A Sydney beach to fall in love with

It's known affectionately by locals as Palmy. Palm Beach – Sydney's most northern beach – is a place you can't help but fall in love with because of its spectacular scenery and laidback feel. After an hour's drive from the CBD you wind your way around the final bit of road past the Pittwater side coming out at the peninsular, which is fringed on the other side by the Pacific Ocean, where orange sand runs down to surf. The area is favoured by filmmakers and artists – and with its neighbouring beach suburbs of Whale Beach, Avalon and Mona Vale is also known as the Insular Peninsular. UGG Classic Tall Boots The tongue-in-cheek nickname alludes to the fact that many of the locals see no need to go anywhere else. Their kids are born, raised and schooled here but know little about life further south. Soapie fans would know it as Summer Bay with exteriors for Home and Away shot around here. Palm Beach was a place we used to head to for summer holidays – spending hours in the rock pool at its southern end, building sandcastles on the beach or surfing its gentle waves. Facing the surf behind a line of cabbage tree palms is the historic Surf Club which includes the Pacific and Cabbage Tree Clubs where members help themselves to gin and tonics and cook barbecues after a morning swim. Today you can still take ferry rides across to the Basin, Mackeral and other Pittwater communities which lie below the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Most can only be reached by boat or a long walk down through the park. UGG Boots The walk up to the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, which towers over Barrenjoey – the headland jutting out to the sea at the end of the isthmus of sandhills, is invigorating. It offers incredible views and, if you go off the beaten path, lots of caves to explore. The headland is at the entrance to Broken Bay, into which the Hawkesbury River runs. So in the 19th century it was a backdoor for smugglers and in 1843 a customs station was built to keep an eye on them. The lighthouse built of local sandstone was completed in 1881. In 1932 it was converted to automatic operation. For thousands of years the Guringai people lived here, fishing and hunting. Their cave art can be found in the national park.