Palm Beach is 2.3 km long east-facing beach that curves in a gentle arc between the prominent 100 m high, lighthouse capped, Barrenjoey Head to the sandstone rocks of Little Head in the south, beach linking Barrenjoey to the mainland. North Palm Beach (NSW 300a) extends 1.4 km south from Barrenjoey, with the northern 600 m backed by a 200 m wide densely vegetated foredune. The North Palm Beach SLSC (founded in 1945) is located 1 km south of the head in the centre of a large beachfront park and car park, with the Palm Beach golf course behind on the Pittwater side. The northern beach is well exposed to southerly waves, which average 1.5 m and maintain a rip-dominated surf zone with up to 15 rips along the entire beach. Includes a strong permanent rip against Barrenjoey (Fig. 4.192). The southern Palm Beach section (NSW 300b) includes the southern 600 m of beach, which curves to the southeast in the southern Kiddies Corner. It receives increasing protection from Little Head with waves decreasing in height down the beach. Rips usually extend all the way to the head, though usually smaller in size, with a weak permanent rip against the southern rocks (Fig.4.193). The southern end has a long history of usage with the Palm Beach SLSC founded in 1921, following a tragic drowning in 1920. During moderate to high swell all rips intensify and produce hazardous swimming conditions. read more

Beach Length: 1.4km