Find the best beaches in Sydney and New South Wales, including maps, pictures, facilities, and things to do.
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Located within Royal National Park, the Wattamolla Beach area offers a stunning lagoon, a picturesque waterfall, a spacious picnic ground, and various walking tracks.
This scenic spot has grown into one of Sydney’s favourite destinations for weekend and day trips, perfect for a relaxing family outing.
The moderately challenging Flannel Flower Walking Track in Bouddi National Park winds through scenic bushland before reaching a secluded beach.
Lobster Beach, located in the coastal locality of Box Head on the Central Coast, is the perfect spot for a relaxing swim.
Tallow Beach and Little Tallow Beach are two beautifully isolated beaches in Bouddi National Park, accessible via a short bushwalking trail.
The walking track largely follows a fire trail, with a brief detour leading to the smaller beach along a narrower and more adventurous bush path.
Manly and Bondi are home to Sydney’s two most famous beaches, yet they’re quite different in many ways. While this article isn’t a comparison piece, one key difference stands out: the distinct atmosphere each location offers.
Manly has a more relaxed vibe compared to its eastern suburbs counterpart. This might be due to the quieter streets, the nearby secluded beaches to escape to, or the area’s pedestrian-friendly nature.
Mosman, an affluent Harbourside suburb on Sydney’s lower north shore, is a peninsula separating Middle Harbour from Sydney Harbour.
Just a stone’s throw away from the city, Mosman features leafy streets, scenic walking trails, vibrant retail spots, and a world-class zoo.
The Cronulla Beach Walk is a scenic 6 km trail along the Cronulla Peninsula shoreline, featuring beaches, ocean rock pools, parks, and playgrounds.
While most people visit Cronulla Beach because of its beautiful beaches and lively town centre, this beachside suburb is also home to one of Sydney’s best coastal walks.
One of the many advantages of living in Newcastle is the city’s access to some of the finest beaches along the New South Wales coastline.
Beyond its stunning beaches, Newcastle also boasts several magnificent ocean pools, offering family-friendly swimming in picturesque surroundings.
Sydney’s coastline, stretching from Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south, boasts a large number of ocean and rock pools.
Most major beaches in Sydney feature one or more man-made rock pools, many of which hold significant historical value.
Discover Sydney’s 15 best beaches, from family-friendly spots to iconic surf destinations, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing.
Sydney is a dream destination for swimming, sunbathing, and surfing, offering dozens of beaches to explore, from Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south.
The Jibbon Beach Loop Track is an easy walking trail in Bundeena, looping past Jibbon Head, Port Hacking Point, and Shelley Beach.
Expect coastal views, well-preserved Aboriginal engravings, and the chance for a swim in a quiet corner of Royal National Park.
The Resolute Beach Loop Track is a 6-kilometre bushwalk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, passing secluded beaches, scenic lookouts, and Aboriginal heritage sites.
For those wanting to visit Resolute or West Head Beach only, a much shorter walk will get you to those two beaches without doing the full loop.
Sirius Cove Reserve is a dog-friendly hideaway in the suburb of Mosman, featuring a small beach, a playground, and a picnic area.
Also known as Little Sirius Cove, this peaceful spot on Sydney’s Lower North Shore is a great starting point for several Sydney Harbour coastal trails.
Discover the seven best beaches in the Byron Bay area, suitable for swimming, surfing, snorkelling, sunbathing, and relaxing.
The coastline of New South Wales is home to some of the world’s prettiest beaches, and quite a few of them are located in Byron Bay in the northeastern corner of the state.
New South Wales is blessed with a coastline that delivers beach after beach, from lively surf spots to quiet stretches of sand you can have almost to yourself.
With so many great options, choosing favourites isn’t easy, but some beaches do stand out for their scenery, atmosphere, and sheer natural appeal.
Sydney is home to a great variety of stunning beaches, some famous around the world and others much smaller and a bit under the radar.
While spending a day at Manly, Cronulla, or Bondi can be fun, you’re likely to find yourself surrounded by thousands of other beachgoers and sunbathers.
Thankfully, Sydney still has its share of secluded beaches. These are quieter spots, often with minimal or no facilities, where you can soak up the Harbour’s beauty in peace.
While Sydney boasts countless stunning beaches along its coastline and within the Harbour, only a few are welcoming to dogs.
Most of Sydney’s beaches don’t allow dogs, not even on a lead, which can be disappointing given the city’s large dog population.
Located just south of Sydney, Royal National Park is Australia’s oldest and the world’s second-oldest national park.
With lookout points, waterfalls, walking tracks, and natural swimming pools, this 15,000-hectare park truly offers something for everyone.
While not everyone is keen on swimming in the buff, Sydney offers several nudist beaches where shedding your clothes is completely normal.
Though the nudist scene isn’t as prominent as it was in the 70s and 80s, nude swimming is still alive and well in Sydney and New South Wales.
Palm Beach is Sydney’s northernmost beach town, surrounded by the Tasman Sea, Broken Bay, and Pittwater. Situated 40 km north of the Sydney CBD, Palm Beach has a unique atmosphere that feels like a small tropical paradise.
Palm Beach is a popular day trip destination from Sydney, as well as a niche holiday retreat for tourists, backpackers, and Australian and international celebrities alike.
Milk Beach is a small, secluded strip of sand nestled in front of the historic Strickland House in Vaucluse, offering stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds of Bondi, Coogee, or Manly, Milk Beach provides the perfect spot for a peaceful, sunny afternoon.