Is that really an essential outing? Natalie Portman and her family head out for a leisurely boat ride in Sydney with Sacha Baron Cohen and clan during Sydney’s strict lockdown

Natalie Portman and her husband, Benjamin Millepied, have been pictured taking a leisurely boat ride with their A-list buddy Sacha Baron Cohen amid Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown.

They were spotted cruising around in a rented boat north of Sydney as they made the most of the winter sunshine on Monday.

Sacha, 49, boarded the vessel with his kids in tow, while Natalie, 40, and Benjamin, 44, were joined by their two children, son Aleph, nine, and daughter Amalia, four.

During the lockdown covering greater Sydney, residents are banned from leaving their homes for reasons that are non-essential.

Is that really an essential outing? Natalie Portman (centre) and her husband, Benjamin Millepied (left), headed out for a leisurely boat ride north of Sydney with Sacha Baron Cohen (right) during Sydney’s Covid 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: They were spotted cruising around in a rented boat north of Sydney as they made the most of the 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 

 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 practise 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 against Sydney’s winter weather in a navy puffer jacket and jeans 

Catching up: The trio enjoyed a merry conversation as they strolled down the sand

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 contacted Natalie, Benjamin and Sacha’s representatives for comment.

Sydney’s 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 more than a hundred more that are yet to be linked.

Famous friends: Sacha and Benjamin chatted as they strolled down a wharf 

Rules: The boat outing came amid Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown, which prevents 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 practise 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 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,’ she said.

‘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 

SYDNEY’S LOCKDOWN RULES UNTIL JULY 16

Those living in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong must abide by the following: 

Masks are mandatory in all indoor settings outside the home, including offices 

Weddings are banned and funerals are capped at 100 people – or 1 person per 4sqm – with masks required indoors 

There is no curfew but a stay at home order applies, with only four reasons to leave your home 

Schools will be closed with at-home-learning replacing face-to-face classes 

*The four reasons you can leave your home:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services

• Medical care or compassionate needs (including to get a COVID-19 vaccine)

• Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer

• Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home  

The rest of NSW (including regional areas) is subject to the following restrictions:

• No more than five visitors (including children) allowed in homes

• Masks are compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings

• The four-square-metre rule is back for indoor and outdoor settings and drinking while standing at indoor venues is not allowed

• Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs, but dancing is allowed at weddings for the wedding party (no more than 20 people)

• Dance and gym classes are limited to 20 people per class and masks must be worn  

When does the lockdown end?  

• Stay at home orders apply to Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour until 11.59pm on Friday, July 16, 2021

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