Palm Beach is the northernmost beach suburb of Sydney. Â A mere 2 hour bus ride from the CBD brings you to the location of the Aussie soap opera “Home and Away” known as Summer Bay.
I first came here 16 years ago, pretty much to the day, with my daughter and her partner when we visited Sydney for the first time in order to attend the christening of my first grandchild. It is a breathtaking location.
On my first visit we took the trail up to Barrenjoey lighthouse which was quite a clamber up the cliff. This time I looked for the road – then very rough and bumpy – now resurfaced.
Before I headed up to the lighthouse I treated myself to lunch at the Boathouse, a restaurant on the edge of Barrenjoey beach on the Pittwater.
The food is expensive and not all that great, but the glass of Sauvignon Blanc and the view more than made up for that and I was celebrating my daughter’s birthday, even though, disappointingly, she wasn’t with me this time.
Walking along the shoreline was like walking in bath water, it was so warm, in contrast to the windier surf of the Pacific Ocean.
The road wound its way up the rocky outcrop to Barrenjoey lighthouse, with  the views I was looking for. Unfortunately the lighthouse is under renovation so I was unable to go inside, but I felt a sense of achievement having got to the top once again!
The views from the top are well worth the effort it takes to climb up there, even in extreme heat.
and on the way back to the bus stop I was incredibly lucky to see a kookaburra sitting on a pole posing for photographs.
If you enjoy a walk, short or long, then you may enjoy visiting Jo’s Monday Walk where you are in for a treat.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Great shots indeed, vibrant colours, and holiday brochure views to die for. The only problem is that I now have that terrible theme tune in my head!
Just back from a quick walk with Ollie and next door’s dog. (which I am looking after for two days) Freezing rain, soaked through, and ears so cold I can’t feel them.
Make the most of it, and enjoy NZ. I have always fancied seeing the Art Deco district of a place called Napier. I have no idea if you are near there. Of course there are two islands, and you might not even be on the same one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier,_New_Zealand
Regards as always, Pete. x
No freezing ears here thank goodness, but rain is forecast sadly 😦
I am staying on the north island about 100 km south of Auckland so unfortunately Napier (which I also fancy) and Martinborough (wine region) are too far away for a day trip. Next time…
Oh, and sorry about the ear-worm 😉
I will be heading out shortly for a long hike and I know it won’t be anywhere near as gorgeous (or warm) as this one! I appreciate that photos never really capture how truly magnificent a view is like this one so I can only imagine what it was like with the sound and smell. *sigh*
I have to echo Sue Slaght’s comment about the photo with the triple lines of waves hitting the short. I think that will be my “happy image” today as I trek in -10C temperatures.
The wave patterns are fascinating. I can watch them all day. Here in NZ we are staying high above the ocean and I am mesmerised by the waves and the colour of the water. My camera does not capture that colour at all. Hope you kept warm on your hike. I must say I don’t envy you!
It’s always frustrating when the camera won’t capture what we see!!
Enjoy your time in NZ!! 🙂
What an incredibly beautiful walk and climb, Jude. The views from the top are breathtaking, and that cute Kookaburra must have been the cherry on the top. 🙂
I knew what to expect from the top having been there before but with a film camera so I only have a couple of photographs. I just had to get up there again! So glad you enjoyed the walk with me 🙂
Lovely – I visited Palm Beach when I was in Australia 10 years ago, the idea was to tour some of the Home & Away locations but I had my leg in plaster so ended up just sitting on the beach, not much of a hardship in that beautiful location!
That must have been a bit of a trial, but yes, sitting on that beach is not too much of a hardship, although it was rather windy on the ocean-side on this day!
Kookaburras are nice to see, but when they’re laughing outside your window at 5am in the morning, that’s another story. 😉
2 hours from the CBD, and you’re still in Sydney but another world away. It is a beautiful spot.
I was lucky only to hear kookaburras during the day a couple of times, though there are lots of squawking birds in Dee Why! The whole chain of northern beaches are spectacular and even the southern ones aren’t bad, though I’m not overly fond of Bondi. And the south coast is also amazing. You live in Paradise!
Spectacular photos Jude you have really shown those poor freezing Northerners how beautiful it is down under. We had a whole family of Kookaburras woke us up this morning at 4am, not even dawn, and they seemed to keep cackling for so long.
As I said to LD you guys live in Paradise! Though you can keep the kookaburras 😉 No actually I love them too, despite their racket.
Yes I like the kookaburras too. I think they are the epitome of the Aussie larrikin spirit.
well just like Tess – I was gleaning a bit of sun – and blue cool calmness – 🙂 – awesome walk – thanks!
This looks like it was a lovely walk, Jude, especially with the lunch and the Sauvignon Blanc and the kookaburra! So was it extremely hot on this day? That beach looks fabulous, as do all the flowers. Thanks for sharing this summery walk. 🙂
That was a very hot week in Sydney. Apparently since we have been in NZ there has been a week of very dramatic electrical storms. I am hoping for a lovely warm weekend to finish off my holiday downunder! Before I head back to the cold north
I’m glad you’re enjoying being warm for the holidays, Jude. When will you head back to the cold north? 🙂
2 days left sadly and then the long flight home followed by the horrible coach/train/train trip back to the Shires. Hate that part the most, having to lug suitcases on and off transport, and I swear my large case is much heavier going back. I am going to start travelling with very small cases in future!
I guess you must be making that arduous trip back home now, Jude. Have safe travels. Haha, I always say I’m going to pack lighter in the future, and somehow that never happens. I hope you have better self-control than I do! Happy holidays. 🙂