Avalon to Palm Beach
-
A scenic Northern Beaches coastal walk linking Avalon, Bangalley Headland, Whale Beach and Palm Beach, with expansive ocean views and several great swimming spots along the way.
Distance: 8 km Time: 2–3 hours
Steps: 13,000
Level of Difficulty: Moderate/ Challenging -
Avalon Beach village atmosphere
Bangalley Headland coastal bushland reserve
Sweeping ocean views towards Broken Bay and the Central Coast
Whale Beach and rock pool
Palm Beach ocean pool
Palm Beach coastline and views to Barrenjoey Headland
Governor Phillip Park picnic area
-
The walk includes some steep climbs, particularly around Bangalley Headland which may be challenging for some walkers
Parts of the trail can be slippery after rain so hiking shoes are recommended
Very little shade in some sections - bring a hat and sunscreen as well as swimmers and a towel
No dogs allowed on the beach sections
199 bus connects Palm Beach and Avalon if walking one way
The walk from Avalon to Palm Beach traces a mostly coastal route along Sydney’s Northern Beaches, linking a series of headlands and three beautiful surf beaches. There is a little bit of climbing involved but that’s how you get the views. There’s also a bit of street walking in sections but there’s plenty to see here too.
The walk can be done in either direction and conveniently, the 199 bus gets you back to the start. If you want to walk a little further, add the Barrenjoey Headland Walk or start at the Palm Beach end and continue past Avalon along the many Northern Beaches that stretch all the way to Manly.
WALKING THE TRAIL
Avalon Beach
The walk starts at Avalon Beach. You can get to Avalon by catching the B-Line and 190 or 199 bus, but bear in mind that the trip takes over an hour.
The main parking area at the beach requires a paid ticket or local permit but you can usually find a free spot on one of the nearby streets.
Head down to the sand or take the parallel pathway and make your way towards Avalon Headland.
Avalon is a favourite seaside postcode for the well-heeled, and a popular place to visit. The village just behind the beach has plenty of cafés and shops, while the reserve near the sand includes a playground, skate ramp and basketball court.
At the southern end of the beach is Avalon ocean pool, with a small toddler wading pool beside it. Surfers tend to gather at the Northern end of the beach, known for good surfing breaks. Head that way.
Avalon to Bangalley Headland
At the northern end of Avalon Beach a path leads up to Marine Parade. Follow this for a couple of blocks before turning onto the signed track to Bangalley Headland.
Bangalley Head is one of the Northern Beaches largest bushland reserves and at 116 metres above sea level is its highest point.
This means there’s a bit of climbing needed to get to the peak. But the views, all the way to the city looking south, and over to Broken Bay and the Central Coast to the north, make the effort worthwhile.
The native plants that line the path are particularly pretty when in flower and they attract an abundance of birdlife and other wildlife, including long-nosed bandicoots and marsupial mice.
In some sections the trees obscure the view, but look out for a small side path (marked on the map) where you can take in the magnificent vista below. Take care here — the viewing ledge is narrow with a very steep drop.
To Whale Beach
The headland trail leads to Careel Headland Reserve and then on to Whale Beach Rd.
You’ll be walking along this road for a bit, so use the time to sticky beak at some of the grand homes (and quirky mailboxes) in the area.
At Malo Road, turn right and take the steps at the end of the street down onto Whale Beach.
Whale Beach is about 600 metres long and hidden away as it is, and usually much quieter than neighbouring beaches. There's a (shallow) 25 metre-long rock pool at the southern end with toilets and showers, and a playground, surf club and cafe up behind the sand.
To continue the walk, head to the right of the surf club where Surf Road climbs up from the beach.
Which steps to take? You’ll see that there are many but most lead to private homes. The public stairway is set back in the reserve where the beach ends in a bend. (Ignore the ‘No entry sign’ which appears to relate to a utilities box rather than the path itself.)
Whale Beach to Palm Beach
After climbing back up to Whale Beach Road, continue along the road as it winds around the headland.
This stretch is more exposed and includes several blind corners, with limited footpaths in places, so take care.
Continue along Whale Beach Road, enjoying the expansive views over expensive rooftops, until you come to Florida Road. Instead of turning left, take the pedestrian pathway over to the right. This leads to a set of timber stairs descending to Palm Beach rock pool.
Standing on the stairs, take a moment to enjoy the view. Palm Beach stretches out in a sweep of two kilometres before you. Beyond it is Barrenjoey Headland with the lighthouse standing proudly at its peak. It’s little wonder this is a highly prized part of Sydney.
Palm Beach ocean pool is 50 metres long and gets a lot of use. Like all pools on the Northern Beaches, it closes for cleaning on a regular basis. You can check the cleaning roster here.
Continuing on from the pool and ‘Kiddies Corner’, you can walk along the sand most of the way to Governor Philip Park. Alternatively, take to the footpath where you’ll pass a few shops and cafes and some very beautiful homes overlooking the water.
The walk ends at Governor Phillip Park, which sits above the northern end of Palm Beach. The park has picnic tables, barbecues and grassy areas, as well as cafés and surf-club facilities nearby.
If you still have some energy left, this is also where the Barrenjoey Headland Walk begins.
If you’re heading back to the start by bus, the nearest stop is outside the Palm Beach Golf Club which adjoins the park.
In the area
Palm Beach has much to recommend it besides the surf beach. It also has a quieter side along the Pittwater shoreline, where Station Beach and Snapperman Beach offer protected, calmer waters.
The northern end of Palm Beach is Home and Away territory and if you’re a fan and here on a weekday, you might see some of the show being filmed.
The walk up to Barrenjoey Headland is highly recommended either as an add-on to this walk or as a separate outing.
From Palm Beach Wharf - about a 10–15 minute walk away - you can catch a ferry across to The Basin in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
There are some great cafes and restaurants dotted along Barrenjoey Rd and gift shops and an art gallery along this stretch.