There are many beautiful beaches in Australia. In Sydney, the two most famous are Bondi and Manly. I have been to both many times over the past 38 years. Within a few days of arriving from London, I have to return to see them. However, in my opinion, there is another beach, which is just as beautiful, and worth at least one visit on your trip, if you have the time. That one is Palm Beach on the Northern Shore. It is not as busy, and much more relaxed than the famous two. Depending on whether you drive or take a bus, it is a lovely day out. Personally, I take the bus from Wynyard Station.. At one time, it was one bus only but now it is two. It does take some time to get there, but it all depends on where you start from. First Bus The B-Line, B1 Bus: A double-decker bus from Wynyard Station, Carrington Street (Stand B). Take the bus to Narrabeen or Mona Vale B-Line stop. Second Bus Route 199 Bus: From the same B-Line stop area, transfer onto the 199 bus heading towards Palm Beach. This bus terminates near Palm Beach Wharf. There are cafe's there, so you won't be hungry. You could also bring a bit of a picnic with you, if you prefer. One of the big tourist things you could do, is take a slow walk/climb up to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse. There is an easy or more difficult trail. The view from the top is magnificent. It is better to do this on a day that is not too hot. It will be a long day and you will be tired at the end, but it will be worth it. I did not go on a tour. I went by myself, as I have done each time I have been in Australia.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Bottled water
- Freshly made sandwiches with a range of fillings (chicken, salmon or vegetarian) on sourdough bread plus salads
- photographs using a mirrorless camera
Excludes
- Ferry ticket from Manly to Circular Quay
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Georges Heights provides dynamic harbour views out to the heads of Sydney Harbour and across to Watsons Bay. As you look south Shark Island and Shark Beach can be seen whilst the city of Sydney is on full display if you look further south west. A visit to Georges Heights also provides access to historical military fortifications that were built when the Colony of New South Wales became responsible for its own defence after the British removed its troops in 1870. We will inspect the heritage gun emplacements and canons whilst admiring the views. There is a nearby gunners barracks where military personnel resided in the event the harbour had to be defended. A seven metre high sandstone wall was built to protect the local gunners from invading hordes, complete with loopholes from which to fire rifles.
At Manly Beach we will walk near the Cabbage Bay Aquatic Reserve to picturesque Shelley Beach. On the way is a small rock pool with two elegant sculptures, locally known as the 'Sea Nymphs'. Shelley Beach is unusual in that faces directly back towards Manly Beach. It is a small secluded beach surrounded by cabbage tree palms. From Shelley Beach we walk up some stairs and enjoy a lookout the provides views of Manly Beaches and the beaches north of Manly. Depending upon the conditions we may see surfers applying their trade on a reef break with several take off spots. Whilst in the Manly area we visit the lookout known as North Head in the Sydney Harbour National Park. This is a great place from which to admire one of the best views of Sydney Harbour and the city of Sydney skyline. We may also have a photo stop and admire the grand neo-gothic sandstone building, that was formerly a seminary for priests (St Patricks).
Freshwater is a small popular beach located south of Manly Beach. If the seas are calm and the sun out the water at this beach looks delightful. After admiring 'Freshie' we walk around the ocean pool and then past a permanent public work known as the signal fire. The signal fire is a tribute to the communication systems whereby indigenous peoples living on the coast lit fires to communicate with each other. We then walk northwood along the coastal track to Curl Curl beach and take in the wonderful ocean views. As we get close to Curl Curl we come across yet another ocean pool and more spectacular views of the beach. Curl is a long beach (1.2kms) with golden sands and several surfing spots.
At Palm Beach we walk to the landmark Barrenjoey Lighthouse, constructed of locally sourced Hawkesbury sandstone. Once at the lighthouse we are spoilt with views in every direction. Looking south from the lighthouse we can see Palm Beach, an isthmus and the Whale Beach Headland. To the north west is Lion Island and Broken Bay. Directly west is the Pittwater inlet which is much loved by boaties, fishermen and kayakers. Across Pittwater is the lookout we will visit later in the day, West Head. Palm Beach is known for the long running Aussie soap opera, Home and Away. Filming may even be happening whilst we are there!
