short history ...

Palm Beach is the setting for the Australian TV soap, Home and Away, it is located 41km north of Sydney and it is part of an insular-peninsula. Palm Beach area is the residence of many people who worked very hard and made many millions of dollars.

In 1788 Governor Philip is exploring the area. By 1797 timber wood was cut from Hawkesbury River and transported to Sydney via boats. The name Palm Beach was given to the area due to the large number of cabbage palms growing in the area.

To stop smuggling, between 1843 and 1870 a custom office was opened at Broken Bay.

On 1 August 1881 the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, entered in service.

In 1920 the road linking Newport to Palm Beach was completed.

Trivia: Pittwater was named after William Pitt, English prime minister.

beach safety...

Please see our page dedicated to Beach Safety. Hopefully this page will learn you need to know about the hazards and dangers on an Australian beach.

tourist information ...

How to get there
By bus from Wynyard Station. If you go directly to Palm Beach take an Express service. It's much faster. See map. For more details please check the trip planner.

What to see:
Barrenjoey Lighthouse
Barrenjoey Road
Palm Beach, NSW 2108
Ph: 02 9457 9322

Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruises runs a daily scenic cruise from Palm Beach Wharf. The tour goes across Pittwater into Broken Bay passing close to the penguin colony of Lion Island and skirt West Head close to the bush and sandstone lined shore of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

Ph: 0414466635
Web site: Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruises

Departure Times (please check here)

* Palm Beach to Bobbin Head 11:00 AM(via Patonga)
* Patonga to Bobbin Head at 11:30 AM

On weekends and school holidays we have additional trips to Patonga:

* Departing Palm Beach for Patonga:
9:00am - 11:00 AM - 3:45 PM

* Departing Patonga for Palm Beach:
9:30am - 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Tickets are available on board from the crew.