The reunited Australian pairing of Natalie Cook and Tamsyn Hinchley have notched up a round one victory against Spain at London's Olympic Games beach volleyball test event.

The six-day invitational began on Tuesday at the centrally-located Horse Guards Parade where in front of a sell-out crowd, Cook and Hinchley posted a 21-8 21-16 win over Alejandra Simon and Andrea Garcia Gonzalo.

"That's a good win and we got a good hit out," Cook told AAP after Tuesday's result.

Twenty-four teams have been split into six groups for the event, with the top eight progressing to an elimination round on Saturday before Sunday's four-way play-off.

Although Cook and Hinchley only regrouped three weeks ago after a hiatus "for several reasons", the duo who finished fifth at the Beijing Olympics are confident of reaching the final four in London on Sunday.

"It's just like riding a bike," said Cook of reuniting with Hinchley.

"It's really good and it feels comfortable. We are just working on some of our team work and how we communicate and it's coming along well."

Of the impressive London venue, bound by historic Whitehall buildings in the city's parliamentary district, and only a short distance to Buckingham Palace, Cook said she was "amazed".

"And the sand quality is fantastic," she said of the playing courts.

"They say the sand is from London. I'm not sure that they have that good a quality sand in London, but they promise me it's from here."

Cook, 36, who is vying for a place in her fifth Olympic Games, says the invitational provides valuable exposure to London and the protocols that will be in place in 2012.

"It's really important to understand the protocol and make some relationships with the staff ahead of Olympic competition and that's what this (event) allows us to do," she said.

On Wednesday Cook and Hinchley play Malaysia's Beh Shun Thing and Luk Teck Hua, before a clash with Canada on Thursday.

Cook predicts a final four placing along with teams from China, the US and Brazil.

Emerging Australian talent Taliqua Clancy and Eliza Hynes are also competing in the Olympic test event. They lost their opening match against the top seeded team from Great Britain and will play 12th seeded China next.

Andrew Drummond
AAP