Best Boating Spots in Pittwater, Broken Bay & The Hawkesbury
Pittwater and its adjoining waterways of Broken Bay, Cowan Creek and the Hawkesbury River are among the world’s greatest waterways … and best of all, if you live in Sydney, these amazing sailing destinations are located right on our doorstep.
Totally unspoilt, serene and surrounded by the magnificent Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, it’s actually hard to believe that Pittwater is less than an hour’s drive from Sydney’s CBD, and you can be enjoying them shortly thereafter!
Here’s our A–Z of the best pristine beaches and isolated bays – many of which are only accessible by water – that you might want to explore on your next Pittwater sailing adventure.
America Bay and Refuge Bay
Picture yourself mooring in a protected, world-class anchorage before swimming ashore to enjoy a freshwater rinse under not one, but two incredible crystal clear freshwater waterfalls.
America Bay and Refuge Bay are two large and connected inlets that are surrounded by impressive rock formations and sandstone cliffs, forming a very protected, world-class anchorage.
It’s hard to believe that Refuge Bay was once a secret military training ground for our special Z forces during the war.
Refuge Bay has a small, secluded sandy beach along with the most spectacular waterfall in the West Head area. The Refuge Bay Waterfall plunges onto rocks and a pool at the back of the beach and there’s also a long cave behind the waterfall, which can be accessed from either side of the waterfall.
America Bay is the quieter spot and it also keeps the sun the longest in the evening. America Bay Beach is rockier and smaller than Refuge Bay Beach and it is located in south-eastern corner of America Bay. America Bay Beach has a north-westerly aspect and is backed by a creek and another waterfall.
Location
America and Refuge Bays are on your port side just opposite the Hawkesbury River entrance as you sail upstream towards Cowan Creek, approximately 2 hours sail from Allsail.
Like all the surrounding bays, America and Refuge Bays can only be accessed either via boat or hard-core bushwalkers, keeping them pristine and unspoilt.
Anchorage
With nearly a hundred private, club and courtesy moorings, both bays can get very busy, especially in summer and at the weekends, with Refuge Bay (the southerly inlet) the busier of the two. But even if the public moorings are taken there is usually plenty of space to anchor near the entrance in 4 metres – good holding mud.
Both bays are deal for an overnight stays as they are very sheltered in all conditions except a strong north-westerly
Top tip
Low tide is the best time to explore both beaches, with the waterfalls best enjoyed after rain.
The Basin
The Basin (as its name suggests) is a lagoon-shaped bay of calm and protected water that is netted, making it ideal for kids to play and swim in, as well as for fishing and stand-up paddle boarding. The star attraction is sea horses, but you’ll also cross paths with starfish, cuttlefish, bream, leather jackets during summer months, tropical species.
(source) https://www.sydney.com/articles/best-snorkelling-in-sydney
This is a great spot to moor before rowing ashore to use its wide range of facilities that include barbecues, picnic facilities, toilets, showers and even a public phone.
But be warned – Coasters Retreat and The Basin are some of the busiest locations on the western shores of Pittwater due to their access via the Palm Beach Ferry which can be ideal for you to welcome your guests for lunch onboard or a picnic lunch ashore.
The Basin is also the only area you are allowed to camp in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and its campground can accommodate up to 400 campers.
The Basin is a great spot for day trips, providing easy access to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, with plenty of wildlife (including kangaroos, wallabies, goannas and koalas) as well as Aboriginal rock carvings nearby on the West Head Road.
Location
Coasters Retreat and The Basin are located across from Palm Beach on the western foreshores of Pittwater in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Anchorage
This deepwater anchorage is protected from most winds but exposed to the north-east and south-east, making it a great place to moor in a strong southerly wind, but not during strong easterlies. It is also not a good place to stay overnight in heavy NE swells, as your boat will roll a lot.
There are 100 club moorings and in winter there are always plenty available, but in summertime it can get extremely busy.
Top tip
If you’d like to explore the National Park, there are some excellent walks which start from the back of the showers.
In the summer months, a motorboat shop comes in from Palm Beach with the basic essentials.
Flint and Steel Beach and White Horse Beach
Flint and Steel Beach is a gloriously unspoilt, north-facing curved beach within Flint and Steel Bay that is just under one kilometre long and bordered by rock platforms with a freshwater creek in the centre.
Because this beach has no ferry service and it is difficult to access via the walking track from West Head Road you can often have this entire place to yourself! However, Flint and Steel Point, just to the west, is popular with fishermen when the fish are running.
White Horse Beach is a much smaller, 30m stretch of sand, nestled under a steep hill, situated between Flint and Steel Beach and Hungry Beach within Flint and Steel Bay. White Horse Beach provides north-westerly views over the Hawkesbury and up the river towards Brooklyn.
Because Flint and Steel Beach and White Horse Beach are both affected by Tasman Sea swell, they are ideal spots for a picnic lunch and a swim, rather than an overnight stay. If you have the stamina to climb the 40 minutes steep track to West Head, you’ll enjoy an incredible 360-degree view from the lookout.
Location
As you head west towards the entrance of the Hawkesbury, Flint and Steel is on the eastern side of Flint and Steel Point. It is the first beach around West Head on the southern side of Cowan Waters.
White Horse Beach is the next beach to the south west, before you get to Hungry Beach.
Anchorage
Flint and Steel Beach is a great spot in the southerly, as West Head provides protection, however as it is close to the entrance to Broken Bay, it picks up swell and it can be quite rocky onboard your boat, which is why overnight stays are not recommended.
It is also strongly tide affected, however there is plenty of room to anchor off the large sandy beach and its muddy and sandy bottom allows for good anchoring.
Top tip
If you want to climb to the West Head lookout it is an easier, safer and shorter climb from Flint and Steel Beach rather than climbing from White Horse Beach.
