Enjoy a Rustic Weekend on the Northern Beaches

Ever felt like getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life, getting back to nature and nurturing your soul without travelling too far?

We’ve got the perfect place in mind – no traffic, no shops, no TV, no cinema and no restaurants.

Pack your beach gear, sports equipment (tennis racquets, golf clubs, fishing rods, etc) and the book you’ve been planning to read for a while. You’re now ready to head to Palm Beach for a rustic weekend away. Let the adventure begin!

Currawong on Pittwater is a Northern Beaches’ holiday experience like no other. Nestled on the fringe of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, this has been a secluded holiday haven for Sydney locals for decades.

To get there, take a relaxing 25-minute ferry ride from Palm Beach.

There are a variety of accommodation options available. The rustic cabins are nestled in a bushland setting with a sandstone escarpment backdrop. From your cabin, it is only a short walk down to the water’s edge where you will find a gorgeous sheltered beach, which is perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The recently renovated cabins will provide a camping-like experience with added comforts such as a well-equipped kitchen and private shower/toilet.

This is a weekend where no plans need to be made. The next two days are completely at your disposal to play, walk, swim, read, cook or eat when and wherever you wish!

There are some fantastic walks available, including the Basin Track and the Mackerel Track, which offer stunning ocean views as well as one of Sydney’s best Aboriginal art sites.

This 7km trail takes about 2-2.5 hours and is best done at low tide, so make sure you check the tide charts before you leave to ensure you don’t get your feet wet!

There are lookouts with fabulous views over to Barrenjoey Headland at Palm Beach and below to Mackerel Beach. Sit and enjoy the peace and quiet, interrupted only by the occasional cries of birds. More than 160 bird species have been recorded in the park, including lyrebirds, wood ducks, crimson rosellas, wedge-tailed eagles and pelicans.

Watch out for the confident kookaburras and dozens of inquisitive wallabies at The Basin. There are many native plants and wildflowers to enjoy on the walk, such as old man banksias, boronias, Christmas bush, waratahs and scribbly gums.

During the evening, turn out your lights, take your chairs out into the darkness to gaze at the many stars above and marvel at the tranquility of this unique place, far from the usual commercial pressures of holiday resorts and brimming with the quiet spirituality of the original custodians of the land.

Return to Palm Beach, the same way you arrived, but feeling restored and more peaceful after a wonderfully relaxing, rustic weekend away on the Northern Beaches.