Chris Dawson spends first day on bail cleaning the pool

Accused wife-killer Chris Dawson has told the media he needs a break, less than 24 hours after being released on bail over the 1982 murder.

The 70-year-old smiled as he was released from Sydney's Silverwater prison on Christmas Eve, almost three weeks after being arrested for the alleged murder of his first wife.

Dawson was granted bail a week ago, but a series of complications with the former rugby league player's application, including a problem with the $1.5 million surety, delayed his release.

Today, reporters spoke with Dawson at the Mount Coolum home he shares with his wife as he cleaned his backyard swimming pool.

When asked how he was, the former sport teacher said: “I’m well thanks. I just really need a break.”

Dawson was arrested on the Gold Coast earlier this month and extradited to NSW where he was charged with murdering wife Lynette Dawson, who went missing from Sydney's northern beaches in 1982.

He will have to live at his current wife's home in Queensland and report daily to a local police station to comply with his bail conditions.

He intends to plead not guilty to murdering Lyn, a case which made international headlines when it became the focus of the award-winning Teacher's Pet podcast.