Balmoral
4.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Mosman
With a variety of outdoor attractions, the sophisticated harbour suburb of Mosman has something for everyone. Shoppers can stroll Military Road for its unique offering of antiques, designer labels, and hip restaurants and cafes. Nature lovers can take in spectacular bushwalks like the Taronga to Balmoral walk, while families can enjoy snorkeling in the sheltered beaches of Balmoral Beach or scuba diving at Chowder Bay. History lovers enjoy exploring the fortifications at the end of Old Fort Road in Middle Head, which date back to the 1800s. Even the exhibitionist set can find entertainment in Mosman, with several nude beaches located in the area.
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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1,145 within 5 kms
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938 within 10 kms
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4.5
653 reviews
Excellent
438
Very good
187
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
6
Tom K K
3 contributions
Nov 2020 • Family
Parking is so expensive. How can pensioners afford such a expensive parking.9 dollars and hour.Councel should put the parking fees down.
Councel earnes so much money.That they can't afford to put a bbq area .
Some areas smell of poo or something .
I think the councel should put some more toilets.
But please put the parking fees down.Its so expensive.
It is a lovely beach except for the parking fees.
Councel earnes so much money.That they can't afford to put a bbq area .
Some areas smell of poo or something .
I think the councel should put some more toilets.
But please put the parking fees down.Its so expensive.
It is a lovely beach except for the parking fees.
Written 27 November 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.
Sandy851
North Sydney, Australia49 contributions
Jan 2020
Balmoral is a nice beach with a promenade along side it. It is not a surf beach so it popular with young families. Parking is a real problem with limited options, and as it is not a big beach, so easily becomes crowded on weekends. There are nice restuarants and coffee shops nearby. The water is often not clear or clean to swim, especially after rain and in summer the winds stir up the water. There is run-off from the gutters, as a stormwater drains into the sea so you can be unlucky and get lots of leaves and grass in the water.
Written 4 February 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.
Michael T
Formby, UK1,130 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Balmoral consists of two sandy beaches separated by a rocky grass and tree covered promontory in the middle. The latter is a good place to chill out if you want a bit of shade and maximum exposure to any breeze that might be around. The beaches are quite fine sand and a gentle slope into the water. The whole bay is sheltered so not rough. There are some toilet facilities and shops just behind the beach. Would have scored a 5 but the recent stormy weather has clouded up the waterin all the Sydney harbour beaches.
Written 20 February 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.
Cheryl M
Sydney, Australia168 contributions
Aug 2020
This Sydney Harbourside beach is a real gem. Perfect for families with safe swimming, playground, grassy park areas and food options. Also great for walking and flat, well maintained footpaths and plenty of shade make it easily accessible for wheelchairs, walkers and those whose mobility may be not as good as it once was. Plenty of parking but that can be expensive if there for a few hours. Perfect picnic spot but don't eat right near the water's edge as the seagulls are feral and aggressive.
Written 29 August 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.
Mark U
North Ryde, Australia310 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Great place to stroll along the promenade to stretch the legs then a dip in the protected baths or open beach area to cool off. Nice coffee nearby or a spot of lunch with burgers or fish and chips. Choose parking carefully as it can be expensive closer to the beach...
Written 6 March 2024
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.
Will Stubbs
8 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Beautiful beach, beautiful cafes, Stunning Scenery!
Came for a day by the beach after our City break in Sydney and wow what a find couldn’t say a single bad word about the place!
Clean tidy friendly people and the sea was insane!
Came for a day by the beach after our City break in Sydney and wow what a find couldn’t say a single bad word about the place!
Clean tidy friendly people and the sea was insane!
Written 9 March 2023
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.
Peter S
Manly35 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
Precinct offers a wide range of activities from extensive and interesting scenic harbourside hikes, to protected harbour swimming to an oval with a track suitable for learner bike riders. Facilities are great quality and its never overcrowded.. pay to park on the beach but a 300metre or so walk makes it free! Good quality eateries simply the icing on the balmoral cake
Written 17 January 2017
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.
Barbara K
Katoomba34 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
I read the reviews and looked at the images for Balmoral beach which looked exceptional.
We decided to have a day out there with the family only to find that the parking costs $9 per hour, it was overcrowded and there was only 1 public toilet with shower/changeroom .
