Bilgola Beach in Sydney is tucked in amongst steep green reserves. The surfing isn’t great, but the setting is spectacular and the rock pool is marvellous for swimming.
Bilgola Beach is one of those beaches that many Sydneysiders haven’t heard of. It’s not quite a secret beach, but Bilgola Beach certainly feels like a great find once you get there.
Sydney is blessed with dozens of beaches. In the eastern suburbs, Bondi Beach, Clovelly Beach, Maroubra Beach and Bronte Beach compete for attention. Sydney Harbour has the likes of Rose Bay, Milk Beach, Parsley Bay and Balmoral Beach.
Five great things to do while you’re in Sydney
- Take a small group tour to the Blue Mountains – with a Parramatta River cruise thrown in.
- See the landmarks and secret beaches – on a Sydney Harbour cruise.
- Discover Sydney’s most historic neighbourhood – on a Rocks walking tour.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise – and admire migrating humpbacks.
- Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – with beginner surfing lessons.
Sydney’s northern beaches
But the most impressive strips of sand in Sydney are arguably the northern beaches. The northern beaches stretch from Manly to Palm Beach at the top of the Barrenjoey Peninsula. Some of these beaches – such as Narrabeen, Collaroy and Mona Vale – are long, sweeping affairs. Bilgola is much smaller, but surrounded by the Bilgola Plateau. The Bilgola Plateau looks like steep craggy hills, but it’s more or less flat on top. It’s precipitous, though. Getting down to Bilgola Beach from the Barrenjoey Road feels like an achievement in itself.
Where is Bilgola Beach?
And it’s the setting that makes Bilgola special. Bilgola Beach is between the much better-known Newport Beach and Avalon Beach. It’s about 500 metres long, with marvellous views from the headlands. The North Bilgola Lookout and South Bilgola Headland Viewing Platform are worth clambering up to.
There are a series of thick, green reserves climbing up towards the Bilgola Plateau, too. Take your pick from the Eric Green Reserve, Attunga Reserve and Hamilton Reserve. The beachside Eric Green Reserve is the most accessible, and has a walking track to the South Bilgola Headland Viewing Platform.
Zubi at Billy’s and Bilgola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club
Unlike other beaches with shop and café-rammed esplanades, there’s not a massive amount going on at Bilgola Beach. Zubi at Billy’s will give you your coffee fix, however. Otherwise, the Bilgola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has a bar.
The Bilgola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club also provides lifeguards for the beach and the rock pool, which is just next to the surf club. This pool has been carved into the rocks to provide safer swimming, and it’s a spectacular place for a few laps.
Swimming and surfing at Bilgola
If swimming on the beach, the centre between the flags is safest. The rips at the southern end are notorious for requiring the lifeguards to spring into action. For surfers, there is a beach break over the sand bars, but this is not a classic surf beach.
Alternative Sydney beaches
Other beaches worth checking out in Sydney include Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Beach and Maroubra Beach in the eastern suburbs. Good options on the harbour include Balmoral Beach, Parsley Bay, Milk Beach and Camp Cove. Alternatively, plump for the Northern Beaches, including Avalon Beach, Whale Beach and Collaroy Beach.
More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Sydney’s top historic museums – including the Justice and Police Museum, Susannah Place Museum, Hyde Park Barracks and Museum of Sydney.
- 7 fantastic attractions in Sydney that most visitors overlook – including the Sirius anchor, the Macquarie Lighthouse, the Anzac Memorial, the Quarantine Station, the State Library of NSW and Elizabeth Farm.
- Neighbourhood guide to Surry Hills.
- What to expect at Calmsley Hill City Farm.
- Tackle the Aboriginal Heritage Walk to Resolute Beach in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
