Apple to open Bondi store on 28 May

Updated: Apple will be holding a public grand opening of an Apple Retail Store on Oxford Street, Bondi Junction this Friday, 28 May — the day its flagship iPad tablet goes on sale in Australia.

The store, which has been under heavy guard during its construction, is rumoured to be an "atrium-designed" store.

The store is thought to be a vast vista of trees, greenery and Apple Geniuses wandering around like angels under an expansive glass rooftop — a tropical Apple paradise in the heart of Bondi Junction.

The Next Web was given a sneak peek of what was under the black construction veil and spied shadows of trees — trees it was apparently told were 5 to 6 metres tall. The new store is touted by Apple to be the best place to learn about the "magical new iPad", which also launches on the same day as the grand opening.

Apple has today confirmed that customers will be able to buy the iPad from their favourite Australian Apple retail store from 8.00am on Friday 28 May.

Also available to fondle and buy are the usual Mac products like the improved MacBook Pro and MacBook, which have the new Nvidia graphics processor, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch.

People who buy a Mac at the Apple Store will get a personalised set up and file transfer from their old computer, Personal Training (Mac) sessions and Personal Project support for $129 including GST. The grand opening of the Bondi store is this Friday, 28 May at 8:00am.

Apple opened its first store in Sydney's George Street in 2008. The second appeared shortly thereafter in the northern Sydney suburb of Chatswood. The Bondi store will bring the total number of Apple stores in Australia to seven, with three in Sydney, two in Victoria and two in Queensland.