The Northern Beaches are an amazing holiday spot and a wonderful place to live.
Summer may be the most popular season to visit, but in autumn the local residents are able to claim the beaches and nature walks as their own. At this time of year, the weather is cooling down but not yet cold, there are lots of things to do and it’s not so crowded.
Here’s a list of different ideas for weekend activities with family and friends.
Northern Beaches weekend walks
Manly Dam is a stunning spot to spend a sunny autumn day – with walking trails and mountain bike tracks, a playground and a picnic area, swimming and water-skiing, there’s something for everyone. Walks include a three-hour park circuit track, an easy wildflower walk and an Aboriginal self-guided walk, all with beautiful views and wildlife to enjoy.
Frenchs Forest: From a simple 20- to 30-minute walk around Bluff Track to a serious 15km walk around Middle Harbour Creek Loop, Frenchs Forest offers bush walks that will make you feel a lot more than 30 minutes away from the Sydney CBD.
Dee Why to Curl Curl: For something a little different, there is also the famous Dee Why Headland Walk from Dee Why to Curl Curl. The short 45-minute one-way walk takes you along some of the beaches’ most stunning coastline and through an important wildlife corridor, so keep your eyes open for native flora and fauna. If you have a dog, he or she can enjoy themselves off the leash at Adam St Reserve and Flora and Richie Roberts Reserve.
Beacon Hill: Governor Phillip Lookout in Beacon Hill Reserve is a breathtaking spot to enjoy views of the surrounding area right out to the ocean. After a short uphill walk, you will have some of the best views in the whole region.
Don’t forget to keep your eye out for sections of the Northern Beaches Coast Walk. This stretches 36 kilometres from Manly to Palm Beach and is nearly fully complete with user-friendly pathways.
Food and drink
You will never be short of dining options on the Northern Beaches. The following are some of our highlights for weekend treats and lunches.
Bubala Cafe in Allambie Heights is a local gem and the place to enjoy unique food that combines the owners’ Mediterranean and Middle Eastern backgrounds. Open all day and into the night, you can enjoy shakshuka or sticky date pancakes for breakfast right through to slow-cooked lamb shoulder and a whole baked cauliflower with goat’s curd and pomegranate for dinner, plus they offer kid-friendly meals.
The weather may be cooling down, but there’s still never a bad time for ice cream. And what could be better than ice cream on stunning Dee Why Beach? Chill Bar, right on the beach, has an excellent array of ice cream and gelato flavours as well as delicious milkshakes and a few savoury snacks to boot.
Also in Dee Why is Corretto. Here, you can enjoy an incredible bottomless long lunch on a clear autumn day while enjoying spectacular ocean views. Corretto is also famous for its vegan selection.
For a delicious lunch with a side of local history, you can’t go past the Tramshed in Narrabeen. Enjoy the fully restored tram that was among those used to transport people around the area prior to the 1950s.
Northern Beaches sporting activities
Autumn is an excellent time of year to get active without overheating or finding it too chilly to be outdoors.
- On the water: The Northern Beaches are a paradise of water sports. If it’s too fresh for an ocean swim, Manly Dam and the Narrabeen Lagoon are perfect for canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding.
- Team sports: If you live locally, there are plenty of team sports and clubs that you can join for some autumn and winter exercise. Check out the Northern Beaches Council site to find a soccer, baseball, rugby or cricket club for you or the kids.
- Indoor sports: If you do find the weather to be too cold, then there is always the Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre (NBISC) in Warriewood. Book ahead and you can organise a netball, basketball or volleyball match with some friends and then enjoy lunch and coffee at the cafe afterwards.
This is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things to do on the Northern Beaches. Let us know what you like to get up to on the weekends and please get in touch if you’re thinking of buying or selling in the area.
