Escape to Sydney’s most iconic northern headland on the spectacular Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk at Palm Beach. Perched on the edge of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, this short trek offers two paths to the top: the gradual Lighthouse Track or the steep, rugged stairs of the Smugglers Track. At the summit, you will be rewarded with breathtaking, 360-degree views over Pittwater, Broken Bay, and the famous ocean-side tombolo. Mixing colonial history with Home & Away fame, it is a classic Northern Beaches adventure.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk & Palm Beach
📍 KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK
Distance
6.3 km
Duration
01:59 hrs
Elev Gain
+181 m
Elev Lost
-161 m
| Date |
06 October 2019 |
| Starting Point |
Pittwater Park |
| Difficulty |
Easy / Moderate |
| Pace / Gear |
3.8 km/h — Light day pack |
| Highlights |
Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Palm Beach |
🗺️ Interactive Route Map
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North of Sydney is the area known as the Northern Beaches. There are no secrets in the name, the area is home to a string of Pacific-facing beaches that line the east coast. The most northerly (and popular) of these is Palm Beach, a fine spit of land which sits opposite the lush, green Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park lies just 25km north of Sydney's CBD. The park gets its name from the Guringai Aboriginal people who are the traditional owners of the area with the word Chase meaning the area is open, unfenced bush. The national park is the third oldest in Australia (Royal National Park to the south of Sydney being the oldest) having been initially declared in 1894.
Strictly speaking, the only part of the national park we'd be visiting today would be the isolated area of Barrenjoey, a sandstone headland that is separated from the rest of the national park by a stretch of open water - the Pittwater. Barrenjoey is home to a lighthouse and is a popular hike for visitors from Sydney.
Like most popular places, parking at Palm Beach is an issue, especially during a warm, sunny bank holiday weekend. Fortunately, after some modest research, I found a form of park and ride which allows us to park at a local sports centre for free and take a short bus ride to Pittwater Park where we began our hike.
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| The beginning of the coastal walk |
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| Palm Beach wharf |
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| Pittwater from Observation Point |
We followed Barrenjoey Road north as it makes a short climb to reveal a sweeping view of Careel Bay and Pittwater before it descends again to the Palm Beach Golf Club which sits adjacent to Governor Phillip Park, named after Admiral Arthur Phillip. Arthur Phillip was a Royal Navy officer and the first Governor of New South Wales who founded the British penal colony that later became the city of Sydney. Pittwater was the first place in Australia formally named by Governor Phillip, in honour of William Pitt, then Prime Minister of England.
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| Governor Phillip Park |
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| Add caption |
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| Governor Phillip Park backed by Barrenjoey Lighthouse |
We followed a track through the neighbouring Governor Phillip Park to Station Beach and, shortly after, to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park where the path divides. While both options climb to the Barrenjoey lighthouse one consists of a series of steep steps (the Smugglers Track) and one a longer, more gradual 4x4 track (the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Track). We opted for the latter, taking the track that winds up through the bush onto the headland (the Smugglers Track is the best option for descent). Clearings in the trees revealed a superb view of Palm Beach.
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| Station Beach |
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| Station Beach |
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| The bottom of the Smugglers Track |
Palm Beach (and the Barrenjoey Headland) is known as a tombolo - from the Italian/Latin translation tumulus or mound. Tombolos are deposition landforms in which an island becomes attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island. Views from the track clearly reveal this.
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| The Lighthouse Track |
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| Palm Beach |
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| Palm Beach |
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| Barrenjoey Lighthouse |
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| Barrenjoey Lighthouse |
Before long we reached the lighthouse perched atop the headland. It was completed in 1881 and is located on the most northerly point of Sydney, overlooking Broken Bay and the entrance to Pittwater. Close by is the grave of George Mulhall, the first keeper at the lighthouse and a short trek beyond are the remains of a Stuart Tower - the first such lighthouse on Barrenjoey.
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| Barrenjoey Lighthouse |
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| Broken Bay |
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| Barrenjoey Lighthouse |
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| George Mulhall's grave |
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| The Stuart Tower |
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| Looking back towards the lighthouse |
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| Palm Beach |
We had a wander around before making our way back towards Palm Beach along the Smugglers Track. While its name suggests a more illicit purpose, the Smugglers Track was actually built by customs officers in around 1850 (prior to the lighthouse's construction) to monitor any smugglers bringing contraband into Broken Bay.
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| Palm Beach and Barrenjoey Lighthouse |
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| Palm Beach |
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| Descending the Smugglers Track |
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| Palm Beach lookout |
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| Palm Beach |
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| Palm Beach |
We returned to the location where the path divides and crossed through the bush to reach the northern end of the stunning Palm Beach which provides a simple, sandy route back to the road. Aussie soap fans may recognise Palm Beach as the exterior setting for Home & Away. After a hearty lunch, we hopped back on the bus back to the car park.
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| Barrenjoey Head |
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| Palm Beach |
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| Classic Australia |
The Barrenjoey Lighthouse walk captures the absolute best of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, effortlessly blending rich colonial history with dramatic coastal scenery. Whether you brave the steep steps of the Smugglers Track or cruise up the access road, the panoramic views of the sand spit and Broken Bay are well worth the effort. It is the perfect half-day escape—just remember to suss out your parking beforehand and leave time for a swim at Palm Beach afterward.
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