Natalie Portman and husband Benjamin Millepied have been pictured taking a leisurely boat ride with their A-list buddy Sacha Baron Cohen and respective children amid Sydney’s current Covid-19 lockdown.
The families were spotted cruising around in a rented boat north of Sydney as they made the most of the winter sunshine on Monday.
Sacha, 49, was spotted boarding the vessel with his kids in tow, while Natalie, 40, and Benjamin, 44, joined along with their two children: son Aleph, nine, and daughter Amalia, four.
Is that really an essential outing? Natalie Portman, 40, (centre) and her husband Benjamin Millepied, 44, (left) headed out for a leisurely boat ride north of Sydney with Sasha Baron Cohen, 49, (right) and their respective children during Sydney’s strict lockdown on Monday
Dressed in life jackets, the group looked to be in good spirits as they took the small boat for a spin.
Director Benjamin showed off his seafaring skills as he sat behind the wheel, while Natalie and Sacha watched on from the back of the vessel with the kids.
The outing proved to be a hands-on experience for everyone, as Natalie, Benjamin and Sacha were later seen anchoring the boat onto a nearby beach using a rope.
Smooth sailing: The families were spotted cruising around in a rented boat as they made the most of the Sydney winter sunshine
Joined family outing: Dressed in life jackets, the group looked to be in good spirits as they took the small boat for a spin
In the driver’s seat: Director Benjamin showed off his seafaring skills as he sat behind the wheel, while Natalie and Sacha watched on from the back of the vessel with the kids
The boat outing came amid Sydney’s hard Covid-19 lockdown, which bans residents from leaving their homes for reasons that are non-essential.
According to the NSW government website, Sydneysiders can only leave their homes if they have a ‘reasonable excuse’ – including for ‘exercise and outdoor recreation’.
The definition of what ‘outdoor recreation’ has not been defined by the government, so it’s unclear whether a leisurely boat trip would fall into this category.
On dry land: The outing proved to be a hands-on experience for everyone, as Natalie, Benjamin and Sacha were later seen anchoring the boat onto a nearby beach using a rope
Pull harder! Standing inside the boat, Natalie gestured dramatically as Sacha pulled the rope
Helping hand: Natalie eventually climbed out and helped Sacha pull the boat to shore
Sydney residents are also advised to practice social distancing to reduce the spread of Covid-19, especially as the highly-infectious Indian Delta strain continues to spread across the city.
The website recommends people stay ‘1.5 metres away from people you don’t live with’.
Chilly: Natalie covered up from Sydney’s winter climes in a navy puffer jacket and jeans
Catching up: The trio enjoyed a merry conversation as they strolled down the sand together
Doting parents: Natalie and Benjamin brought their two children, son Aleph, nine, and daughter Amalia, four, along for the boat ride
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the families for comment.
Sydney’s harsh lockdown measures, originally brought in for a week on June 26, were put in place to confine the highly infectious Indian Delta strain to the epicentre in Sydney’s east.
But the strategy has failed to keep locally-acquired cases under control across Sydney, with 18 new infections on Tuesday bringing the city’s Bondi cluster to 225 cases – with over a hundred more that are yet to be linked.
Famous friends: Sacha and Benjamin chatted together as they strolled down a wharf
Rules: The boat outing came amid harsh Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown regulations, which preventing residents from leaving their homes for reasons that are non-essential
Lockdown: According to the NSW government website , Sydneysiders can only leave their homes if they have a ‘reasonable excuse’ – including for ‘exercise and outdoor recreation’
Outing: The definition of what ‘outdoor recreation’ has not been defined by the government, so it’s unclear whether a leisurely boat trip would fall into this category
On Wednesday, the lockdown was officially extended for another week.
With community transmission confirmed in Sydney’s west late on Tuesday night, including in a busy Coles in Parramatta, the NSW government made the call to extend restrictions until 11.59pm on July 16.
During a press conference on Wednesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was facing its biggest test and urged residents to follow the rules and limit their movement as far as possible.
Social distancing: Sydney residents are also advised to practice social distancing to reduce the spread of Covid-19, especially as the highly-infectious Indian Delta strain continues to spread across the city
Safety first: Sydney’s harsh lockdown measures, originally brought in for a week on June 26, were enacted to confine the highly infectious Indian Delta strain to the epicentre in Sydney’s east
Outbreak: But the strategy has failed to keep locally-acquired cases under control across Sydney, with 18 new infections on Tuesday bringing the city’s Bondi cluster to 225 cases – with over a hundred more that are yet to be linked
Ms Berejiklian – whose parents are Armenian immigrants – warned harsher restrictions may be required in Sydney’s ethnically diverse west and urged families to stop mingling.
‘Can I say to the communities in those areas, many have a similar background to me, please don’t mingle with family.’
‘I haven’t seen my parents since the lockdown started.’
Extended: Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) on Wednesday morning announced the decision to extend stay-at-home orders and keep schools closed in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and Wollongong