Things to do in Newport

Newport is a laid-back beachside village with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the tranquil waters of Pittwater on the other. It’s a vast water playground perfect for yachting, swimming and surfing. In fact, Newport Beach is also the home of three times world surfing champion, Tom Carroll.

If beaches are not your scene, wander through Newport village and enjoy coastal-themed shops, cafes and restaurants. Newport has so much to offer to both locals and visitors.

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Things to Do

Head to the beach

Newport is a 1.3km long beach, popular with surfers and swimmers. The Peak is an inshore reef towards the northern end of Newport Beach, fantastic for highly skilled surfers, while at the southern end you can enjoy the beautiful salt-water 50m rock pool bordered by a rocky escarpment. If you are looking for good fishing, head to the northern end of the beach instead.

Take a scenic clifftop walk

The walk north from Newport Beach takes you up the hill to tiny Bilgola Beach, which if you’re lucky, may have entirely to yourself. Bilgola beach offers surf breaks great for swimming and bodysurfing plus a fantastic 50 metre rockpool and kids pool.

If you head south from Newport Beach on the Coast Walk, you will pass the medieval-style Bungan Castle towering over the ocean. The lesser-known Bungan Beach lies beneath rugged cliffs and is only accessible by a walking track. Both walks will give you fantastic views of the neighbouring beaches, dramatic headlands and the ocean.

Boutique shops

With the main shopping strip just one street back from the beach, Newport specialises in a fantastically fresh coastal vibe. Newport has some of the most sought after boutiques on the Northern Beaches. On the main road stop by Splice Boutique and Knap Store and tucked up Robertson Road you’ll find Pony Rider, an Australian company who designs and produces ethical and sustainable creations for a curated lifestyle.

If it’s a hot day and you’ve forgotten your swimmers you can’t go past Larx for a huge range of swimwear.

Bert Payne Park

If you are looking for a great playground, try Bert Payne Park, located at Newport Beach. Here, the kids will be entertained for hours by a giant interactive bus, an enormous ramp, slides, climbing ropes, a merry-go-round and swings. There are also barbeque facilities, parking and facilities for a perfect day out.

Enjoy Pittwater from the water

Across the peninsula is Pittwater, another calm body of water worth exploring by stand up paddleboard, kayak or boat. You can even escape overnight by hiring a houseboat with Omega Clipper 34 or, if a yacht is more your style, Sailing Pittwater offer bare boat and skippered day charters.

Kayak or Stand up paddle board (SUP)

For those who want to tread lightly in the environment and give back a little, Pittwater Eco Adventures offers kayak, SUP, snorkel, yoga and mindfulness, bushwalking, as well as opportunities to learn about the land and give-back by way of: clean-up, bush regeneration, native tree planting and Aboriginal culture and heritage education.

If you would like to enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful waterway, Tony from Avalon Stand Up Paddle can show you the ropes and you’ll be paddling in no time.

Sailing

If inshore sailing, or motor cruising is your thing, then you can’t go past a visit to the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club or Royal Motor Yacht Club on picturesque Pittwater and the gateway to Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River. Visitors can dine in the waterfront restaurants and have a drink with some local sailors at the bar. Maybe even crew on a yacht in one of the weekly twilight or weekend races.

Eat + Drink

Newport is full of trendy little cafés with little shop windows and garden courtyards hidden out the back. Modern restaurants serve the freshest seafood available with world renowned wine lists to match. Dine in your beach gear or dress up, everything goes in Newport.

Zubi’s Bar, Rukus Café and Ma Baker & Co offer some of the best coffees around and for a refreshing gelato head to Cocoa Bar. Quirky Robertson Road offers terrific food and drink options, such as Oven Loven Pizzeria and Le Petit Mache.

One of the best places to spend a sunny afternoon is The Newport with its waterfront location and stunning Pittwater views. There is a huge communal deck surrounded by gardens to enjoy. Begin the day with a morning coffee, stay for a leisurely lunch and then continue onto sun-downers on the deck with a mix of live entertainment and top-rated DJ’s. With an alfresco marketplace feel, you have a huge range of areas and food outlets to choose from. Ranging from simple breakfast fare, to fish and chips, Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas and freshly shucked oysters or prawns.

Bert’s Bar & Brasserie is a part of The Newport and is inspired by 1930s grand hotel dining rooms with an open kitchen and accents of light pink and green which inspire this beautiful restaurant. Enjoy the freshest seafood including oysters, mud crab, lobster, caviar, line-caught wild fish as well as rib-eye steaks cooked on wood fire ovens or grills.

Enjoy leisurely lunches or warm summer night dinner outdoors at Restaurant Lovat for home-style food with an emphasis on market fresh seafood and premium quality steaks.

4 Pines Newport is the perfect place to visit after a sweltering hot day – choose one of their ice-cold brews to cool you down. You can’t beat the Devil’s Happy Hour available Monday to Friday between 4-5 pm or on Wednesdays, try the Farm to Plate organic meal with free pint or organic wine.

Mrs Robertson Wine & Cocktail Bar is a cosy bar with live music as well as a great selection of wine and cocktails.

Where to Stay

With plenty of bed and breakfasts available in the area, you can take your pick from quaint ocean view cottages or an entire apartment to yourself. If self-catering is not your style, the Metro Mirage Hotel Newport is a four star hotel that overlooks the crystal waters of Pittwater. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, spa and an onsite gym as well as waterfront dining.

If privacy and space is what you’re looking for, contact Beach Stays and peruse the stunning holiday houses available.

How to get there

Newport is 20.1km (12.4 miles) from Manly and 34 km (21.1 miles) from Sydney’s CBD.

Travelling on Public Transport?

• Catch a 199 bus from Stand B in Manly.
• Catch a  B1 bus from Wynyard to Mona Vale and jump on a 199 bus to Newport.