Palm Beach Sydney
Best for. Visitors who want a full day out, combining an open surf beach, a lighthouse headland walk and the still water of Pittwater on the back side.
Best spot. The southern corner near Kiddies Corner for calmer swimming, then the Barrenjoey track for the view that makes the trip worthwhile.
Know this. It is the furthest northern beach from the city, close to an hour by car in light traffic and much slower on summer weekends, so leave early.
Palm Beach is where the northern beaches run out of road, a long sweep of ocean sand with the Barrenjoey headland standing guard at the top. It is the postcard most Sydneysiders picture when they think of the far north, and it is also the beach that asks the most of you, because getting here is a commitment.
The trick that makes Palm Beach special is that it is two beaches in one. The eastern side faces the open ocean with real surf and a proper swell, while a short walk west brings you to Pittwater, a broad sheltered estuary where the water lies flat and the boats sit at anchor. Families tend to split their day between the two.
The Barrenjoey lighthouse walk is the reason to make the journey. The climb up the headland takes about twenty minutes on the steeper service trail or a gentler path around, and the reward is one of the great coastal views in New South Wales, with the ocean on one flank and Pittwater on the other. Wear real shoes and carry water.
Many overseas visitors know the beach as the setting for the television series filmed here, and on a fine day the cafes and the boathouse fill with day trippers. The Palm Beach ocean pool at the southern end gives a calm swim when the surf is up, and Kiddies Corner is the gentler stretch for small children.
Who should skip it. If you only have a few hours and no car, the long trip eats your day, and Avalon or Whale Beach a little to the south give a similar feel with less driving. But for a planned day out with a lighthouse walk, two kinds of water and a proper sense of arrival, Palm Beach earns its reputation.
Clubs on this beach
Palm Beach is public ocean sand with an ocean pool, a boathouse cafe and the Pittwater wharf, but there is no daybed beach club on the beach, so we route you to the Sydney clubs and venues where a club style day exists.
No beach club on this beach
This is public sand below the Barrenjoey headland with no daybed club on the beach itself. For loungers, shade and table service near Palm Beach, we gather the current options in the Sydney beach clubs directory.
Palm Beach, the far north
Palm Beach sits at the very top of the northern beaches peninsula, close to an hour from the city by car when the road is clear and considerably longer on warm weekends when the single coastal road backs up.
Without a car you can reach it by the L90 bus from the city, by ferry across Pittwater from the Central Coast, or by the summer seaplane from Rose Bay for a memorable arrival.
Facilities are good rather than vast, with a handful of cafes, the boathouse, showers and the ocean pool. Use the pool or Kiddies Corner for calm water and swim between the flags on the open beach.
Photo: Joyce Miguel via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a club within reach of Palm Beach. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Palm Beach
How far is Palm Beach from Sydney city?
Palm Beach is at the northern tip of the peninsula, close to an hour by car in light traffic. On summer weekends the single coastal road slows considerably, so an early start or the L90 bus is wise.
Is Palm Beach good for swimming?
The ocean side has surf and a rip, so swim between the flags. The ocean pool at the southern end and the gentler Kiddies Corner give calmer options, and Pittwater behind the beach is flat and sheltered.
What is the Barrenjoey lighthouse walk like?
It is a short but steep climb of about twenty minutes to the headland, with a gentler path option around the side. The view over the ocean and Pittwater from the top is one of the best on the northern beaches.
Can you reach Palm Beach without a car?
Yes. The L90 bus runs from the city, a ferry crosses Pittwater from the Central Coast, and in summer a seaplane flies in from Rose Bay. The bus is the simplest budget option but the trip is long.
When is the best time to visit Palm Beach?
Autumn from March to May brings warm water, settled light and far lighter traffic than the summer peak. Weekday mornings are quietest, while fine summer weekends are busiest and slowest to reach.
