West Head Beach, Sydney
West Head Beach is one of Sydney’s hidden secrets. You’ll find it on the shore of Pittwater in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
What is West Head Beach?
West Head Beach is a small beach in Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, Sydney. It is not one of Sydney’s best-known beaches, but makes for a lovely little hidden secret if you’re prepared to veer away from Sydney’s usual tourist haunts.
It is a sandy beach, albeit with rocky outcrops at either end.
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- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
Where is West Head Beach?
West Head Beach is in the West Head section of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. It is on the western shore of Pittwater and faces out towards Barrenjoey Head.
There is no parking at West Head Beach, and the nearest car park is at the West Head Lookout.
It’s a sometimes-steep 500 metre walk from the West Head Lookout car park to West Head Beach.
The best way of visiting West Head Beach, however, is as part of the 4.4km Aboriginal Heritage Walk.
This Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park walking trail is a loop, and it takes in Aboriginal rock art sites such as the Red Hands Cave, as well as Resolute Beach and the West Head Lookout.
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- Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
- Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
- Wild Life Sydney – Aussie animal favourites in convenient Darling Harbour location. Perfect if on limited time.
- Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
- Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.
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Is it safe to swim at West Head Beach?
Swells at West Head Beach are pretty small – it is well protected from the open ocean. However, there are no lifeguard patrols here, so swimming is done at your own risk.
You can forget about surfing at West Head Beach, however.
Other beaches on the western shore of Pittwater include Great Mackerel Beach, Currawong Beach, Portuguese Beach and Perrys Beach.
National Park entry fee
If planning to visit West Head Beach, you need to pay $12 per vehicle to enter Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
The gates to West Head are open from 06.00 to 20.30 during daylight savings time, but close at 18.00 the rest of the year.
For more information, visit the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website.
More New South Wales travel
What to do on a Sydney to Eden road trip.
Sydney Olympic Park ferry – timetable and fare prices.
What to see on the drive from Scone to Tamworth.
How long does it to take to drive from Narromine to Dubbo?
Where to stop on the drive from Sydney to Canberra.