We continue our adventure by taking a short coastal drive to Avalon Beach. On the way we will see Whale Beach. The colour of the sand at Avalon Beach is distinctive having an orange colour due to iron oxides. There is a shallow cliff cave near the swimming pool at the southern end of the beach that provides good photo opportunities. If the swell is sizeable the ocean pool will be pounded by whitewater from breaking waves. Surf breaks exist at both ends of the beach and there is a further surf break further south if you look round the corner. A small grassed area at the south end of the beach provides panoramic views of Avalon and Rockie Beaches.
Ku-ring-gai Chase contains over 800 Aboriginal heritage sites, among the highest concentrations in Australia. The park was home to the Darramurragal and Garigal people, and the sandstone engravings at The Basin are among the most significant and best-preserved examples in the Sydney region. The engravings depict marine life, animals and human figures — carved into the same sandstone that underlies the entire coastline. Greg brings the stories and context that make them meaningful rather than just marks on rock. West Head Lookout is the final stop in the park — a wide view across Pittwater to Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Lion Island, with the Central Coast beaches visible to the north. It is one of the best viewpoints in the Sydney region and sees relatively few visitors. A great way to finish the tour before heading home.
Taronga Zoo has the usual suspects when it comes to African animals but most importantly the zoo offers a broad range of Australian animals. These include: kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, dingos, emus, southern cassowary, bilby, regent honeyeater, Australian sea lion, little penguin and platypus. Taronga zoo is also involved in numerous conservation, research, and breeding programs. One highly admirable program concerns the breeding of endangered Corroboree frogs (a striking frog) for release into the wild as a part of the National Recovery Program to help save the species. Taronga Zoo is a nice place to include in your day.
Brookvale, sometimes referred to as 'brewvale' is rated as a top Sydney craft beer area and has a handful of excellent microbreweries. If you would prefer a gin or other spirit there are a couple of distilleries in the area. A visit to Brookvale for a refreshing ale or other beverage is a fine way to finish the day.
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Reviews
A very enjoying tour with a passionate and professional guide very involved and caring. You will never be bored at anytime and get to discover so Many beautiful beaches, heritage site and nature.
My tourguide Greg knew loads about the area and would answer all of my questions. Lunch was great and he also had loads of other snacks and water available.
This was an incredible trip. We met our tour guide at our hotel and had a trip to suit us. We had a lovely lunch at the beach and given lots of interesting facts about the area. We went to palm beach which I really wanted to see. It was a great day out which finished with us getting the ferry back from Manly. I would recommend this tour.
This tour was a first class, 5 star tour provided by our tour guide -- Greg. This was a private tour for just my wife and I and Greg did a wonderful job of making this day special for us. We were able to go and do things on this tour that you would not be able to do on a big bus tour. The driving through neighborhoods, the beaches visited, the short hikes and the National Park were all outstanding ---- and Greg even made lunch for us overlooking a beautiful beach and the spectacular ocean. This tour was more than we had expected it to be and we definitely recommend this tour and Greg to anyone who wants to spend a full day exploring the area around Sydney.
Greg was a great guide! Plenty of stops to get out and visit the beautiful beaches. Very interesting. I would recommend not booking this excursion on a weekend as the beaches are busier then. Also pack a good pair of walking shoes for the hike up to the lighthouse.
Greg was an exceptional guide with a well designed sequence of sites and activities, making the day delightful. He is warm, witty, thoughtful and fun. We learned a lot, and had a lot of fun doing so. Thank you!
Seeing gorgeous views of landscapes, driving through different neighborhoods and commentary as the tour proceeded.
Greg offered us a door to door service which made the whole tour possible as it was a raining day. Greg was very knowledgeable at what he does that he planned the journey well despite the heavy rain here and there…Greg made sure we covered a lot of places and even took us to the Zoo and waited for us to finish before dropping us back at our hotel. The lunch was also perfect. I will like to recommend Sydney Nimble tour (Greg) for anyone looking at visiting the highlights of Sydney in a day.
