The Barrenjoey Lighthouse

Love going for a hike up to the lighthouse from Palm Beach. Last summer a lot of the bush was badly burnt by a fire (and the historic lighthouse was at risk), so it’s still badly blackened, but will improve with time. There’s two choices: a rougher track, plus basically a road — take one up and the other back. Perfect before or after a lunch of fish and chips on the beach, or a swim at Palm Beach.

The Barrenjoey Lighthouse has sweeping views of the ocean and the Upper Northern Beaches. The experience is certainly spectacular and a must for guests and in particular, international visitors. While the climb up isn’t too difficult you do need to be in a well enough condition to climb for a good half an hour. Wearing sand shoes is most ideal considering there are plenty of rocks and boulders embedded within the ground. Once you reach the top, there are plenty of other people snapping photos or having a rest on the bench. The lighthouse itself is full of history and has lots of charm. There are no bathrooms up there so make sure to go before you start your climb!
There is plenty of parking but remember to secure a ticket to prevent a fine– parking inspectors swarm the area like you wouldn’t believe. I would know because I was unlucky enough to get one a few years back.

Barrenjoey Head is the stunning headland at the North end of the Pittwater Peninsula known as Palm Beach (
). It is part of the Ku-​ring-​gia National Park and is an absolute must if you’re fit enough to do the walk.
You start the walk at the northern end of the Pittwater side of Palm Beach. It’s a 400 metre walk from the Pay and Display carpark ($ 4 first hour, $ 2.40 thereafter) past some rocks which are popular with rock climbers. The ascent is a bit of a scrabble up 600 metres to the Lighthouse and is a relatively hard climb. I’ve done this once in thongs (flip flops) and that is really not advised. I also did it with my 60 year old mother and her bad hip and somehow she managed it though was very unhappy at the top despite the incredible view! Depending on the time of year the flies on the headland can be seriously intense. Hats with corks essential.
When you finally make it there, the sandstone lighthouse, first lit in 1881, is charming. There are tours every Sunday, weather permitting which go for 30 mins at a cost of $ 3 for adults and $ 2 for children. I’ve been to the Lighthouse many times though never done a tour. A long drink of water and staring at the view from this vantage point are enough for me. Views over to Ku-​ring-​gai over Pittwater and of Palm Beach itself are exceptional and conversely viewing Barrenjoey Head from the West Head lookout of Ku-​ring-​gai back over is breathtaking.
A must for any visit to Sydney.

Does it get much better than this? Methinks not. One sunny spring day in Sydney, some friends and I take an out-​of-​towner to Palm Beach for the light house walk — or Summer Bay, as she likes to call it.
Located at Palm Beach, Syndey’s stunning playground of the rich and famous, the lighthouse is pretty special. Park your car in the huge beach parking lot (being careful of parking inspectors), or get on the L90 all the way to the end, and look up at the imposing structure.
The walk itself is about a kilmetre, but is straight up hill. It’s also quite difficult terrain; it’d be easy to do an ankle on the rough and uneven ground. Not for those of us who are feeling frail or unfit.
But push through the pain, and you reach the Barrenjoey Lighthouse and its spectacular views. You can see up to the Central Coast, out to PIttwater and down to Manly on a clear day. For a different view of our city, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse is hard to beat.