Palm Beach Day Trip: Barrenjoey, Home and Away and the Ferry
A full day at Palm Beach: the bus or the drive, parking costs, the surf and Pittwater sides, Home and Away locations, Barrenjoey Lighthouse and ferries to the Central Coast.
Palm Beach sits at the very tip of Sydney’s Northern Beaches peninsula, 40-odd kilometres from the city, where the road runs out and there’s water on three sides. On the ocean side it’s a long, golden surf beach. On the other side, a few hundred metres away, is the calm, boat-dotted Pittwater, with a wharf, seaplanes and ferries across to the Central Coast. Overhead on the headland stands a sandstone lighthouse. For millions of television viewers around the world, Palm Beach Sydney is also simply Summer Bay, the fictional home of Home and Away.
This guide covers the whole day out: getting there by bus, car or seaplane, the ocean beach and the Pittwater side, the Home and Away filming locations, the lighthouse on Barrenjoey Headland, ferries across to Wagstaffe and Ettalong, where to eat, and how to plan the day so you don’t spend most of it on a bus. Details were checked in September 2026. Parking charges, ferry fares and timetables change, so check them before you go.
Palm Beach at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Distance from the CBD | About 40 km north |
| By bus | B1 from Wynyard to Mona Vale, then route 199 to Palm Beach; check the Trip Planner for times |
| By car | About an hour outside peak traffic, much longer on summer weekends |
| Parking | Council pay parking in 2026 costs A$8/hour (May–Sept) and A$10/hour (Oct–Apr) |
| Beaches | Ocean side (surf, patrolled in season) and Pittwater side (calm) |
| Barrenjoey Lighthouse | Grounds open daily; interior tours on Sundays, bookings required |
| Ferries | From Palm Beach Wharf to Wagstaffe, Ettalong, The Basin and Mackerel Beach |
| Home and Away | Filmed here since 1988, usually on weekdays |
| Best for | A slow day of beach, lunch and walking; start early |
Getting to Palm Beach
By bus: the B1 and route 199
Take the B1 from Wynyard in the CBD to Mona Vale, then change there for route 199 to Palm Beach. It’s cheap on Opal, and the last stretch up the peninsula is lovely. It’s also a trip with a change in the middle, so allow plenty of time. Our Sydney bus routes guide and Opal card guide explain fares and tapping on.
If you’re staying in Manly, local buses run up the peninsula too. Check the trip planner for the best connection on the day.
By car
Driving from the city takes about an hour on a clear run via the Spit Bridge and the long drive up Pittwater Road and Barrenjoey Road. On a hot summer weekend it can take much longer, and parking is the bigger problem. Northern Beaches Council charges for beach parking at designated areas, and in 2026 the rate was A$8 per hour or A$35 per day off-peak (1 May–30 September) and A$10 per hour or A$40 per day in peak season (1 October–30 April), applying between 6am and 9pm. The council has also introduced a parking management plan around Pittwater Park, with time-limited zones. Read the signs carefully, because fines are enforced.
By seaplane
For a special occasion, seaplanes fly from Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour to Pittwater at Palm Beach, often packaged with lunch at one of the restaurants nearby. The flight up the coast takes around 20 minutes, versus the best part of two hours on the bus, and the views are spectacular. It’s expensive, so check the operator’s current prices and packages.
The ocean beach
Palm Beach itself is a long, gently curving surf beach of around two kilometres, running from the rock pool at the southern end to the foot of Barrenjoey Headland in the north. It’s patrolled by the surf club in season, so swim between the red and yellow flags.
- The southern end has the Palm Beach ocean pool and the most sheltered swimming. See our guide to Sydney’s ocean pools.
- The middle, near the surf club, is the patrolled area and the Home and Away heartland.
- The northern end, towards the headland, is quieter and more exposed. Rips can be strong here, so don’t swim outside patrolled areas unless you’re experienced.
For surfing lessons and other breaks along the peninsula, see our surfing in Sydney guide.
The Pittwater side
Walk a few minutes west from the ocean beach and you’re in a completely different world. Pittwater is a long, sheltered estuary. The beach here is calm and shallow, lined with Norfolk Island pines, and good for young children, paddleboards and kayaks. Yachts swing on moorings, seaplanes land and take off, and the wooded hills of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park rise across the water.
This is also where you’ll find Palm Beach Wharf, the ferry departure point, and Governor Phillip Park, a large grassy reserve at the northern end with picnic spots and access towards the headland.
Home and Away: visiting Summer Bay
Home and Away has been filmed at Palm Beach since the show began in 1988, and it’s one of Australia’s longest-running television exports. For fans, particularly from the UK and Ireland where the show has a huge following, a visit is something of a pilgrimage.
- The surf club, Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club, is the real building used as the Summer Bay surf club.
- The beach and the headland appear in countless scenes, and Barrenjoey Lighthouse is instantly recognisable.
- The Pittwater side near Governor Phillip Park has also appeared regularly.
