Sydney Northern Beaches Private Tour | Palm Beach & Ku-ring-gai

Georges Heights provides dynamic harbour views out to the heads of Sydney Harbour and across to Watsons Bay. As you look south Shark Island and Shark Beach can be seen whilst the city of Sydney is on full display if you look further south west. A visit to Georges Heights also provides access to historical military fortifications that were built when the Colony of New South Wales became responsible for its own defence after the British removed its troops in 1870. We will inspect the heritage gun emplacements and canons whilst admiring the views. There is a nearby gunners barracks where military personnel resided in the event the harbour had to be defended. A seven metre high sandstone wall was built to protect the local gunners from invading hordes, complete with loopholes from which to fire rifles.

At Manly Beach we will walk near the Cabbage Bay Aquatic Reserve to picturesque Shelley Beach. On the way is a small rock pool with two elegant sculptures, locally known as the 'Sea Nymphs'. Shelley Beach is unusual in that faces directly back towards Manly Beach. It is a small secluded beach surrounded by cabbage tree palms. From Shelley Beach we walk up some stairs and enjoy a lookout the provides views of Manly Beaches and the beaches north of Manly. Depending upon the conditions we may see surfers applying their trade on a reef break with several take off spots. Whilst in the Manly area we visit the lookout known as North Head in the Sydney Harbour National Park. This is a great place from which to admire one of the best views of Sydney Harbour and the city of Sydney skyline. We may also have a photo stop and admire the grand neo-gothic sandstone building, that was formerly a seminary for priests (St Patricks).

Freshwater is a small popular beach located south of Manly Beach. If the seas are calm and the sun out the water at this beach looks delightful. After admiring 'Freshie' we walk around the ocean pool and then past a permanent public work known as the signal fire. The signal fire is a tribute to the communication systems whereby indigenous peoples living on the coast lit fires to communicate with each other. We then walk northwood along the coastal track to Curl Curl beach and take in the wonderful ocean views. As we get close to Curl Curl we come across yet another ocean pool and more spectacular views of the beach. Curl is a long beach (1.2kms) with golden sands and several surfing spots.

At Palm Beach we walk to the landmark Barrenjoey Lighthouse, constructed of locally sourced Hawkesbury sandstone. Once at the lighthouse we are spoilt with views in every direction. Looking south from the lighthouse we can see Palm Beach, an isthmus and the Whale Beach Headland. To the north west is Lion Island and Broken Bay. Directly west is the Pittwater inlet which is much loved by boaties, fishermen and kayakers. Across Pittwater is the lookout we will visit later in the day, West Head. Palm Beach is known for the long running Aussie soap opera, Home and Away. Filming may even be happening whilst we are there!

We continue our adventure by taking a short coastal drive to Avalon Beach. On the way we will see Whale Beach. The colour of the sand at Avalon Beach is distinctive having an orange colour due to iron oxides. There is a shallow cliff cave near the swimming pool at the southern end of the beach that provides good photo opportunities. If the swell is sizeable the ocean pool will be pounded by whitewater from breaking waves. Surf breaks exist at both ends of the beach and there is a further surf break further south if you look round the corner. A small grassed area at the south end of the beach provides panoramic views of Avalon and Rockie Beaches.

Ku-ring-gai Chase contains over 800 Aboriginal heritage sites, among the highest concentrations in Australia. The park was home to the Darramurragal and Garigal people, and the sandstone engravings at The Basin are among the most significant and best-preserved examples in the Sydney region. The engravings depict marine life, animals and human figures — carved into the same sandstone that underlies the entire coastline. Greg brings the stories and context that make them meaningful rather than just marks on rock. West Head Lookout is the final stop in the park — a wide view across Pittwater to Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Lion Island, with the Central Coast beaches visible to the north. It is one of the best viewpoints in the Sydney region and sees relatively few visitors. A great way to finish the tour before heading home.

Taronga Zoo has the usual suspects when it comes to African animals but most importantly the zoo offers a broad range of Australian animals. These include: kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, dingos, emus, southern cassowary, bilby, regent honeyeater, Australian sea lion, little penguin and platypus. Taronga zoo is also involved in numerous conservation, research, and breeding programs. One highly admirable program concerns the breeding of endangered Corroboree frogs (a striking frog) for release into the wild as a part of the National Recovery Program to help save the species. Taronga Zoo is a nice place to include in your day.

Brookvale, sometimes referred to as 'brewvale' is rated as a top Sydney craft beer area and has a handful of excellent microbreweries. If you would prefer a gin or other spirit there are a couple of distilleries in the area. A visit to Brookvale for a refreshing ale or other beverage is a fine way to finish the day.