Continent |
Australia |
Country |
Australia |
Next Big City |
Sydney |
Next Town |
Palm Beach |
|
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking |
Water
Type: |
Small wave |
Hazards: |
Rocks |
Quality: |
Crystal clear |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
Water is crystal clear. The ocean side is best during summer when NE sea breezes prevail. Waves are usually between 1-4 feet and sucky, a few rocks near the water's edge in places, of no real consequence.
Beach
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Big |
Hazards: |
Bystanders |
Beach Users: |
January, February, December |
Palm Beach is a peninsula about 500m wide bound on the far N side by Barrenjoey headland and lighthouse. Beautiful pristine golden sand beach, probably as beautiful as sand gets. There is ample parking nearby and adjacent grass rigging spot. Beach is approximately 50-100m wide and there is ample room to launch, although on crowded summer days care needs to be taken as the beach can get a little crowded with bathers. Be careful of traveling too far downwind in summer when a bathing area defined by yellow and red flags is in effect, this is strictly a 'no go' area. Tides.
Weather
Spring:
|
Normal |
Summer:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Fall:
|
Normal |
Winter:
|
Normal |
In summer water is 20-22°C and air 22-28°C. In winter water is 17-18°C and air 12-18°C. 3/2 steamer is necessary in winter and sun protection in summer. Summer season goes from late October to late March. Winter season from June to late September.
Wind
Best Months: |
January, February, March, December |
Wind Type: |
Thermal, Frontal |
Best Direction: |
NE |
Main Direction: |
NE, S, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW |
In summer expect 2-5 days of riding and 1-2 days in winter. In summer NE sea breeze is 11-20 knots in winter 15-40 knots. In summer usual direction is NE followed by S. NE is best. In winter usual direction is S-NW, SSW is best. Possible to also ride here in S or SE winds also, but there are better spots south of there. Winds become gusty when N or NNE or S or SSW and riding is not generally advised. Sidehsore NNE and SSW.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Short walk |
Best is by car from the airport, head to the Northern Beaches of Sydney, get onto Pittwater road and then Barrenjoey road. Take Barrenjoey Road to the very end and then head for the beach below the lighthouse.
Extra information
Kite leash is mandatory. In summer keep out of the red and yellow flagged area and at all times always give way to surfers and swimmers.
Nightlife