Filming usually happens on weekdays, and you may well stumble on a crew. Keep a respectful distance, follow any instructions from crew or security, and don’t try to walk into a shot. Several companies run Home and Away tours from the city for fans who want the locations pointed out. They’re convenient, but a self-guided visit by bus covers the same main spots for the price of a bus fare.
Barrenjoey Headland and the lighthouse
The lighthouse on Barrenjoey Headland, built from local sandstone in the 1880s, is the image everyone takes home from Palm Beach. The grounds are open every day and the climb is short but steep, taking around 20–30 minutes up. There are two routes: the gentler, longer Access Trail, and the steeper Smugglers Track with its stone steps.
At the top you get the view across Palm Beach, Pittwater, Broken Bay and the Central Coast, and during whale season (roughly May to November), you may spot humpbacks offshore. Tours inside the lighthouse run on Sundays, run by National Parks, with bookings required.
Practical notes: there’s no shade on the upper part of the track, it’s steep enough to be hard work on a hot day, and there’s no water at the top. Go in the morning or late afternoon, and wear proper shoes.
Ferries from Palm Beach Wharf
One of the best parts of a Palm Beach day is getting on the water. Palm Beach Ferries, run by Fantasea, operates services from Palm Beach Wharf across Pittwater and Broken Bay.
| Destination | Time from Palm Beach | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Wagstaffe | About 20 minutes | A tiny waterside village on the Central Coast, with a lovely little beach |
| Ettalong Beach | About 25 minutes | A busier Central Coast town with cafés, a beach and weekend markets |
| The Basin | Short hop across Pittwater | A calm beach and campground in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park |
| Mackerel Beach | Short hop across Pittwater | A small community reachable only by boat |
Services to Wagstaffe and Ettalong run up to around ten times a day, roughly hourly, with new fares introduced on 1 January 2026. Check the current timetable and fares on the Palm Beach Ferries website, and note the time of the last ferry back. The Ettalong run makes it possible to link Palm Beach with a Central Coast day. See our Central Coast guide.
Eating and drinking
Palm Beach has a well-heeled weekend crowd and restaurants to match, along with a handful of simpler options.
- The Pittwater side has waterfront cafés and restaurants, including a boathouse café on the water and a historic hotel near the wharf that has been a Palm Beach fixture for generations. Book ahead for weekend lunch.
- Near the ocean beach, you’ll find cafés, a kiosk and takeaway food for a beach lunch.
- Whale Beach, a short drive south, is home to one of Sydney’s best-known cliff-top restaurants, a classic seaplane lunch destination.
Honest advice: the sit-down options are expensive and busy at weekends. If you’re on a budget, buy lunch in Mona Vale or Avalon on the way up and picnic on the Pittwater side.
A day at Palm Beach, hour by hour
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | B1 from Wynyard (change at Mona Vale for route 199), or leave by car |
| 09:45 | Arrive, coffee on the Pittwater side |
| 10:00 | Walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse before the heat |
| 11:30 | Swim on the ocean beach between the flags |
| 13:00 | Lunch on the Pittwater side |
| 14:30 | Ferry to Wagstaffe and back, or a lazy hour on the calm beach |
| 16:30 | Look for Home and Away spots near the surf club |
| 17:00 | Bus or drive back to the city |
If you have less time, the lighthouse and a swim are the essentials. If you’re coming by car on a summer weekend, arrive before 9am or expect to spend a long time looking for a parking space.
What a Palm Beach day costs
| Item | Budget version | Comfortable version |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Bus both ways on Opal (B1 and route 199): a few dollars | Car plus a day of peak-season parking: A$40, plus fuel |
| Lunch | Picnic from Avalon or Mona Vale: A$15–20 | Sit-down waterfront lunch: A$60–100+ per person |
| Ferry | Skip it, or a short return hop | Return trip to Wagstaffe or Ettalong |
| Lighthouse | Free walk to the grounds | Sunday interior tour |
| Extras | Swim, rock pool and beach time: free | Kayak or paddleboard hire on Pittwater |
The single biggest variable is transport. A family of four driving up on a summer Saturday can spend more on parking than on lunch, while the same day by bus costs almost nothing. The trade-off is time.
Getting on the water
Pittwater is one of the best stretches of sheltered water in Sydney. On a calm morning, hiring a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from the Pittwater side and paddling along the shoreline is one of the nicest ways to spend an hour here. Stay close to shore, watch for boats and seaplanes, and remember the wind usually picks up in the afternoon. Boat hire businesses operate around Pittwater for anyone licensed to drive a small boat, and a day on the water exploring the bays of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a classic Sydney summer outing.
Palm Beach with kids
- Swim on the Pittwater side. The water is calm and shallow, and there’s grass and shade under the pines.
- Use the rock pool at the southern end of the ocean beach for confident young swimmers.
- Think twice about the lighthouse with small children in summer heat. It’s short but steep, with no shade near the top.
- Make the ferry the adventure. Even a short return trip across Pittwater is a highlight for kids.
