Recently, I was lucky enough to get a chance to go to Palm Beach, also called the “Jewel of the Northern Beaches”. Palm Beach is the northernmost of Sydney’s beach suburbs, and this place is pure paradise! The beautiful beach and suburb is about 28 kilometers from Manly and less than an hour drive from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the CBD. You can get here by bus, which is very convenient, but I recommend to go by car if you can – you will want to stop for pictures and to gaze at the spectacular ocean views and beaches along the way. This was my second trip to Palm Beach and it is definitely worth visiting more than twice – the breathtaking views, the ocean breeze and the friendly locals with the most relaxed lifestyle, it just makes you want to stay there forever…
Palm Beach has a few nice little restaurants and cafes, but my favourite one is the amazing little Boathouse (see all the pics). The food is delicious (especially their freshly made juices), this place will definitely be one of the things that brings me back on my next trip to Australia. The restaurant is located right on the water, and what could possibly be better than listening to the sound of the ocean while you’re enjoying your lunch?
If you have some spare time, catch one of the small ferries that run across Broken Bay to Patonga and have a look at the National Park Ku-ring-gai, which is a Bushland reaching down to the water. Make sure you don’t miss the the fascinating Aboriginal Heritage walk, where there is rock art and engravings of the Guringai people of West Head (this part is also ideal for cycling, fishing and bushwalking). This is a great way to experience a little bit of Australia’s history.
Palm Beach is also the home of TV series Home and Away, a perennially popular Australian television show that has been on TV from 1988, with over 6300 episodes! I’m fortunate enough that my Australian friend, who also came with me on this trip to Palm Beach, is an actor on Home and Away. She told me it is an amazing experience to work with such a popular Australian TV series, which she has grown up watching; can you imagine growing up to work for your favourite show as a kid? The actors and the rest of the Home & Away team are very friendly and easy going too!
Palm Beach is also known for its famous lighthouse bushwalk. The uphill walk is 1.2 kilometers and it is definitely worth every step when you finally get to the top. I have seen a lot of stunning views in Sydney, but this particular one from the historic Barrenjoey lighthouse would have to be one of my favourite views. With spectacular 360 degree views, you can see the uninhabited rocky island resembling a resting lion which guards the entrance to Broken Bay (Lion Island, fitting name!), its northern arm Brisbane Water, and Pittwater. The lighthouse was built of sandstone in 1881 and its light can be seen 19 nautical miles out to sea; yes, it still operates! If you go to Palm Beach sometime during May to November there is a chance you would see whales during their annual migration, which by itself makes the trip worth putting on your bucket list…
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