Avalon Beach
Avalon Beach has surf and body surfing (often called body bashing in Australia) as well as swimming and good fishing. The beach is bordered by 60m high sandstone cliffs. Has a pool on the south end. About a ten minute walk to Avalon village with cafe’s, restaurants, cinema and shops. Rock pool and a kids playground are at the south end as well as BBQ facilities and picnic tables. Avalon itself has a number of great cafe’s, specialty shops and restaurants. Off Barrenjoey Road. Take the Wynyard Newport Bus 191, Wynyard Bus 190.
Byron Bay
The town has several beaches which are popular for surfing. It is a resort popular with both domestic and international tourists, including backpackers, who travel along the Australian coast, and the scenery attracts sky divers. The area is also noted for its wildlife, with the whale watching industry a significant contributor to the local economy.
An oceanway connects from the Byron Bay hotel in the centre of town out to the Cape Byron lighthouse and visitors are encouraged to choose sustainable options for moving around town like walking and cycling.
Byron Bay is the place where the temperate and tropical waters merge, making it a popular area for scuba diving and snorkelling. Most diving happens at Julian Rocks, which is now part of the recently established Cape Byron Marine Park and only a few minutes boat ride from Main Beach.
Tucked below Bilgola Bends, Bilgola Beach is about 500m long. Fringed by palm trees it can be very tranquil on an early weekday morning. Has surf club and rock pool, good for families. Bus 190, Wynyard in the city, or the 191 from Newport.
Surf Club, patrolled on weekends and public holidays during summer. Surfboards and swimming, but stay between the flags. 600m long, isolated by a steep hillside, between Bungan and Mona Vale Heads. Can only be reached on foot as there is no direct public road access to the beach. Spectacular views from the top. Has children’s playground, picnic area and BBQ facilities. Wynyard Bus 187.
Collaroy Beach is easy to get to, popular and the longest beach on the Sydney north shore, adjoining Narrabeen Beach. Has ocean pool and a Surf Club. While there, surfers and others may wish to check out the Surf Rock Hotel, with it’s excellent collection of surf memorabilia.
The beach is near Collaroy shops for various eateries and the Collaroy Cinema. Close to Long Reef Golf Course and Narrabeen Lakes, for sailing and canoeing. Named after a shipwreck with the name ‘Collaroy’. Pittwater Road. To get to Collaroy Beach, take Bus 182 or 190 from Wynyard in the city, or the 155 or 157 from Manly.
Both Clareville beach and Paradise beach are on the Pittwater. There are BBQ facilities and picnic tables available. Sailing, windsurfing, and canoeing are popular water sports here. Getting There: Bus 190 from Wynyard in the city.
Famed for its surf, swimming and lifestyle, Bondi Beach has become an Australian icon, has something for everyone and is the closest beach to the City Centre. The area has a relaxed and active nightlife with a good array of restaurants, cafe’s and night spots.
Other things to do there include shopping, golf by the sea and enjoying the local’s cafe beach culture. See more on Bondi Beach.
Getting to bondi
How to get to Bondi Beach, take the train to Bondi Junction, then the Bondi & Bay Explorer Bus to Stop no. 11. You can also catch the bus along various parts of the route from Sydney city central. The route takes in many of the sights of the Eastern Suburbs.
Near Tamarama, Clovelly and Coogee beaches, Bronte beach is just south of Tamarama beach. Good for swimmers and surfers alike. A scenic beach at the end of a green valley and shady park, it makes for a nice getaway for the whole family. There is a surf club and there are change facilities, and on the south end, a rock pool. For getting to Bronte Beach, take Sydney Central Rail Station Bus 378. Off Bronte Road.
Cronulla Beach is actually four named beaches on the 5km long beach, adjoining each other, backed by Cronulla Park, with Shelly Beach just further to the south. See Wanda, Elouera, North and South Cronulla below…
There are number of rock pools on the south side and a notable scenic coastal walk to Bass and Flinders, with views towards Port Hacking and Bundeena. The park has picnic facilities and change facilities. Cronulla Beach itself has lots of eateries including al fresco restaurants, a varied night life and a Multiplex cinema.
The Cronulla Beaches is a favoured Sydneysider place to go. In the photo below, note Botany Bay on the upper left corner and the train station in the centre, with the many beaches stretching north on the oceanside.
Getting to Cronulla Beach
How to get to Cronulla, you can catch a train from Sydney Central Station and along the Sydney City Circle or along the route.
Rainbow Beach
A coastal town in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, near Gympie. At the 2001 census, Rainbow Beach had a population of 999. The town’s name derives from the rainbow-coloured sand dunes surrounding the settlement; according to the legends of the Kabi people, the dunes were coloured when Yiningie, a spirit represented by a rainbow, plunged into the cliffs after doing battle with an evil tribesman.[2] Much of the sand colors stem from the rich content of minerals in the sand, such as rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite. A black dune of ilmenite sands, overgrown by dune vegetation can be found north west of the main town and offers a secret place of beauty for the nature enthusiast.
