Avalon Beach

Avalon Beach's sand is fine and golden, running along an open, north-east-facing bay in Sydney's Northern Beaches, fully exposed to ocean swell and producing a consistent surf break well regarded by local surfers. A rock pool at the southern end offers calmer, protected swimming when the ocean surf is too rough for young children, and a grassed reserve backs much of the beach, giving it a relaxed, village feel rather than a busy tourist strip. Avalon has a laid-back, slightly bohemian local character, home to a strong surfing community and a small village shopping strip a short walk from the sand, and is another beach used as a filming location for the television series 'Home and Away'. The beach is generally quieter than Manly or the eastern suburbs beaches, drawing local families, surfers and residents of the surrounding Northern Beaches suburbs rather than large numbers of day-trippers, given the distance from the city. Amenities include lifeguard patrol during the summer season, the rock pool, several surf schools, and cafes and restaurants in the village strip along Old Barrenjoey Road just back from the beach. Avalon is one of the furthest Sydney beaches from the CBD, about 35 kilometres north, reached by Bus L90 from Wynyard in around 70 minutes, with no rail option.