’s oldest national park are heritage listed. Their licences expire in March 2027, and the government is yet to decide what happens after that.