If you’re planning on moving to Sydney’s Northern Beaches, it should be no surprise that there are plenty of cool and exciting places to visit once you’ve settled into your new home. Whether you’re after the excellent schools and workplace environments, easy access to some of the best beaches in the world, or inclusion into a relaxed and carefree lifestyle – you will no doubt want to explore your new local area as soon as possible.
While the experts handle all your home relocation needs, you can settle into your new life by following our guide on all the must-do activities in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Where are the Northern Beaches in Sydney?
The Northern Beaches council extends from Manly beach all the way to Palm Beach. Curving along a coastline of roughly 30km, the Northern Beaches includes 20 unique beach locations, each with its unique offering of activities and atmosphere.
Places To Visit On The Northern Beaches of Sydney:
- Manly
- Dee Why & Curl Curl
- Narrabeen
- Pam Beach
- Pittwater
As for must-do activities and locations to add to your itinerary, we’ve got plenty of those down below.
Northern Beaches Coast Walk
One of the best ways to introduce yourself to all the gems hidden along the Northern Beaches is by walking along the newly completed Coast Walk. This 51km walk spans from the Barrenjoey lighthouse at Palm Beach to North Head at Manly Beach, providing a one-stop-shop that showcases all of the most picturesque coastline and ocean views Sydney has to offer.
Now we certainly don’t expect you to complete the entire length of the walk in one day, although many do every year for the Bloody Long Walk charity fundraising walk. Instead of putting yourself through a gruelling physical challenge, we recommend making this a two- or three-day adventure so you can take your time and explore everything the Northern Beaches offers. We’d recommend bringing a hat, sunnies, suncream and lots of water as there isn’t too much shade available to rest in along the way.
The Heart of the Northern Beaches: Manly
While you may not want to explore somewhere new immediately after your Coast Walk, we recommend a day trip to one of Sydney’s most prominent attractions, Manly Beach. While Manly has much more to offer than just its iconic beach, it’s undoubtedly a great place to start. As the birthplace of Australian surfing and one of the world’s first Surf Life Saving Clubs, Manly is home to dozens of excellent restaurants, cafes, and fashion stores. Among all the various surrounding retail stores, you can easily access plenty of options to purchase food or an item to remember the day.
However, you don’t need to spend much money to have a fantastic day, Manly. Free public barbeques are open from 9 am to 4 pm every day at the beautiful Shelly Beach, located only a 10-minute walk from the main Manly beach. While there, go for a snorkel at Cabbage Tree Bay and experience the plethora of native Australian marine life at your fingertips as a new Northern Beaches local.
Visit Palm Beach
Sydney’s most northern beach town is an idyllic location to discover as a new Northern Beaches resident, boasting an abundance of fun activities and sites for you to explore. Start your day in Palm Beach by doing one of Sydney’s most widely regarded hikes, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Hike. With unique coastal views surrounded by light bushland, there’s no wonder why many tourists try to visit this location on their holidays down under.
The Boathouse Cafe and the North Palm Beach SLC are a must-see for anyone who enjoys the soap opera Home and Away. As these places frequently serve as the set for the famous Australian TV show, you will undoubtedly see some objects and backdrops you are familiar with watching. You can arrange a guided tour to explore filming locations and maybe even catch it live and in living colour.
Finish your day off with a swim at the Palm Beach rockpool, and you’re indeed beginning to feel like an established Northern Beaches local. Speaking of which…
Relaxing Rockpools
On that note, choosing a local rockpool is a quintessential aspect of being a Northern Beaches resident. One of the best things about living near a beach is having access to rockpools, which are a great way to cool off during summer heat waves. With beautiful beach backdrops, fresh salt water, and proximity to many of the best cafes in Sydney, they’re a necessity for any resident to make the most of all year round.
There are plenty of rock pools to choose from around Sydney’s Northern Beaches, so select one that best suits your desired lifestyle.
Bilgola Rock Baths boasts eight lanes of a 50-metre pool and is undoubtedly a hidden gem for those seeking seclusion. For something more popular amongst tourists and locals, Palm Beach rock pools come complete with changing rooms, toilets and a stone area for tanning. Just be warned, it does get busy during summer.
However, nearly all of the beaches on the Northern Beaches have rockpools, including Narrabeen, Bronte, Curl Curl, and Collaroy, to mention a few, so get out there and explore the marine ecosystem in your Northern Beaches neighbourhood.
Markets
Supporting the local community and businesses should be top of your to-do list. Luckily for you, there are plenty of markets open every week all over the beaches to allow you to show your support and meet some of your new neighbours.
The Beaches Markets
Easily one of the most popular markets open to all, regardless of rain, hail or shine, every week. With this schedule, you’ll never have a good excuse to miss out on all the fresh fruit and vegetables, handmade crafts and locally built homeware items regularly available.
The Mona Vale Markets
Formerly Frenchs Forest Markets, the Mona Vale Markets are another excellent option to explore, famous for their fresh, organic indulgences that are perfect for strolling through on any Sunday morning.
Manly Markets
Attracting thousands of visitors every weekend looking for fresh food, live music, and emerging designers and artisans, attending the Manly markets will quickly help you to fall in love with your new life in the Northern Beaches.
We understand that a move to the Northern Beaches can bring on a range of emotions, from incredible exhilaration to overwhelming stress. Leaving all the hard yards to skilled home removalists can alleviate all your moving stress, ensuring you can focus on exploring these must-do activities in your new home, Sydney’s Northern Beaches.