I almost don't want to review this beach so it remains quiet and ALL MINE, MINE I SAY…read more MWWHaaHaaHaa. Mmwhaaahaahaahaa. Sorry. What a stunning beach. Pure classic Northern Beaches, foot blistering sand, awesome for a refined dip if you stay in between the flags, and perfect little breakers if you equipped with a board. Nice little grassy picnic area too. Bit of a trek if you're not a Northern Beaches local, but 100% worth the drive.

Everyone has their place - this is mine. Check out photos of…read moreBilly absolutely cranking during cyclone Oswald, Jan 2013. The little dots are guys surfing. Half an hour later it was even bigger and no one out. "Oswald" ???

This gym stands out from the moment you walk in you have a great healthy cafe, friendly staff and a…read morelot of exercise equipment. A great modern space with some traditional facilities so you feel you dont need a Rocket Science degree to workout. Of course there is some equipment that takes exercise to a whole new interactive level. Theres a creche (quality child care) for kids from 6 weeks to 12 years of age for those moms wanting to get back into shape.

During my time studying abroad in Sydney, this was one of my favorite beaches to go to. It was a…read morequick and affordable 30-minute bus ride from MacUni. The best part about Mona Vale was it was so peaceful and calm. A lot of the beaches by Sydney's city centre were flooded with people, so it was always nice to go to this beach to get away from the mainstream beaches of Sydney. (Don't get me wrong; those are great too!) This beach was always so clean. It was relatively calm and the waves weren't too crazy. It was a very residential area, so you have to walk a bit of a way to get to the beach from the bus stop and the restroom / restaurants / shops, but it's worth the 5 minute walk! For some unknown reason, there would always be these random tiny foam balls all over the beach when we would go. And we can't forget the couch that was there to draw and leave a note on for other beach-goers. Ahhh... the sound of fresh, warm Sydney air with the views of Mona Vale sounds perfect!

Who doesn't love the beach? That'd be nobody (except for those weirdos who hate sand... and…read moreredheads, obviously). And who doesn't love huge, sweeping beaches more than anything else? If you're sufficiently normal to identify with the above, then you will also dig Mona Vale Beach. At the end of Mona Vale Road, it's a popular spot for kids from the North Shore, as well as the beaches locals. Mona Vale has everything that you'd want in a beach - ample parking (the free spots are highly competitive on Saturday mornings and summery weekends, be warned), a lovely ocean pool, lifeguards, clean and modern toilets and nearby food - winner! Additionally, Mona Vale is a very big beach, rendering it ideal to run/walk/stroll leisurely up and down. It's also ideal if you're not into the crowds of Freshwater and Manly; you can set up camp wherever you like on the long sandy strip. Popular with both surfers and swimmers, it's always possible to get away from it all at Mona Vale Beach. Be aware of swimming conditions though - it's often choppy and rough, and you should swim between the flags if you're not a strong swimmer!

Great park beside the beach, two cafe's and bathrooms within very short walking distance. Great…read moreplace to relax and while away the hours on a sunny afternoon

A park is a park, right? Wrong. I've done a fairly comprehensive park tour of Sydney (as a teenager…read moredrinking, a babysitter babysitting and a twentysomething denying the reality that I'm categorically too old for parks), and Apex Park is definitely better than most. Located across from the stunning Mona Vale Beach, Apex Park provides some relief when you can't stand the sand in your cossies for another minute, or just need to sit in the shade for a while (but don't want to rock one of those dorky sunshades at the beach). It's got some pretty impressive play equipment that is fun much beyond the target age bracket - I still love the swings there! There are always heaps of kids there playing, so I assume it's also fun at age 4 - 10. There's an impressive bike path through the park, so little ones can go for a looooooong ride without leaving your sight. Other, more adult-flavoured amenities include several barbeques, toilets accessible at the very nearby surf club, a Pittwater Council (sticker or pay) car park and a coffee shop across the road. Of course, if you get tired of the park, you can always walk across the car park and go for a swim!