Week-long stays on the Northern Beaches
When you’re desperate for a vacation but can’t muster the enthusiasm to go far from home, why not try a staycation instead? With gorgeous beaches and scenic coastal walks, the Northern Beaches is the perfect spot for a week-long staycay. Start with a couple of days in Manly and then head north for the full Northern Beaches’ experience.
Where to stay
The Northern Beaches has plenty of places to stay.
The Manly Pacific is located opposite Manly Beach and offers views of the beach and district. It has a rooftop pool where you can sit back after a long day of exploring the hidden bays and surrounding areas.
If you want to bring your furry friend, Manly’s Hidden Gem offers pet-friendly accommodation and is only a 5-minute walk to Manly Beach, making it ideal for a brisk morning walk with your pooch.
Head north to Narrabeen Sands Hotel, a 4-star hotel directly across the road from Narrabeen Beach. All rooms have a private balcony and there is an onsite bar and restaurant. With an outdoor terrace, Narrabeen Sands Hotel is also the perfect spot for a drink with friends.
If camping under the stars is more your style, check out the NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park with its amazing location only metres from both the beach and the calm waters of Narrabeen Lagoon. If you prefer glamping (especially during the cooler months), they also have villas and cabins with heating.
Pasadena is a waterfront restaurant, bar and boutique hotel located in picturesque Church Point. Its accommodation is designed to reflect the 1929 Art Deco period and offers stunning views of Pittwater.
At the northernmost point of the Northern Beaches you’ll find Barrenjoey House overlooking serene Pittwater and Palm Beach Wharf. It offers a choice of seven beautifully designed guest rooms plus an upstairs shared lounge exclusive to Barrenjoey House guests.
Days 1-2: Manly
Manly is the perfect place to begin your adventure, with plenty of tours, activities and restaurants. We recommend you spend at least two days exploring this suburb, known as the gateway to the Northern Beaches. Check out our half-day, full-day and 48-hour Manly itineraries.
Day 3: Pittwater
After a couple of days in Manly, head north and spend at least one day enjoying picturesque Pittwater.
This beautiful waterway offers many fantastic boating adventures, with plenty of sailing charter companies on hand to help you explore the beautiful and secluded inlets and coves. Pack a hamper and find the perfect spot for a private picnic.
Taylor Made Escapes allows you to escape overnight or just for a few hours with one of their luxury skippered cruises. The boat comes with a fully qualified host who will skipper the boat. Simply sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning views.
Sailing Pittwater offers day and overnight charters on their boat ‘Sha Meduza’. Experience beautiful views of Palm Beach, West Head, Lion Island and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. BYO food and drinks.
If you’re up for some hiking, take the Palm Beach Ferry to the Basin (there’s a small landing fee of $3 per adult, $2 per child) for a day of exploring. The Basin is located in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and is one of the only places on the Northern Beaches where you can see wallabies in the wild. Take the Basin track to the Basin Aboriginal art site. After exploring the extensive range of engravings, continue along the walking track to The Basin picnic area and enjoy lunch (pack a picnic with some local produce, or take some sausages and barbeque utensils for use on the public BBQs) and a swim before heading back to Palm Beach Wharf.
If you visit between May and November, head out to sea on a Fantasea cruise for a scenic, educational and up-close encounter with the whales that are travelling the coastline at this time of year. If you’d prefer to admire these majestic creatures from dry land, have a read of our guide to the ‘Top spots for whale watching on the Northern Beaches.’ Check fantasea.com.au for the ferry times and to book your whale-watching experience.
If one day on Pittwater isn’t enough, take another day and join a Kayak tour with Pittwater Kayaking Tours. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Ku-Ring-gai National Park, Palm Beach and Barrenjoey from the water, and go for a bushwalk to Resolute Beach.
After a day on the water there’s no better place to watch the sunset than The Newport, with its stunning views over Pittwater and huge communal deck surrounded by gardens. The Newport has a huge range of areas and food outlets set out like an alfresco marketplace. Choose from fish and chips, Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, freshly shucked oysters or prawns. It’s the perfect spot to end a perfect day.