Ok, so I changed into my swimmers in the car and headed down to the beach with the family only to find the water to be thick with debris and rubbish. There were so many boats sitting around in the bay that there was a very limited space for to swim. There were also inexperienced paddle boarders everywhere ready to run over the top of you of you didn't stay alert.
In reality, it is not really a beach as such, just a boat harbour for the rich with a bit of murky fuel laden water for those who couldn't be bothered taking the time to drive to a real beach with clear water and clean sand.
This is one beach I will never visit again. I paddled in up to the top of my legs and then felt like needed a good hot shower to get clean again.
Maybe if there weren't so many boats the organic debris may have a chance to wash out to sea and there may not be so much rubbish (we spent most of our time collecting floating plastic and putting it in the bin) and the water wouldn't be so polluted by the fuel from all the marine motors.
What a waste of a day. 😔
We decided to have a day out there with the family only to find that the parking costs $9 per hour, it was overcrowded and there was only 1 public toilet with shower/changeroom .
Ok, so I changed into my swimmers in the car and headed down to the beach with the family only to find the water to be thick with debris and rubbish. There were so many boats sitting around in the bay that there was a very limited space for to swim. There were also inexperienced paddle boarders everywhere ready to run over the top of you of you didn't stay alert.
In reality, it is not really a beach as such, just a boat harbour for the rich with a bit of murky fuel laden water for those who couldn't be bothered taking the time to drive to a real beach with clear water and clean sand.
This is one beach I will never visit again. I paddled in up to the top of my legs and then felt like needed a good hot shower to get clean again.
Maybe if there weren't so many boats the organic debris may have a chance to wash out to sea and there may not be so much rubbish (we spent most of our time collecting floating plastic and putting it in the bin) and the water wouldn't be so polluted by the fuel from all the marine motors.
What a waste of a day. 😔
Written 13 January 2018
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.
Taj81
New South Wales, Australia370 contributions
Mar 2013
First time we have been to this beach and it was lovely and safe for a swim. Water is clear and nice and its in a peaceful setting. However there was an Indian man who kept walking up and down the beach in jeans and leather shoes and he would stop and look at women going into the water. He then disappeared around the rocky headland after watching a young woman walk around there. When I returned to our unit i phoned the Mosman police and the police officer said that it is a major problem at this particular beach. He stated that ' They have had complaints of men of middle eastern and Indian appearance from the western suburbs of sydney going to this beach to perve on women and there have been incidences of indecent exposure from some of these men. I wish that I had phoned the police when I was at the beach and I would urge others to do the same if you have concerns over any single man acting strangely on this beach. I did notice a number of women sunbaking topless which I , llike the majority of Australian men and women dont have any issue with as this is part of our culture. Obviously some men though think this is a place for them to act illegally. Just be aware of this.
Written 1 April 2013
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.
happy954
Sydney, Australia5 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
If council is earning about $2,000,000 a year frim parking then they may consider keeping the toilets sanitised.The warm shower is great but the parking fees at $9 Per hour now is nothing short of EXTORTIONATE!!!!!!
Written 17 January 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.
Has anyone been to Balmoral beach on Xmas day to celebrate for a picnic etc ? Just wondering how busy does it get on actual Christmas Day is it packed as a hot summers day ? Thanks thinking of doing a picnic on Xmas day with kids but don’t want it to be packed as live a fair drive away would rather stay home if really busy like usual .
Written 14 December 2019
Hi, I am from the U.K. and have been in Sydney several times over Christmas. Not always at the beach. But beaches seem very very popular for barbecuing on Christmas day but compared to UK beaches on a hot summers day, your beaches are quiet! Whatever you decide, have a great festive season!
Written 14 December 2019
No, there isn't a place for a charcoal BBQ at the beach. Some people bring their own food and do a picnic there.
Written 9 August 2019
Is alcohol permitted on the parkland surrounding the beach, or is it an alcohol free zone?
Written 21 January 2019
Cómo llegar a Balmoral Beach en transporte público?
Written 19 April 2018
Looking to rent a house that sleeps 8 next Christmas-New Year on the Balmoral slopes. Any leads?
Written 21 February 2015
suggest you widen your area to stay ..there are number of places to stay close by to consider as manly with easy access by ferry to city and attractions ..check out the real estates in the area..hope this helps
Written 22 February 2015
If you park right close to the beach, yes.
If you don’t mind parking 200 mts away, you don’t pay.
Written 3 October 2017
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