Whale Beach
Whale Beach
4.5
About
Beach located on Sydney's northern peninsula.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Whale Beach and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
120 within 5 kms
Attractions
37 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
92 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
29
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia3,971 contributions
July 2020
Whale Beach is a gorgeous spot, a relatively small beach of clean sand and sparkling water, defined by massive headlands at either end. The beach is patrolled and so swimming is quite safe - and there is lovely pool carved into the rock platform at the beach's southern end. It has long been one of my favourites in the Sydney area. The only negative is access: the beach is tricky to reach by public transport so basically you need a car to come here, and then parking is extremely expensive if you aren't a local resident. Unfortunately, free street parking is very hard to come by, too.
Written 12 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lindadownunder
Perth, Australia2,950 contributions
June 2015 • Couples
Whale Beach is well worth a visit when touring the northern beaches of Sydney.
Either relax on the beach, visit a café or relax in the ocean or on the beautiful sandy beach.
Either relax on the beach, visit a café or relax in the ocean or on the beautiful sandy beach.
Written 11 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce P
Blue Mountains, Australia409 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
I was driving past Whale Beach on other business when I decided to drop down to the beach and check the surf.
It had been many years since I was last at Whale Beach, and as I drove past the well known Jonah's Restaurant, I was noticed how much more expensive the nearby houses looked than I remembered them.
I suppose the extensions and upgrades reflect the popularity of this area of Sydney.
The road wound its way down to the beach, and when I arrived my car was one of only four in the parking strip.
It was 5pm on a brilliantly sunny day, and there was a good surf running. A few kids were surfing after school, and a couple were walking the length of the beach for exercise.
I have to point out that this was a Tuesday. Nevertheless, I expect that this beach would be quiet on most weekdays during the school term. Maybe not so on the weekends...and there is limited parking at the beach front.
At beach level there is little or no evidence of commercial activity, which is amazing as Whale Beach is surrounded by a built up area. So if you visit the beach it has to be for the surfing, walking, enjoyment of nature, or photography.
I would like travellers to enjoy this beautiful, unspoiled beach and to be like me and leave a small footprint.
Actually, I left a size 10, but I expect it has been washed away by now.
It had been many years since I was last at Whale Beach, and as I drove past the well known Jonah's Restaurant, I was noticed how much more expensive the nearby houses looked than I remembered them.
I suppose the extensions and upgrades reflect the popularity of this area of Sydney.
The road wound its way down to the beach, and when I arrived my car was one of only four in the parking strip.
It was 5pm on a brilliantly sunny day, and there was a good surf running. A few kids were surfing after school, and a couple were walking the length of the beach for exercise.
I have to point out that this was a Tuesday. Nevertheless, I expect that this beach would be quiet on most weekdays during the school term. Maybe not so on the weekends...and there is limited parking at the beach front.
At beach level there is little or no evidence of commercial activity, which is amazing as Whale Beach is surrounded by a built up area. So if you visit the beach it has to be for the surfing, walking, enjoyment of nature, or photography.
I would like travellers to enjoy this beautiful, unspoiled beach and to be like me and leave a small footprint.
Actually, I left a size 10, but I expect it has been washed away by now.
Written 3 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BabyH73
Sydney, Australia92 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
Whale beach is divine. Gorgeous, clean beach and always quiet. Plenty of shade provided by the palm trees. The only thing that spoils it is the $10ph parking rates. Otherwise you can park in a local street except its only 1P most roads.
Written 7 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellemay 🍹🐠🐳
Sydney, Australia47,279 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
Whale Beach is located on the Northern Beaches nestled between Avalon Beach and 3km south of Palm Beach. Its a very pretty beach with excellent facilities. There is a fabulous surf club with toilets, showers, 25m Ocean Swimming Pool , playground, picnic area, Patrolled beach & plenty of parking.
Access to Whale Beach is via Whale Beach Road which passes through some lovely views of the coast & is down a steep decent to the beach front reserve. Whale Beach is very popular with families looking for a shaded picnic spot.
