"With a sweeping, two-kilometer curve of golden sand, Palm Beach is the jewel in the crown of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Backed by bush and topped by a rugged headland and lighthouse, it’s set on a skinny peninsula, with the ocean surf beach on one side and a calmer beach opposite. On the ocean side, North Palm Beach is popular for surfing; swimming tends to be safer at the south end, where there’s a 50-metre rock pool. Smaller Barrenjoey Beach (Station Beach) on Pittwater inlet is ideal for sheltered swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating." - Sophie Davies