Day 4: Palm Beach and surrounding areas
Iconic Palm Beach has long been a beautiful getaway for local Sydneysiders, but it really hit the headlines internationally as “Summer Bay” in the long-running Australian TV series Home and Away.
People now flock to Palm Beach not only to enjoy the laid-back lifestyle and beautiful scenery, but also in the hope of seeing a Home and Away star. Either go it alone and hope you strike it lucky, or join a Home and Away tour with expert guides who will share their extensive Home and Away knowledge and point out all the locations of interest. They also have tours that guarantee meeting one of the actors from the show.
No visit to Palm Beach is complete without walking up to the iconic Barrenjoey Lighthouse. This 1km walk will reward with panoramic views over Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the Northern Beaches and the Central Coast. If you’re visiting the lighthouse on a Sunday, they have 30-minute history tours departing every hour between 11am and 3pm.
With all this exercise, you’ll need to fuel up, and Palm Beach has a lovely selection of food outlets. The Boathouse Palm Beach is located near the start of the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk and is a great spot to stop for breakfast or lunch. On weekends they’re sure to be busy, so get there early to enjoy the stunning views of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Dunes Palm Beach is a coastal-themed restaurant specialising in seafood, and kiosk featuring a delicious all-day breakfast and a coastal lunch.
Barrenjoey House is a historic restaurant, bar and guesthouse offering lunch and dinner. Stay for happy hour as the sun sets over the horizon.
Palm Beach Fish and Chips is a laid-back eatery that offers delicious seafood, where you can eat in or take it across the road to Pittwater Park and enjoy the stunning views.
For a totally indulgent meal, award-winning Jonah’s Restaurant in nearby Whale Beach serves up contemporary Australian cuisine with an Italian influence and stunning views over the ocean. If you want to fully immerse yourself in this experience, book in for the night in their beautiful boutique hotel.
Travelling south from Palm Beach you’ll find the delightful little beach village of Avalon, with its shops and small boutiques offering locally made gifts and catering to a variety of styles and tastes. Some local favourites include the earthy natural clothing brand Mamapapa and the bohemian clothing and gift shop Table Tonic. The village also has a great selection of organic cafes and alfresco dining options. Expect a variety of unique options ranging from coffee sold from a Kombi van to delicious French cuisine or organic vegan eats.
Day 5: Narrabeen
For another day of exploring, Narrabeen has plenty to offer with beautiful beaches, a picturesque lagoon, great walks and stunning bike routes. Narrabeen Lagoon is the perfect spot for outdoor activities, such as bushwalking, fishing, jogging, stand-up paddleboarding, cycling and kayaking.
Start your day with either a walk or bike ride around Narrabeen Lagoon. The 8.6km trail winds around the foreshore of the lagoon. Enjoy views of the different ecosystems, wildlife, cultural heritage and historical icons. Allow around 2-3 hours if walking.
If you’d like to hire a bike, visit either Narrabeen Lakes Bike Hire or My Ride Narrabeen.
After experiencing the lagoon from the land we recommend you see it from a different perspective by hiring either a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard from Prokayaks and taking to the water.
Narrabeen is a fantastic place to eat and drink. If you’re looking to catch the morning sun close to the beach, try Oceans Narrabeen, a local icon serving up exceptional food with friendly customer service. It offers beach classics such as breakfast wraps, gourmet burgers, fresh seafood and classic fish and chips to eat in or take away.
If you’re after breakfast and a great coffee try Zubi Espresso, while Mexicano has you covered for dinner with their tapas, quesadillas and tacos paired with a delicious margarita.
Moonlight Social House offers entrees to share, main meals and pizzas with amazing gluten-free options. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, where you can relax with a pizza and a drink in hand.
