Must-see attractions in Northern Beaches

  • Palm Beach

    Northern Beaches

    Long, lovely Palm Beach is a crescent of bliss that's famous as the setting for cheesy TV soap Home and Away. The 1881 Barrenjoey Lighthouse punctuates…

  • Barrenjoey Lighthouse

    Northern Beaches

    This historic sandstone lighthouse (1881) sits at the northern tip of the Northern Beaches in an annexe of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. You've got two…

  • Avalon

    Northern Beaches

    Caught in a sandy ’70s time warp, Avalon is the mythical Australian beach you always dreamed of but could never find. Challenging surf and sloping,…

  • Narrabeen

    Northern Beaches

    Immortalised by the Beach Boys in 'Surfin’ USA', long, spectacular Narrabeen is hard-core surf turf – get some experience before hitting the breaks. Not…

  • Bilgola

    Northern Beaches

    With its huge saltwater pool and tucked-away location between the better-known Newport and Avalon beaches, little Bilgola feels like a bit of a secret gem…

  • Dee Why

    Northern Beaches

    A no-fuss curve of family beach fronted by chunky apartments, some good cafes and ubiquitous surf shops. Grommets (young surfers) hit the waves and mums…

  • Whale Beach

    Northern Beaches

    Sleepy Whale Beach, 3km south of Palm Beach, is well worth seeking out – a paradisiacal slice of deep, orange-tinted sand backed by pines and flanked by…

  • Collaroy

    Northern Beaches

    Collaroy generally has smaller waves, making it good for surfers learning their trade. There are cafes, a…

  • Curl Curl

    Northern Beaches

    Attracting a mix of family groups and experienced surfers, Curl Curl is a large, sloping beach with rocky saltwater pools at each end, a swampy lagoon and…

  • Newport

    Northern Beaches

    This well-known Sydney surf beach is a kilometre-long strip of east-facing sand with reliable waves and a backing of Norfolk pine trees.

  • Freshwater

    Northern Beaches

    This discreet, southeast-facing sandy bay just north of Manly has a cool ocean pool and plenty of teenagers. Good for learner surfers.