Palm Beach

Things to do

'Palmy', as the locals affectionately call it, is a perfect place to spend the day at the beach. Surfers will enjoy the waves at the northern end of the beach while the southern end offers a protected area for swimming in the ocean pool and pretty picnic spots under the pine trees.

Surfing, Palm Beach

Palm Beach curves 2.3km, from Little Head to Barrenjoey Head, Sydney’s northernmost seaside point. Follow the trail to heritage-listed Barrenjoey Lighthouse which boasts splendid views of the coast, Pittwater and Kur-ring-gai Chase National Park. You can get there via the Palm Beach ferry, which lands at the Basin campground or head to Ettalong on the Central Coast via Broken Bay at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk, Palm Beach

Explore everything Palmy has to offer with a tour. Go kayaking with Pittwater Kayak Tours, sailing with Taylor Made Escapes, join a nature tour with EcoTreasures or discover the highlights of the Northern Beaches in one jam-packed day with Go Beyond Tours. Visit the locations where Home & Away is filmed with Celebtime, play a nine-hole game at Palm Beach Golf Course or shop the monthly Palm Beach Market.

Kayaking, Pittwater

Eat & drink

When you're surrounded by this much water, it makes sense to order seafood. The fish 'n chips at the original Boathouse Palm Beach is legendary (you can currently get your fill at the pop-up CASA by The Boathouse while the existing venue undergoes a makeover), Barrenjoey House is a slightly more upmarket affair and if you want to go on full-on fine dining, head up to nearby Whale Beach to eat at the acclaimed Jonah’s.

Barrenjoey House, Palm Beach

Getting there & where to stay

Palm Beach may look far on the map, but it's only 90 minutes by public transport from the city centre. If you want to slice that time to about 20 minutes, take a sea plane from Rose Bay. If you feel like making a weekend of it, there is a delightful range of boutique beachside accommodations, from the luxurious floating villa Lilypad to yacht stays on the water.

Lilypad Palm Beach - Credit: Ian Davidson, The Lilypad Group Pty Ltd