As Melbournians we have often visited Sydney but it was not until Greg took us on his Northern Beaches Tour that we really appreciated the natural beauty of the Harbour City. From Wooloomooloo to the Hawkesbury and all the beaches in between this is a magnificent tour. With morning coffee (almost as good as Melbournes) to a picnic lunch in the Ku-ring-gui National Park everything was organised to perfection. After 50 years touring the world this is one of the best private tours we have ever been on and it’s right in our own backyard.
We were pleasantly surprised by the breadth of this tour. We covered many, many sights, but had the flexibility to enjoy each one. Greg clearly tailors the tour to your desires, and is knowledgeable about each area.
I would recommend this tour for all that visit Sydney and want to see the northern beaches and city. Greg was a great tour guide and was able to tailor the tour to fit what we wanted to see. We also liked the national park and views of the sights. Thanks Greg for the great day!
We made a return trip to Sydney in Jan. 2020, and contacted Greg a few weeks before. He put another fabulous, customized tour together taking into account all new sights that we hadn't visited in 2019. The best summary of the overall experience is that you do not feel like a tourist, which is extremely important to us. We went swimming in a beautiful, hidden spot on a fabulous day, experienced two art galleries, relaxed in a microbrewery with all of the locals, and had a great dinners at his restaurant recommendations. It was exactly what we wanted. Greg also takes high quality photos of your trip that highlight the candid side and which you will want to keep forever. Also, be sure to ask Greg for a Sydney Nimble Tours T-shirt, which is very comfortable and has a great design. You will love the Sydney Nimble Tours experience!
Greg, met us early at our hotel and proceeded to show us numerous different beaches and small walks that we would have not known about. We covered a lot of sites and had a great time.
My husband and I were in Sydney for our 24th anniversary. We wanted to a tour that took us some of the places that were not so touristy and "off the beat and path." Greg provided an amazing, informative tour and took us to places we would have never heard of that were just beautiful! Since we already had spent time at the harbour he customized our tour with other amazing stops outside of Sydney and it was awesome to have the dialogue and history from a local perspective. Greg was a fun, informative guide and his tour was a highlight of our trip. We loved his fun, easy going manner and his flexibility. My husband and I highly reccommend his tours! We saw more of Sydney and the surrounding beaches in one day with him then we did all week! Truly Nimble!!! Thanks again Greg!
Sydney turned on the sunshine for our tour of West Head and surrounds. Greg our tour guide was very friendly, enthusiastic and flexible with the itinerary so we could stop at places that took our fancy. The first stop after a lovely drive through Kuring gai National Park was the Basin Aboriginal Art Site. Only a short flat walk from the carpark of 5-10 min and we reached the Aboriginal rock engravings. Such a tranquil and spiritual setting for these fascinating engravings. We had the place to ourselves with only the birds for company. Next stop was a short walk along the Red Hands track to see the caves with 2000 yr old painted hands. The highlight of our trip was the stunning vista from West Head Lookout. Breathtaking. For the next leg of our tour Greg took us to his favourite stretch of the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk for more breathtaking views of natural bushland and Sydney's magnificent Harbour. Next was a leisurely stroll around the estate of St Patrick's College with it's lovely Gothic building before heading to Greg's secret spot and a walk from the iconic Manly Beach to the picturesque Shelley Beach. Greg took us to the new Harbord Diggers where there were plenty of eating opportunities and from there a walk up to a surfing memorial honouring the "Duke" and local surfing legends. To top off an amazing day we caught a glimpse of a whale out to sea. I would highly recommend Sydney Nimble Tours with their local knowledge, for a thoroughly enjoyable and personal experience.
Although Sydney Harbor is impressive, getting out of the city center is once again, a great option. A tour of the North beaches up to West Head and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a great way to spend the day. My wife and I took a tour with a relatively new company (Sydney Nimble Tours) and the owner/operator, Greg, was extremely nice and very accommodating. Even though we booked last minute, he gave us a custom tour based on our interest in scenic photography.
Journée très agréable avec Greg notre guide privé qui a été très disponible pour nous montrer le maximum de choses avec bienveillance. Le seul bémol est la barrière de la langue !
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