Bilgola Beach, Sydney: Surfing, swimming, rock pool & cafés guide
Bilgola Beach in Sydney is tucked in amongst steep green reserves. The surfing isn’t great, but the setting is spectacular and the rock pool is marvellous for swimming.
Bilgola Beach is one of those beaches that many Sydneysiders haven’t heard of. It’s not quite a secret beach, but Bilgola Beach certainly feels like a great find once you get there.
Sydney is blessed with dozens of beaches. In the eastern suburbs, Bondi Beach, Clovelly Beach, Maroubra Beach and Bronte Beach compete for attention. Sydney Harbour has the likes of Rose Bay, Milk Beach, Parsley Bay, Camp Cove and Balmoral Beach.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- 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.
Bilgola Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches
But the most impressive strips of sand in Sydney are arguably the northern beaches. The northern beaches stretch from Manly to Palm Beach at the top of the Barrenjoey Peninsula. Some of these beaches – such as Narrabeen, Collaroy and Mona Vale – are long, sweeping affairs.
Bilgola is much smaller, but surrounded by the Bilgola Plateau. The Bilgola Plateau looks like steep craggy hills, but it’s more or less flat on top.
It’s precipitous, though. Getting down to Bilgola Beach from the Barrenjoey Road feels like an achievement in itself.
Where is Bilgola Beach?
And it’s the setting that makes Bilgola special. Bilgola Beach is between the much better-known Newport Beach and Avalon Beach.
It’s about 500 metres long, with marvellous views from the headlands. The North Bilgola Lookout and South Bilgola Headland Viewing Platform are worth clambering up to.
There are a series of thick, green reserves climbing up towards the Bilgola Plateau, too. Take your pick from the Eric Green Reserve, Attunga Reserve and Hamilton Reserve. The beachside Eric Green Reserve is the most accessible, and has a walking track to the South Bilgola Headland Viewing Platform.
Get your Aussie beach kit on the cheap
Fix up great deals on swimwear, beach towels and snorkelling gear now.
And look for discounts on sunglasses, sun cream or a really good book.
Zubi at Billy’s and Bilgola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club
Unlike other beaches with shop and café-rammed esplanades, there’s not a massive amount going on at Bilgola Beach. Zubi at Billy’s will give you your coffee fix, however. Otherwise, the Bilgola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has a bar.
The Bilgola Beach Surf Lifesaving Club also provides lifeguards for the beach and the rock pool, which is just next to the surf club. This pool has been carved into the rocks to provide safer swimming, and it’s a spectacular place for a few laps.
Swimming and surfing at Bilgola Beach
If swimming on Bilgola Beach, the centre between the flags is safest. The rips at the southern end are notorious for requiring the lifeguards to spring into action.
For surfers, there is a beach break over the sand bars, but this is not a classic surf beach.
More Australian beach spots
The Pullman Bunker Bay Resort near Cape Naturaliste.
Which Port Vincent caravan park should I choose on the Yorke Peninsula?
Washerwomans Beach in Bendalong, NSW.
Fishing at Lake Tyers in East Gippsland.
The bathing boxes at Mount Martha Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.