Purer Places: Five of Sydney’s Most Serene Beaches for a Picnic

Any picnic-loving, beachgoing Sydneysider will tell you that anywhere by the water is a good spot for a picnic. But top-tier locations, by pristine waters with shady trees, with nice grass or flat rocks, are still worth seeking out. And with the right natural locale, a great group of people, and the time to really settle in, we reckon a picnic is the ultimate way to kick back and relax. We’ve picked our favourite serene seaside spots for a chilled-out coastal picnic.

Milk Beach at Hermit Bay, Vaucluse

Vaucluse’s beaches feel like a scene from a romance movie. Every time we visit we fall in love with Sydney again. Huge fig trees shade the family-friendly Nielsen Park, but farther along the Hermitage Foreshore walk you’ll find Milk Beach, a secluded little cove with calm turquoise water. It’s a neat spot to relax, read a book and hang out with a friend. Visit in the late afternoon to catch the crimson glow of the sun setting behind the city skyline and Harbour Bridge.

Clifton Gardens Reserve, Mosman

A top contender for family and dog-friendly beachside spots, this laid-back reserve provides a serene break from the bustling suburb of Mosman. With a wharf and enclosed swimming spot, it’s popular for fishing and snorkelling, plus there’s access to shaded walking trails to the north and south. There’s a few barbeques and picnic tables to set up your spread of food and cold drinks once you’ve finished swimming for the day. Make sure someone is in charge of bringing the Pure Blonde. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach and in the water before 9am and after 4pm. For a more hidden, protected spot, walk about 10 minutes north along the Georges Head coastal trail to Obelisk Beach.

West Head Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Spectacular beaches are abundant in Sydney’s north, but it’s worth venturing a little further up to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to check out West Head Beach. Ku-ring-gai has over 350 Aboriginal sites such as rock carvings and burial grounds, some of which you’ll see here at the beach. Pack your picnic and cold beers in a backpack and walk the short, slightly steep 500-metre track from the lookout down to the beach. You’ll be treated to quintessential Australian bush as well as a remote golden-sand beach overlooking the famous Pittwater and Barrenjoey Peninsula. Choose Bobbin Head or Akuna Bay for picnic spots accessible by car and with facilities in the national park.

Congwong Beach, La Perouse

The historic sites of Bare Island and La Perouse, on the traditional land of the Gweagal and Gameygal people, are popular tourists spots. The area’s surrounding large grassy fields and flat rocks make for great picnicking overlooking the bay. Congwong Beach itself is protected by the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, where large trees and sand dunes create a calm sheltered cove. Go for a stroll through the banksia scrub forest toward expansive ocean views at Henry Head, or settle on the rocky sandstone outcrops either side of the beach to watch the sun set. It’s a great wildlife-watching spot too with seabirds and fish galore, and the occasional dolphin.

Bronte Beach, Bronte

Bronte is far from a secret, but we would be remiss to exclude this very pure place from a list of top beachside picnic spots in Sydney. This spot has it all: picnic shelters, an enormous flat grassy field perfect for rug placement or a ball game with friends, toilet and shower facilities, a children’s playground, a gorgeous ocean pool, and some of Sydney’s best waves. Plus a beach kiosk and numerous cafes nearby. Because in the middle of the famous Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, it sees hundreds of visitors daily, but there is a profoundly convivial community atmosphere that you’ll want to be a part of. And outside of the summer holiday peak, Bronte becomes much less bustling, and almost tranquil. Surrounded by palm trees and a rainforest walk behind the beach, there’s plenty of room for relaxation.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Pure Blonde, from a place purer than yours. Drink responsibly, 18+ only.