Boutique hotels
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Jonah's
- Style
- Conservative coastal meets loved-up luxe
- Setting
- Breathtaking Northern Beach cliff-top
Self-catering properties
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Pacific Road House
- Style
- Glam 50s-style getaway
- Setting
- Poised above Palm Beach
Northern Beaches Overview
New South Wales
- Coastline
- Sweeping sand, stunning views
- Coast life
- Star-spotting meets surfing
On a peninsula at Sydney’s northern extremities lies an enclave for the rich, famous and reclusive, including the occasional Hollywood superstar.
No wonder: its physical attributes are portrait-worthy and it’s isolated enough to have acquired a rarified air. You’ll know Palm Beach from its starring role on TV series Home and Away, but with its cocktail of sparkling blue sea, plummeting headlands and sexy, sandy coves, the Northern Beaches has so much more to offer the sun lover. Stretching over 30 kilometres from just above Manly in Sydney, this coveted coastal strip culminates at its glam northern tip with Bilgola, Avalon, Whale and Palm beaches.
Naturally Northern Beaches
If the area's serene beaches put you in a spiritual mood, one of only seven global Baha’i houses of worship is located at Ingleside (173 Mona Vale Road; www.bahai.org.au). The beautiful nine-sided building is open to the public for prayer and meditation, and you can stroll the gardens, where there’s an extensive collection of native Australian plants and trees. Guides are also present at the visitors’ centre to explain the religion, the youngest in the world.
Local Knowledge
- Taxis
- Manly Warringah Cabs (+61 (0)2 9972 5600) is the local company servicing the area. It’s best to book.
- Tipping culture
- It’s certainly not expected at pubs and casual eateries, although adding 10 per cent to the bill is always appreciated.
- Siesta and fiesta
- Because it’s still close to Sydney city, you’ll find that shops, cafes and bars keep regular city-style hours: open seven days, from early to quite late.
- Packing tips
- Missoni beach towel, a copy of Hollywood Wives, very dark sunglasses.
- Recommended reads
- Local Nick Carroll is one of the world’s most respected surf writers, and his book Visions of the Australian Coast combines great photos with insightful stories. If you don’t yet understand the Australian fascination with all things seaside, try Leone Huntsman’s Sand in Our Souls: The Beach in Australian History.
- Cuisine
- You’ll find the full range of offerings in this region, from great fresh breakfasts to shared plates in bars and even some fine cuisine. In fact, for a small area, you really are spoiled for choice. The proximity to gourmet-hub Sydney no doubt helps.
- Regional specialities
- It’s right on the water, so seafood features prominently on many menus. See if you can find fresh oysters and calamari from the nearby Hawkesbury River.
- Currency
- Australian dollars (AU$).
- Time zone
- GMT +10 hours.
- Dialling codes
- The international code for Australia is 61. Northern Beaches: (0)2 (drop the zero if calling from overseas).
- Do go/don't go
- Like most popular beach holiday spots, it’s a lot quieter here during the winter months from June to August, and during the week. Unless you’re quite brave, it’s too cold to swim in winter, but the days are often bright and perfectly acceptable for long walks along the sand. During summer holidays (December and January) it’s hard to find somewhere to stay or a spot on the beach.
Don't go home without...
Heading to Manly for the day. Not officially part of the Northern Beaches, it’s just a short drive away to the south. Shops, restaurants and bars abound, and you can even explore the underwater world without getting wet at Oceanworld (West Esplanade, +61 (0)2 8251 7877; www.oceanworld.com.au).
