Palm Beach and surrounds Beaches

BEACHES

To check conditions on any beach before venturing outside of your Beach Stays home-away-from-home, search the Surf Life Saving Australia ‘Beach Safe’ site here [hyperlink the URL https://beachsafe.org.au/] for location, facilities, weather, conditions and lifesaving services for Australian beaches.

 Most beaches in this part of the peninsula are patrolled daily from the end of September until the end of April, from 9am until 5pm with longer hours on occasion in the peak summer period. If you need to contact the Lifeguard Radio Base (September-May) you can phone 9942 2120.

Beach goers should always swim between the flags.

Please be aware that dogs are not permitted on beaches or at rockpools.

Avalon Beach

Avalon (or ‘Av’ as it’s known to locals) is a surf beach that spans 500m, with a south east aspect. The beach is bordered by 60m high sandstone cliff rock platforms. It’s just a short stroll from the beach into the Avalon village.

Facilities:

• Picnic area
• Playground
• Public toilets
• Rock pool
• Showers
• Surf lifesaving club

Bilgola Beach

Tucked away in a tropical enclave, Bilgola Beach is somewhat off the beaten track, accessed by a road known as the Bilgola Serpentine. This surf beach is 500m long and faces south east. Parking is limited. There is a café here but no other shops.

Facilities:

• Canteen
• Disabled toilets
• Public toilets
• Rock pool
• Showers

Clareville Beach

This calm bay on the Pittwater side of the Peninsula is accessed off Delecta Avenue and is a popular place for families and couples – lunch picnics or to watch the sun set over the still waters of Pittwater. Parking is limited so plan ahead.

Facilities:

• Barbeques
• Disabled toilets
• Parking
• Picnic area
• Picnic tables
• Public toilets
• Showers
• Viewing platform

Great Mackerel Beach

Great Mackerel Beach is located on the western foreshore of Pittwater and is accessed by a ferry service from Palm Beach. You’ll feel like you’ve escaped to another world here. As well as the calm beach side, there’s a lagoon section where kids can wade (under supervision). There are no shops here so you need to bring all your own supplies.

North Avalon Beach

North Avalon, also referred to as ‘Little Av or LA’ by locals, breaks along the north headland and a nearby sandbank, attracting lots of surfers.

Facilities:

• Disabled toilets
• Parking
• Public toilets
• Showers

North Palm Beach

At the east-facing northern end of Palm Beach, there’s a 600m stretch of coastland with a dramatic rock cliff as a backdrop, on which Barrenjoey Lighthouse sits. This end of the beach also features sand dunes with natural vegetation.

Facilities:

• Barbeques
• Disabled toilets
• Electric BBQ
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Public toilets
• Rock pool
• Showers
• Surf lifesaving club

Palm Beach

Seen as the jewel in the crown, this is Sydney’s northernmost beach at the end of the northern beaches Peninsula. As well as its palms, it is famous as being home to the fictional ‘Summer Bay’ – the beach featured in the popular TV series Home and Away.

Facilities:

• Disabled toilets
• Pay and display parking
• Picnic area
• Public toilets
• Rock pool
• Showers

Paradise Beach

One that only the locals know about, Paradise Beach is aptly named because it really is a little slice of ‘paradise’. On the Pittwater side, it’s located at the end of Paradise Avenue at Avalon. Parking is very limited.

Snapperman Beach

Located off Iluka Road at Palm Beach on the Pittwater foreshore, this tiny little spot is a great place to watch the boats and the sunset.

Station Beach

Station Beach has to be one of the prettiest places on the Peninsula. It’s also known as Barrenjoey Beach, extending between the northern side of Observation Point and Barrenjoey Head. The Palm Beach Golf Course runs alongside the beach. It runs for 1.5km and from here you can access the popular café ‘The Boathouse’, and if you walk to the northern end, you will find the track to the lighthouse. This beach is not patrolled. It has calm waters and is ideal for lazing about or playing with kids.

Facilities:

• Barbeques
• Picnic area
• Public toilets

Whale Beach

Whale Beach is said to be named following a whale beaching here. It’s a 600m stretch of beach and tends to be a lot less busy than Palm Beach, although it can still draw a crowd in the peak of summer.

Facilities:

• Disabled toilets
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Public toilets
• Rockpool
• Showers

ROCK POOLS

The following beaches also have rock pools in which you can swim.

Avalon: 25 metres; at the southern end and also has a toddler pool.

Bilgola: 8-lane, 50 metres. Includes a shallow wading area and has disability access.

Palm Beach: 8-lane, 50 metres; off Ocean road at the southern end (also known as ‘Kiddies Corner’.

Whale Beach: 25 metres; at the southern end of Whale Beach.

SWIMMING ENCLOSURES

At the end of Taylors Point Road, off Hudson Parade, Clareville, there is a swimming enclosure located at the wharf and boat ramp. It’s a popular swimming area for families.

LOT 7312 Taylors Point Rd

Clareville NSW 2107

There is also a swimming enclosure at Paradise Beach in Avalon on the Pittwater side.

Paradise Ave

Avalon Beach NSW 2107