Description

Palm Beach is appox 2.6km (1.5mi) long, slightly curved with a North end protected by Barrenjoey Head. Palm Beach lies on the Eastern side of Pittwater Peninsula, which is surrounded by water on 3 sides. To the West is Soldiers Beach and Pittwater, to the North is Barrenjoey Head and Broken Bay and to the South is Whale Beach.
The middle of 'Palmy' faces East, completely exposed to the Pacific Ocean.
It is a Sandy Beach, with a rock ledge on the Northern end. The sand is white to golden in colour.
Palmy is an Ocean Surf Beach, surrounded by park, bushland and sandunes towards the Northern end and houses, shops and restaurants at the Southern end.

Name

The Southern end of Palm Beach was originally known as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour after the local Cabbage Tree Palms. Later the area was officially name Palm Beach.
Barrenjoey was named by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1788, from Barrenjuee, meaning Wallaby.

Highlights.

Palm Beach features heavily in the Australian Soap drama 'Home and Away' so certain areas of the beach will be familiar to fans of the show. Highlights include clean surf at the Northern end, great sunbathing and the walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse.

Palm Beach Map

View North Sydney Beaches - NSW in a larger map

Palm Beach and North Palm beach each have their own SLSC. Voluntary patrols are run on weekends and public holidays from September to April.

The main picnic area is Governor Phillip Park, which connects the East and Western beaches on Pittwater Peninsula

Electric BBQs are available in Governor Phillip Park

A 50m tidal pool at the Southern end of Palm beach. There are Toilets and changerooms nearby.

There are a couple of good restaurants near the beach, including Sugar Palms and Dunes Restaurant and Kiosk.

Dunes has a kiosk that serves fast food and coffee.

Palm beach is a popular place for sunbakers and can get crowded on summer weekends, especially at the Southern end. The secluded Northern end is sometimes populated by nudists.

Palm Beach usually has a few rips running and can be hazardous on heavy swell days. If beach is not patrolled, safest swimming is at nearby Station Beach or in the Tidal Pool.

Depending on conditions the protected Northern end usually gets the best waves, though the Southern end can handle bigger swell. Then middle beach is ok in North Easterlys, but can get dumpy.

The walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse is well worth the effort, with great views of the surrounding coastline. Distance is around 2kms return, starting from the Northern end of Station Beach (Pittwater side of Palm Beach). Walk is fairly steep. Take water.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse was completed in 1881 and has been automatic since 1932

Palm Beach Surfbreaks

Beach Breaks are fairly consistent, usually smaller, cleaner waves at the north end of the beach. Beach faces east at the south end, curving slightly south the more north you go. Best swells are E to SE depending on how far up the beach you go… Offshore wind is W to NW
Works on all tides, waves go left and right. Crowded on weekends.
Palm Beach Reef Break is at the north point of the beach. Rarely works, but great (and crowded) when it does. Works off swell from up north. Can handle bigger swells, offshore wind is W. Left Hand waves…