Hungry Beach and Little Pittwater Bay
This north-facing one kilometre long beach is marked by dramatic cliffs, caves and reminders of times gone by, including the ruins of the Flint & Steel Guesthouse and evidence of Aboriginal middens, the discarded shell fish mounds.
Hungry Beach is a great lunch or picnic spot as the conditions here are calmer than other beaches in the area. And with no form of land access available, you can expect to have the place mostly to yourself, apart from the locals that include very large goannas, the Australian monitor lizards.
Little Pittwater Bay has a rocky shoreline that makes access to the shore difficult, however it is a good spot for overnight stays because it is a protected bay.
Location
Hungry Beach is the next beach to the south west of White Horse Beach, located in the Hawkesbury, near the entrance to Broken Bay.
Anchorage
Great in southerly wind because it is less affected by swell than Flint and Steel.
There is reasonable overnight anchorage in the right conditions in Little Pittwater Bay, with . plenty of room to anchor on a bottom of mud and sand. There is only room for two boats.
Jerusalem Bay
Jerusalem Bay is one of the most attractive locations on Cowan Creek, an incredibly protected and secluded inlet that is safe and serene, surrounded by the pristine, quiet bushland of the Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park.
There is land access via the Great North Walk, however most people come here via their boat to swim in the calm waters, enjoy a picnic, swing of a tree rope, explore the safe bay in dinghies and kayaks or to simply take in the tranquillity of the beautiful surroundings.
Pinta Bay is a tiny finger-shaped, well-protected bay that lies within Jerusalem Bay. The tip of Pinto Bay is a marshland that is worth exploring as it leads to plentiful, lush and sheltered creeks.
Location
To the north of Cottage Point along Cowan Creek.
Anchorage
In summer it can be tricky to get a mooring here as it is very protected from even the largest of swells.
Top tip
If you’re looking for provisions, Cottage Point is nearby.
Portuguese Bay and Portuguese Beach
Portuguese Bay and Portuguese Beach are surrounded by steep ridges, making access to the beach via land difficult. So although Portuguese Beach lies just across the water from Palm Beach, you might be lucky enough to have this isolated spot all to yourself!
This 80 metre long beach faces east and the shape of the surrounding land mass offers excellent protection from westerlies, as well as the hot setting sun in summer.
If you don’t want to venture too far on your boat, Portuguese Bay and Portuguese Beach are a lovely quiet area to sail to and enjoy lunch and a swim.
If you decide to anchor overnight, you’ll be rewarded with great night-time views and spectacular sunrises.
Location
Located on the western side of Pittwater, between Towlers/Morning Bay and Coasters Retreat, across the water from Palm Beach.
Anchorage
Although there are no moorings here, there is anchoring for up to five boats on a sandy bottom. Not recommended for overnight stays except in the calmest of conditions.
Resolute Beach
Thanks to its sheltered position, seclusion, amazing views to Palm Beach and the Barrenjoey Headland, beautiful emerald green water, and wide, sandy beach, Resolute Beach is one of our favourite Pittwater places to visit.
Luckily, access to the beach via land is a difficult 8km walk, so these remote and isolated little beaches tucked right up under the West Head cliff face are mainly visited by boaties.
This is a great beach for swimming, sunbaking and picnicking as there are no rocks along its 60 metre stretch of sand (unlike the neighbouring West Head Beach) and only very small or no waves at all.
Don’t miss the cascade that runs all the way down to the beach and collects in a pool on the beach and the small caves, rock features and overhangs at the northern end of the beach.
Location
Resolute Beach is in the Western foreshores at the head section of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, opposite the Barrenjoey Headland and facing Pittwater. Not safe to anchor here overnight though.
Towlers Bay Beach or Morning Bay
Towlers Bay was renamed Morning Bay in 1984, however it is still interchangeably known by both names. Morning Bay has two arms and two beaches, with the base of the bay filled with intertidal sand flats that extends 100 m into the bay.
Morning Bay Beach is the most accessible of the two beaches. This 60 m long beach is surrounded by bushland, with a small creek at its eastern end, a swinging tree rope, beach waterfall and swimming holes.
This is a great spot for children to play in, with a creek bed, rock platforms and fallen trees to explore, as well as calm shallow waters that extend a long way from the water’s edge.
Morning Bay also offers a stunning view of Scotland Island and it is also accessible by ferry via Halls Wharf as it has a Youth Hostel as well as a small community of residents.
Location
Located on the western foreshores of Pittwater, opposite Clareville Beach.
Anchorage
Morning Bay offers protection from West to North East winds.
The South Western arm has plenty of room for day anchoring, but be aware that it shallows rapidly towards the head, where a large creek enters.
The North Eastern section has 25 club moorings but no public moorings. Can be very busy in summer but if no moorings in calm conditions you can anchor just outside the moorings in 7metres – good holding mud – but you’ll have an anchor to clean up when you leave
Top tip
The bushwalk from the jetty in Morning Bay up into the National Park is highly recommended for its great views looking south over Scotland Island and in the distance to Long Reef.
How Allsail can help you to discover Pittwater too
Our Allsail office, yachts and catamarans are all based at the Ferry Wharf at Church Point on Pittwater, which is the perfect base for exploring the calm waters and spectacular scenery of what many experienced sailors call Sydney’s “best kept secret”.
With parking and provisioning located right by the wharf this is the perfect place to start your next sailing adventure.
With Allsail you explore Pittwater, Broken Bay, Cowan Creek and the Hawkesbury River either by chartering a boat from Allsail or by joining our non-equity yachtshare club. We offer both skippered or bareboat charter and we have three levels of yachshare membership to choose from.
Contact us now to find out more!