- Pack more than you need. Shops near the beach are limited and expensive.
For more family outings, see our family day trips guide.
Across the water: The Basin and Ku-ring-gai Chase
The ferry to The Basin is the easiest way to reach the Pittwater side of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park without a car. The Basin has a calm, sheltered beach, a grassy campground popular with families, and walking tracks into the bush, including routes up to the ridge-top roads of the park. It makes a peaceful half-day contrast to Palm Beach’s weekend crowds. Check the ferry timetable carefully for the last return service, and take everything you need, because facilities are basic.
Is Palm Beach worth the trip?
Yes, with realistic expectations. Palm Beach is one of the most beautiful spots in Sydney, and the combination of surf beach, calm estuary, lighthouse walk and ferry trips makes for a genuinely varied day. The downsides are the long bus ride, expensive parking and pricey food.
- Worth it: for Home and Away fans, walkers, anyone who loves the coast, and visitors with a full day to spare.
- Less worth it: if you only have half a day. You’ll spend most of it on the bus. Manly by ferry is much quicker for a beach fix.
- Consider staying nearby: the Northern Beaches have plenty of accommodation, and a night at Avalon or Palm Beach turns a long day into a relaxed one.
For the full picture of the peninsula, see our Northern Beaches guide.
Stops on the way
The road to Palm Beach passes a string of beaches, any of which could fill a day on its own:
- Collaroy and Narrabeen: long surf beaches, and Narrabeen Lakes for calm-water paddling.
- Mona Vale: the main shopping centre at the top of the peninsula, with a good rock pool.
- Newport and Bilgola: Bilgola is a small, pretty beach in a steep valley.
- Avalon: a relaxed village with good cafés and an excellent beach. It’s a favourite with locals who find Palm Beach too busy.
- Whale Beach: dramatic and quieter, just south of Palm Beach.
When to go
| Season | What it’s like |
|---|---|
| Summer (Dec–Feb) | Best swimming, beach fully patrolled, heavy traffic and parking pressure at weekends |
| Autumn (Mar–May) | Warm water, fewer crowds, and the best all-round season |
| Winter (Jun–Aug) | Cool, clear, whales off the headland, cheaper off-peak parking |
| Spring (Sep–Nov) | Warming up, whales heading south, good for walking |
Weekdays are far quieter than weekends in every season, and they’re also when you’re most likely to see Home and Away filming.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Palm Beach from Sydney?
Take the B1 bus from Wynyard to Mona Vale and change there for route 199 to Palm Beach (check the Trip Planner for the day’s times), or drive in about an hour outside peak traffic. You can also take a seaplane from Rose Bay.
Is Palm Beach where Home and Away is filmed?
Yes. Palm Beach has stood in for Summer Bay since the show began in 1988. The surf club, beach and Barrenjoey Lighthouse all appear regularly. Filming usually happens on weekdays.
How much is parking at Palm Beach?
Council pay parking in 2026 costs A$8 an hour or A$35 a day from May to September, and A$10 an hour or A$40 a day from October to April, in designated areas. Check signs, as time limits also apply.
Can you go inside Barrenjoey Lighthouse?
Only on a guided tour. National Parks runs tours on Sundays, and bookings are required. The grounds are open to walk up every day.
How long is the walk to Barrenjoey Lighthouse?
About a kilometre each way, taking 20–30 minutes up, via either the gentler Access Trail or the steeper Smugglers Track.
Where does the Palm Beach ferry go?
From Palm Beach Wharf on Pittwater to Wagstaffe and Ettalong on the Central Coast, and to The Basin and Mackerel Beach across Pittwater.
Is Palm Beach good for swimming?
Yes. Swim between the flags on the patrolled ocean beach, in the ocean pool at the southern end, or on the calm Pittwater side, which is best for children.
Is Palm Beach worth a day trip?
Yes, if you have a full day. The lighthouse walk, surf beach, calm Pittwater side and ferries make for a varied day, but the bus ride is long.
The wooded headland you can see across Pittwater from the wharf is West Head, and the view back from its lookout is just as good. Our Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park guide covers West Head, the rock engravings, and The Basin, which is one short ferry hop from Palm Beach.
Related Sydney guides
- Day trips from Sydney — every option near and far.
- Northern Beaches guide — the whole peninsula, beach by beach.
- Sydney beaches — the best of the city’s coastline.
- Bondi to Manly walk — a longer coastal walk closer to town.
- Where to stay in Manly — a closer base for the Northern Beaches.
- Port Stephens from Sydney — a bigger beach trip further north.
Photo Credits
Palm Beach from Barrenjoey Headland: Palm Beach NSW by KSpilling, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse: Barrenjoey Head Lighthouse 22042014 by Pdaniels1956, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Pittwater beach and ferry wharf: The Ferry Wharf, Palm Beach, Sydney by MD111, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Palm Beach and Barrenjoey Lighthouse: photograph from the site library, via Pexels.