Whale Beach houses some of Sydney's most expensive real estate. The surf club was a popular club in the 50’s for families and today Whale Beach remains very popular amongst Sydneysiders. Whale Beach also houses one of Sydney ’s finest restaurants and B&Bs called Jonah’s, situated on the cliff overlooking the ocean.
Catch the L88, L90 bus or the 191 from Newport Beach .
Access to Whale Beach is via Whale Beach Road which passes through some lovely views of the coast & is down a steep decent to the beach front reserve. Whale Beach is very popular with families looking for a shaded picnic spot.
Whale Beach houses some of Sydney's most expensive real estate. The surf club was a popular club in the 50’s for families and today Whale Beach remains very popular amongst Sydneysiders. Whale Beach also houses one of Sydney ’s finest restaurants and B&Bs called Jonah’s, situated on the cliff overlooking the ocean.
Catch the L88, L90 bus or the 191 from Newport Beach .
Written 20 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dan1255
Sydney, Australia233 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
A lovely place to get away from Sydney for a day trip. A great surf club and café are there for a coffee, or some lunch.
Written 16 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanya W
Newport, Australia132 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
What more can I say another beautiful peninsula beach. The ocean rock pool is a wonderful example of the many rock pools to be found on Sydney beaches.Again a little hard to find but a beautiful drive.
Written 1 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sportshortt
Weybridge, UK106 contributions
This is a beautiful beach with lovely tree shade all day. The tidal pool is great for the kids and the local kiosk makes great coffees. Definitely worth a visit when in Sydney.
Written 28 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AustTrail
Sydney530 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
It is truly beach season in Sydney during the first week of the new year. We initially wanted to drive up to Palm Beach but due to the large crowd and no parking to be found, we turned south to beautiful Whale Beach.
Although still more crowded than usual we still managed to find a parking spot after a short wait. Parking is $3 per hour.
Whale beach is known to be one of the more isolated of the northern beaches which explains the smaller crowd but we believe that this beach is one of the most beautiful on the peninsula.
It also has good facilities and shade and perfect for kids to explore the rock pool and swim in the pool.
As mentioned by others, the currents on this beach probably makes it less safe for weaker swimmers but for that lovely afternoon on the beach, it is a perfect stress reliever.
A kiosk and restaurant serves lunch and dinner but we did not try it.
A wonderful beach that I hope to visit again on a less crowded weekday.
Although still more crowded than usual we still managed to find a parking spot after a short wait. Parking is $3 per hour.
Whale beach is known to be one of the more isolated of the northern beaches which explains the smaller crowd but we believe that this beach is one of the most beautiful on the peninsula.
It also has good facilities and shade and perfect for kids to explore the rock pool and swim in the pool.
As mentioned by others, the currents on this beach probably makes it less safe for weaker swimmers but for that lovely afternoon on the beach, it is a perfect stress reliever.
A kiosk and restaurant serves lunch and dinner but we did not try it.
A wonderful beach that I hope to visit again on a less crowded weekday.
Written 4 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mervyn D
Milton Keynes, UK79 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
Having spent many dollars on a Whale watching cruise, I had the fortune to have just as spectacular a show standing on this beach having just bought a A$3 parking ticket!! Yes, the Whales on their migration south in October time do pass that close to the shore line.
Written 15 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello ...I'm travelling solo to a wedding Palm Beach November next year.Im having a prob with accommodation which i appreciate is very pricey in this area ...but is it usual to pay the full amount plus 'bond' to confirm a booking this far in advance?
Can you recommend or advise anywhere within 10km of Palm Beach please?
Written 13 October 2016
Not sure about the bond part.
Whale Beach B&B (3 rooms, and a garden studio) is reasonable. It is about a 15 min walk to whale beach.
If you don't have car then there is decent L90 bus service that can connect you up and down the northern beaches.
Uber coverage is very sparse in this heck of the woods.
Written 15 October 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing