Palm Beach is a playground for Sydney’s rich and famous, and the picturesque backdrop to the international TV show Home & Away. Palm Beach is a peninsula situated on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, overlooking Pittwater and the Pacific Ocean.
Explore Picturesque Palm Beach
About an hour from the heart of Sydney Palm Beach offers a calm holiday environment right on the coastline. Palm Beach, a suburb in Sydney’s Northern Beaches region, boasts a varied landscape filled with sandy beaches, rocky coastlines and lush bushland. This mixture makes Palm Beach especially scenic, and in fact, the area is so beautiful that it is used as the backdrop for the popular Australian TV show Home and Away (no relation to us, of course!). In spite of its fame, Palm Beach has a small year-round population that makes for an intimate holiday destination. The residents of the town are typically wealthy and this is reflected in the style of holiday accommodation available, with many particularly luxurious homes available for rent. However, visitors also have access to cosy cottages, if these are more your style.
Take a Walk around Palm Beach
Get in touch with the natural surroundings of Palm Beach by going for a walk, and there are many options—both long and short—to allow you to get your exercise while taking in the scenery. The longest trek, Sydney’s Northern Beaches Walk, is for those who truly are looking for an adventure. Walk for four days and enjoy all of the beaches from Barrenjoey to North Head. If you prefer to stick closer to your rental, try the Beach to Bay Walk, which provides a trail to connect four of Palm Beach’s reserves, Hordern Park, Wiltshire Park, McKay Reserve and Dark Gully Park. For an even shorter outdoor activity, hike up Barrenjoey Head and take in scenic views from the top. While up there, do not forget to visit Palm Beach’s historic, yet still operational, lighthouse.
Waters for Relaxation or Sport
The waters of Palm Beach are split into two distinct sections: one for calmer activities and one for sport. If you are looking to splash around with the kids, swim, kayak or pursue other activities that call for calmer waves, head to the southern part of the beach. This section includes a shallow end that is ideal for children. Surfers, jet skiers and other water sport enthusiasts have better luck setting up camp on the north side of the beach near Barrenjoey Head. Whichever option you choose, the untainted clear blue waters provide an ideal playground.
Venture into Town
If you are ready to hang up your wetsuit for the day, head into the downtown area of Palm Beach. Choose from one of the myriad fine restaurants, many of which overlook the water, or head to Palm Beach Fish and Chips to savour some of the best fish and chips in all of Sydney. There are multiple boutiques throughout Palm Beach, which allow for a dose of retail therapy. Also in town, you have access to the Palm Beach Golf Club, a 9-hole golf course that is located near the Barrenjoey Lighthouse. As you play, listen to the sounds of the water and breathe in the salty air; a truly relaxing way to indulge in your favourite sport.
Test Your Sea Legs
You do not have to get wet to enjoy the water in Palm Beach. Simply contact the yacht club and take out a vessel for a private cruise, the length of which is determined by you. If fishing is your activity of choice, a number of venues let you hire the services of a charter for deep sea fishing. During migration season, catch a glimpse of the humpback whales as they pass through Palm Beach’s waters with one of the whale watching tours. Alternately, visitors can take the historic ferry over to Ettalong, which is a popular spot for picnics and camping just outside of Palm Beach.
Visiting Palm Beach
Overseas or out-of-state visitors can fly directly into Sydney International Airport, then hire a car to complete the short drive to Palm Beach. With its Mediterranean climate, Palm Beach is a comfortable destination for travel throughout the year. However, don’t forget to bring along your wellies if you plan to visit during February or March, as these months comprise the rainy season.