Another great spot to dine is on the shores of Narrabeen Lagoon where you can choose from a variety of cuisines, such as Indian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican or iconic Australian fish and chips.
Narrabeen also has an outdoor market on the 3rd Sunday of every month, at Berry Reserve, adjacent to the lagoon.
Day 6: Church Point and surrounding areas
Start your morning with a walk around West Head and experience panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Palm Beach, Lion Island and the Central Coast. It is particularly stunning at sunrise. West Head also has some amazing walks. A favourite is West Head army track.
Church Point is a beautiful spot to stop for lunch after your morning exploring West Head.
Here you will find Pasadena and the Waterfront Store, both ideally situated on the waterfront.
Pasadena specialises in fresh seafood and beautiful accommodation with water views.
The Waterfront Store has grown from a small post office and general store to a quaint and bustling café. It has a large and tasty menu covering everything from pizzas and pastas to gourmet burgers, sandwiches and “World flavours” like butter chicken and Greek mezze plate. They also have live music.
If you fancy a dip after a busy day, head to Mona Vale Beach and either take on the surf or dive into the calm waters of Mona Vale Rockpool.
After a swim, nothing tastes better than a crisp brew. Head to craft brewing company Modus Operandi Brewing Company, located in the industrial area just behind Pittwater Place, Mona Vale, and sample their award-winning beers and great food specials.
For a fantastic pub experience, check out the The Mona in Mona Vale, a multi-purpose dining and social space offering pub classics inspired by Mexican, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern styles and flavours.
Day 7: Brookvale
For your last day exploring the Northern Beaches we recommend you start your day with a scenic walk. One of our favourites is the walk from Freshwater to Dee Why Beach. Be sure to eat at one of the many cafes and restaurants along the way.
Now head to Brookvale and experience this buzzing hub of fantastic craft breweries, as well as a number of gin and whiskey distilleries. Their close proximity to each other makes it the perfect walking tour.
Bucketty’s Brewing Co serves delicious fresh beers and super delicious food from their onsite food truck. They are open Thursday to Sunday.
Nomad Brewing Co has turned an old carpet warehouse on Sydenham Rd into a brew house and tasting room. Their tasting room is open Thursday to Sunday. You’ll be able to try their popular beers, as well as a couple of their limited releases.
Dad and Dave’s Brewery is a family-operated business with 20 taps and food trucks.
4 Pines Truck Bar was one of the first breweries to have its start in Brookvale. It has great happy hour specials, weekly trivia and live music.
Broken Bay Brewing offers a core range of beers and a host of seasonal and limited-release brews.
7th Day Brewery’s tap room is open Wednesday to Sunday where you can sit under their party lights and among the fermentation tanks, drinking cold beer and eating authentic Italian food from nearby Sale Pepe.
Freshwater Brewing Company is a vibrant and welcoming space open seven days a week. Sample its range of craft beers, including the popular IPAs and seasonal brews.
Manly Spirits Distillery is a trendy spot with stand-out drinks and food offerings to fuel an evening. You can also enjoy a tour of the distillery.
Noble Craft Distillers makes a juniper-forward, London Dry-style gin.
Australia’s native hardwoods give Goodradgibee Distillers‘ Australian hardwood malt spirits their unique taste.
If you want to enjoy the spirit of spirits with none of the downside, try Seadrift Distillery and its range of 0% alcohol gins, whiskeys and vodka.
Nearby, Westfield Warringah Mall is a large shopping centre with more than 270 stores as well as a large variety of casual dining options, making it a great spot to shop, eat or just hang out, especially on a rainy day.
Brookvale also has three of the biggest op shops on the Northern Beaches and is a great spot to pick up a real bargain.
If you’re visiting between the months of March and October, buy a ticket to watch the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team play a home game at Brookvale Oval (4 Pines Park). To check when their next home game is being played, follow this link to their website.
If you want to get away for a week but don’t want to go too far, look no further than the Northern Beaches. There are so many things to do and see, you’ll wish you had a month.