Wanderyn
Palm Beach
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · AU

Palm Beach

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Palm Beach sits at the northern tip of Sydney's Northern Beaches, about an hour's drive from the CBD (longer by public bus, which does run the full route but takes considerably longer). A car is the practical option, though the L90 bus from the city covers it if you don't mind the trip length. Once there, the village and beach are walkable, and a small passenger ferry crosses Pittwater to the Ku-ring-gai Chase side.
Hours: Barrenjoey Lighthouse's walking track is open daylight hours daily and is the best short walk in the area, with sweeping views over both the ocean beach and Pittwater from the headland.

Palm Beach is Sydney's most affluent beach suburb, occupying the narrow peninsula at the very northern end of the Northern Beaches, with ocean surf on one side and the calmer Pittwater estuary on the other. It's best known outside Sydney as the filming location for the long-running TV series Home and Away, which draws a steady stream of fans to the beach and the fictional "Summer Bay" surf club.

The walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse at the peninsula's tip is the standout activity, giving views over both the ocean beach and Pittwater in one spot. Beyond the beach and lighthouse, Palm Beach is largely residential and low-key — expensive real estate rather than a built-up tourist strip — so most visitors come for a day of beach, lunch and the lighthouse walk rather than an extended stay.

Palm Beach FAQs

Is Palm Beach worth the drive from Sydney's CBD?

Yes, for a day trip — the Barrenjoey Lighthouse walk gives views over both the ocean and Pittwater, and it's a genuinely different experience from the closer Sydney beaches.

Do I need a car to get to Palm Beach?

It's the practical option given the roughly hour-long drive, though the L90 bus from the city does run the full route if you don't mind a longer trip.

How long should I plan for a Palm Beach visit?

A day is enough — beach time, lunch and the lighthouse walk cover what most visitors come for, since the suburb itself is largely residential.

Is Palm Beach the Home and Away filming location?

Yes, it's the real-world setting for the show's fictional Summer Bay, which draws a steady stream of fans to the beach and surf club.

Can I cross to Ku-ring-gai Chase from Palm Beach?

Yes, a small passenger ferry crosses Pittwater to the national park side, which is worth doing if you want more than just the beach and lighthouse.

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