Little Bay Beach is a gorgeous little spot, still not very well known. It's the last sand beach…read morebefore Botany Bay. Because it's a sheltered cove, there isn't any surf, but the place is great for paddling and snorkeling. Don't be put off by its proximity to Long Bay Gaol, or by its proximity to Malabar sewage treatment -- they've got that stuff all sorted out now, right? Little Bay Beach has wonderful sandstone outcrops, perfect for having a picnic with friends, and a nice mix of sun and shade. The abundance of little outcrops and cave-like spaces means you often find canoodling couples in various states of undress, spread out on towels and picnic blankets, with grapes, hummus and watermelon strewn about ... it gives the whole place a relaxed, bacchanalian sort of feel. There was an old hospital in Little Bay (long since closed down), which used to make the entrance to the beach quite creepy. In recent times they've built a housing subdivision at the old Prince Henry Hospital site, so the place isn't quite so spooky or derelict, but the development isn't too close to the foreshore, so you can't see buildings when you're sitting at the beach. It was quite a creepy hospital: used during the Bubonic plague in 1900. There are still a few heritage hospital buildings around, otherwise the rest of the structures are very new. There is a golf course nearby, but the risks of getting hit on the head by a golf ball are probably lower than your average Sydney bluebottle sting risks, so I reckon it's worth it. Little Bay achieved art-world fame back in 1969, when Christo wrapped it up in fabric. The whole bay. There are some great photos of it here: http://kaldorartprojects.org.au/project-archive/christo-and-jeanne-claude-1969 Little Bay's remoteness means that you can still find a park, if you drive there. But it is also accessible by bus. Just go down Anzac Parade, almost forever... The best bit? Feels like a holiday retreat, but it's in Sydney. The worst bit? No waves. Flat as a tack.

If I had to describe this beach in one word it would be WHOLESOME…read more Perfect beach for the whole family. We got there around 1030am on a Saturday and found street parking right away. I hear that some like to park in the church parking lot but that sounds a bit sinful doesn't it? After we made our way down the stairs past the golf course, we had the tough decision of either going right which has more sand but densely populated or left which is a bit rockier but not as crowded. We went left and it was the best decision. Don't expect to be hanging ten out here as the waters are almost as calm as a lake. You'll find little schools of tiny fish swimming around at your ankles as you make you way out deeper into the ocean. The water was colder in some areas than others which was a perfect escape from the searing heat. People snorkeling, parents giving their children an oceanography lesson, cuties sunbathing and just a laidback vibe in comparison to Bondi. Bring your swimmers, your sunblock, your good vibes and get ready for a good time!

Wattamolla beach rests peacefully in Sydney's Royal National Park, which was established in 1879…read moreand boasts the title of World's second oldest national park (after Yellowstone in the USA). Wattamolla takes its name from the local Aboriginal word meaning, "place near running water." A perfect description for this aquatic wonderland. Wattamolla is a beautiful combination of beach and fresh water lagoon, separated by a sandbar. The unpatrolled beach, though not suitable for surfing (Wattamolla is a cove, so protected from swells) is clear and sparkling most days, and if you're lucky you might even see a seal or two swim into the cove to say hi. But be careful of the curious bluebottles, whose corpses often line the shore in summertime. Sheer cliffs frame the lagoon, which is perfect for toddlers and children, and it is a popular spot for cliff jumping (but it is illegal, and the varying depths of the lagoon have caused serious injuries). Wattamolla offers easy access to over 100 kilometres of walking tracks spanning the National Park, including the popular coastal walk from Bundeena to Otford The grassed cliff-top above the beach provides picnic tables, barbeque facilities, and not-too-scary public toilets. The car park is huge, but come weekends and (especially) public holidays finding a spot can be near impossible. Your best bet is to avoid Wattamolla altogether on these occasions, and visit midweek. Vehicle entry fee into the National Park- $11

So I spend 6 months a while back in the Bundeena area and visited this beach from time to time…read more Tucked away in the Royal National Park it is secluded and not crowded on the times I visited. There is plenty of place near the parking area to picnic. You can literally walk right up to the edge of the cliffs that surround the beach and jump off...which many folks have, but is discouraged.........by a small little railing. That is was I love about country...they don't legally look at such things as we Yanks do. The small railing says....if you are stupid enough to jump off...then we won't be responsible for you if you do....and I like that approach. We Yanks in our country try everything to make sure someone doesn't jump off such places. It is a nice little place to visit south of Sydney.

