Avalon Beach
Avalon Beach has surf and body surfing (often called body bashing in Australia) as well as swimming and good fishing. The beach is bordered by 60m high sandstone cliffs. Has a pool on the south end.
About a ten minute walk to Avalon village with cafés, restaurants, cinema and shops. Rock pool and a kids playground are at the south end as well as BBQ facilities and picnic tables. Avalon itself has a number of great caf�’s, specialty shops and restaurants. Off Barrenjoey Road. Take the Wynyard Newport Bus 191, Wynyard Bus 190.
Bilgola Beach
Tucked below Bilgola Bends, Bilgola Beach is about 500m long. Fringed by palm trees it can be very tranquil on an early weekday morning. Has surf club and rock pool, good for families. Bus 190, Wynyard in the city, or the 191 from Newport.
Bungan Beach, Newport
Surf Club, patrolled on weekends and public holidays during summer. Surfboards and swimming, but stay between the flags. 600m long, isolated by a steep hillside, between Bungan and Mona Vale Heads. Can only be reached on foot as there is no direct public road access to the beach. Spectacular views from the top. Has children’s playground, picnic area and BBQ facilities. Wynyard Bus 187.
Collaroy Beach
Collaroy Beach is easy to get to, popular and the longest beach on the Sydney north shore, adjoining Narrabeen Beach. Has ocean pool and a Surf Club. While there, surfers and others may wish to check out the Surf Rock Hotel, with it’s excellent collection of surf memorabilia.
The beach is near Collaroy shops for various eateries and the Collaroy Cinema. Close to Long Reef Golf Course and Narrabeen Lakes, for sailing and canoeing. Named after a shipwreck with the name ‘Collaroy’. Pittwater Road. To get to Collaroy Beach, take Bus 182 or 190 from Wynyard in the city, or the 155 or 157 from Manly.
Clareville and Paradise Beaches
Both Clareville beach and Paradise beach are on the Pittwater. There are BBQ facilities and picnic tables available. Sailing, windsurfing, and canoeing are popular water sports here. Getting There: Bus 190 from Wynyard in the city.
Curl Curl Beach
Curl Curl Beach has both North and South beaches. This beach can get rough with strong currents, but there are two clubs on each end of the long beach, so there are lifeguards on summer weekends and public holidays. Good for board and body surfing, but beware of rips.
There is a nature walk beginning at the north end. To get to Curl Curl Beach, take Bus 139 from Manly Wharf.
Dee Why Beach
Named by James Meehan in 1814, long a favourite with surfers but can also be enjoyed by the rest of the family. Scenic, it stretches for almost 2km up to Long Reef beach and the golf course. Rock pool, surf club and park with picnic tables. Dee Why beach shops, eateries and restaurants with local and international fare. Getting There: Wynyard bus 177, Manly 136 or 157.
Freshwater Beach
Freshwater Beach is a great beach for body surfing, tucked between Queenscliff Beach and Curl Curl Beach. Has surf club, change facilities and beach showers, as well as a park and picnic tables. Shopping centre with eateries and restaurants nearby. Getting there - Bus 139 from Manly.
You can also walk from the north end of Manly Beach over the Queenscliffe headland. There are stairs and is about 10 mins walk, yet the views alone along the promenade in Manly and from the headland make it worthwhile.
Long Reef Beach
At the North end of the beach stretching from Dee Why. Next to Long Reef Golf Course and backed by a wild life refuge and lagoon. Swim between the flags, as there are strong currents there sometime. The surf can get quite good for surfers and body bashing (aussie for body surfing). Known for absailing from the cliffs, windsurfing and kite surfing during winter. Getting There: Manly Bus 136 or 157.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach, a scenic beach located at the north tip of the Sydney Northern Beaches Peninsula. There is a surf club on the south end of the beach and a rock pool, while the North Palm Beach surf club is situated about half way up the beach further north.
Barranjoey Lighthouse is a 20-30 minute walk away, offering grand views of the Hawkesbury River outlet to the ocean, Broken Bay and the Pittwater. The historic lighthouse, situated on Barranjoey Head is surrounded by an Aquatic Reserve while Barranjoey Head is part of the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
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