Resolute Beach in Sydney’s Ku-Ring-Gai National Park is one you can only reach on foot or by boat. But once there, you have calm, clear water and fabulous views over Pittwater.
What is Resolute Beach?
Resolute Beach is a small, sandy beach in Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, Sydney. It tends to be quiet as not that many people know about it. But there’s also the difficulty of getting there – there’s no vehicle access to Resolute Beach, so you have to either walk or come by boat.
Either way, if you do make to this 60 metre-long Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park beach, you’ll be greeted with clear water and gorgeous views.
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.
Where is Resolute Beach?
Resolute Beach is in the West Head section of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. On the western shore of Pittwater, it faces out towards the headland of the Barrenjoey Peninsula.
Many Pittwater sailors like to moor their boat here, but if you’re not coming by water, you’re going to have to walk.
The walk from the West Head Lookout car park to Resolute Beach is 1.1km long, and steep in places.
Resolute Beach walk
The best way to visit Resolute Beach, however, is as part of the 4.4km Aboriginal Heritage Walk
This Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park walking trail is a loop, and it takes in Aboriginal rock art sites such as the Red Hands Cave, as well as West Head Beach and the West Head Lookout.
Don’t be confused by the Resolute Picnic Area, however. This is just off the West Head Road to the west of Red Hands Cave. It may have toilet and barbecue facilities, but it is nowhere near the beach.
Is it safe to swim at Resolute Beach?
Swells at Resolute Beach are minimal, due to the protection offered by the Barrenjoey Peninsula. This is not a surfing beach by any stretch of the imagination.
There are no lifeguards at Resolute Beach, however, so swimming is at your own risk. The only thing you realistically need to worry about is incoming boats.
Other beaches on the western shore of Pittwater include Great Mackerel Beach, Currawong Beach, Portuguese Beach and Perrys Beach.
National Park entry fee
If planning to visit Resolute Beach, you need to pay $12 per vehicle to enter Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
The gates to West Head are open from 06.00 to 20.30 during daylight savings time, but close at 18.00 the rest of the year.
For more information, visit the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website.
More Sydney travel
Other Sydney travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at Calmsley Hill City Farm.
- Taking on the Bondi to Coogee walk – including Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach and Clovelly Beach.
- 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.
- Guides to Sydney’s beaches: Milk Beach, Yarra Bay Beach.