Probably one of my favorite beaches in Sydney. During my semester abroad way back when I'd enjoy…read morestrolling through Manly all the way to lesser known Freshwater beach. Sometimes I head through the lovely cliff side neighborhoods just walk along the cliff. I'd often find my self hanging out here for hours. Sometimes at the beach or sitting on the cliffs studying for school. There's a special connection to this beach to where I currently live in Hawaii. This is where Duke Kahanamoku, Olympian, politician, surfer, spreader of Aloha introduced Surfing to Australia. Inside the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club there is a little memorial for the Duke with pictures, trophies, and his original wooden board he took to Australia. If you head up the stairs above the salt water pool there is an overgrown little park with a statue of the Duke Kahanamoku surfing on a boulder facing Freshwater beach. It's definitely a cool spot for anyone visiting from Hawaii. It's a great beach too with dramatic picturesque landscape. Ideally probably one of my top dream Neighborhoods to reside one day.

Once again, Freshie is one of my favorite beaches. It draws locals and not the chaos of tourist and…read moresurfers.

Beautiful beach with white soft sand. Rocky edges providing marine life sightings in the tide…read morepools. Glorious sunrises, waves caressing the beach. Teaming with wildlife, lorikeets squawking in near by trees. Parking on the street with various entrances. Nice place to eat is the cooked goose.

So if there are other life forms out there looking down on earth, Hyams would be where they would…read moreflour their humans before frying - the sand here is blindingly white and has the texture of very fine flour. And that's still the case when Mother Nature dazzles us with her aesthetic violence - I can only imagine what this beach is like on a perfect summer day. It's also squeaky... and who doesn't love squeaky sand right?? Yeah yeah, deny all you want, but I know you all twist your feet a little as you take a step... We are 12 at heart after all!! Contrast this sand to the many shades of blue and you have a pretty sweet spot to relax on - I challenge you to find me someone who doesn't want to think of the Caribbean while lying on a beach a few hrs south of Sydney. From the lightest shades of turquoise to the deepest blues of fine china, you can't help but get a feeling of complete surrender. Salt cures all ... so breathe it in and let it work its magic. I can't comment on the temperature or the temperament of the water during summer but I can during autumn - it's damn cold ... yup legs pink and numb kinda damn cold. Apart from the obvious attraction I have to water, I was beyond excited that this beach actually has the potential for a load of shade too - always a bonus. Ohh and if you can't part with your furry four legged buddy, this beach is dog friendly.

Great park and a short walk to the beach. The beach has a rock pool so our 11 month old son was…read morecrawling around in the water there. The park has a large playground, two tables under gazebos and toilets. Short walk to a nice cafe too.

Went early in the morning being one of the firsts on the beach. High tide day so there was very…read morelittle sand available for lounging so we retreated to the rocks. It was a gorgeous sunny day with the water feeling refreshing. We left close to noon just as more people started showing up. Will go again if I ever have the opportunity to return to Australia.

I think the days of believing that nudist beaches are a hotbed of blonde beauties flaunting their…read moreperfect physiques are loooooong gone. And if you needed any clarification of this, head to Lady Bay Beach in Watsons Bay. I've never quite worked out if this is technically a gay nudist beach, or whether it just happens to be populated by ageing naked guys, with large guts, most of the time. The beach itself isn't too bad, I've never ventured down to spend an afternoon on it, but you can see it quite clearly from the path that leads to South Head (and it tends to be quite a pretty sight, except when there are people on it!). I've not really considered nudism as a potential activity, but that's mainly due to the fact that I get annoyed when I get sunburnt shoulders, imagine getting sunbu- ... never mind. If you're trying to get around the beaches of Sydney on your travels, I think you'd be better off hitting up Camp Cove just down the path, it's a much more pleasant setting!

First time visitor to this awesome place where we decided to catchup over a bbq with friends…read more Access is by boat, ferry or water taxi. Unsure if you can drive here as I didn't see any cars. What struck me immediately is the local swamp wallabies that coexist with the visitors and rangers. Sightings on the day included kookaburras, various birds and reptiles. It is the only place in the Ku-ring-gai Chase where you can camp. Being part of a national park, ongoing conservation and preservation is by way of entrance fees ($3 per head), which is separate to camping fees. Restrictions applies to this beautiful place i.e. fires. The campsite is well maintained and very clean. Plenty of hiking opportunities for those who are keen as it is surrounded by hills and mountains There is a body of water that is safe for some water sports. Bbq facilities is also available which we took advantage of. Beechwood Cottage is a historical property which is available to hire for functions and events. This place is great if you want to get away for the weekends with or without the kids. It overlooks Pittwater and is just a beautiful place to hang and chill.

This is a great beach and camping area, with mountains all around. Access is by boat or trails…read more No vehicles allowed. It's not a pristine sand beach, more like sand based mud, but has nice calm clear water on the back harbour side. The place has lots of space to picnic and relax. Everything is clean. And the kids get to run after the wallaby(ies) when they hop by. We went in by boat, which is a great way to arrive. There are lots of tent campers, most of which seemed to arrive and bring their gear in by boat. Several ferries service the area.