Mona Vale Beach

During my time studying abroad in Sydney, this was one of my favorite beaches to go to. It was a quick and affordable 30-​minute bus ride from MacUni.
The best part about Mona Vale was it was so peaceful and calm. A lot of the beaches by Sydney’s city centre were flooded with people, so it was always nice to go to this beach to get away from the mainstream beaches of Sydney. (Don’t get me wrong; those are great too!)
This beach was always so clean. It was relatively calm and the waves weren’t too crazy. It was a very residential area, so you have to walk a bit of a way to get to the beach from the bus stop and the restroom /​restaurants /​shops, but it’s worth the 5 minute walk!
For some unknown reason, there would always be these random tiny foam balls all over the beach when we would go. And we can’t forget the couch that was there to draw and leave a note on for other beach-​goers.
Ahhh… the sound of fresh, warm Sydney air with the views of Mona Vale sounds perfect!

The most important choice I’ll make on a summer’s day is that of what beach to go to. It’s because when I go, I like to make a day of it if I can, and when you spend an entire day somewhere, you want to make sure it has everything you need. A beach, for me, should be relatively flat, so that when I go with friends we can play any ball game we want — volleyball, soccer etc. It should also be large enough to cater to big crowds — I don’t want to be fighting for a spot on the sand or in the water! Finally, there have to be shops nearby so that I don’t have to drive anywhere to buy lunch.
I don’t ask for much, do I?
Mona Vale isn’t ideal for ball games as the sand isn’t flat. There is though a large patch of grass that is, but it isn’t a part of the beach. It is a large beach so can cater to big crowds, and is a stone’s throw away from some decent cafes meaning I won’t go hungry. So, based on my criteria, it’s a safe-​ish beach option for a summer’s day.

Lovely beach just a quick drive from Sydney. There is ample free parking in nearby streets if you don’t want to pay ($ 3.40 an hour up to 9 PM, or max $ 20 a day!)
It isn’t as crowded as Bondi or Manly but there is still quite a crowd here. The waves were really nice and strong and we had tons of fun! Watch out though, it gets deep quickly, so if you aren’t a confident swimmer, probably best to stay near shore.
There are some cafes nearby where you can grab something to eat.

Great beach. Fun wave when it’s on. Love this place.

Commonly referred to as «Mona» by the locals, I have spent many a summer lying on the beach reading a magazine and basking in the hot sun. Popular with university students, there is a bit of a social scene. It is therefore likely that you will run into someone you know, despite being it a rather long beach. With a beach-​side ocean pool down the left end, you can enjoy a cool dip in the water without being bowled over by waves. My friends and I love frequenting this beach because there are plenty of cafes nearby and ample parking (which is free!). The Mona Vale Hotel, a local pub/​bar is located across the road and is also another hangout for North Shore and Northern Beaches people. Due to the length of the beach, it is possible to secure more privacy compared to other beaches in the area. Mona Vale beach is a massive contrast to Bondi Beach– and in my personal opinion, much better!

Who doesn’t love the beach? That’d be nobody (except for those weirdos who hate sand… and redheads, obviously). And who doesn’t love huge, sweeping beaches more than anything else?
If you’re sufficiently normal to identify with the above, then you will also dig Mona Vale Beach. At the end of Mona Vale Road, it’s a popular spot for kids from the North Shore, as well as the beaches locals. Mona Vale has everything that you’d want in a beach — ample parking (the free spots are highly competitive on Saturday mornings and summery weekends, be warned), a lovely ocean pool, lifeguards, clean and modern toilets and nearby food — winner! Additionally, Mona Vale is a very big beach, rendering it ideal to run/​walk/​stroll leisurely up and down. It’s also ideal if you’re not into the crowds of Freshwater and Manly; you can set up camp wherever you like on the long sandy strip. Popular with both surfers and swimmers, it’s always possible to get away from it all at Mona Vale Beach. Be aware of swimming conditions though — it’s often choppy and rough, and you should swim between the flags if you’re not a strong swimmer!