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Overview
Located within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the state of New South Wales, Great Mackerel Beach - also known as Mackerel Beach - is a long and wide beige sand beach with many rocky portions. The beach is adjacent to Currawong Beach and has a beautiful backdrop of natural bushland and several oceanfront homes, adding allure to its beauty, which offer incredible views. Great Mackerel Beach is positioned along the western shores of Pittwater Bay, which is a large tidal estuary in the north of Sydney.
Amenities
Great Mackerel Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a wharf and a public telephone. It is important to note that there are no nearby restrooms, drinking water, shops, or restaurants, so plan your trip accordingly.
Activities
Great Mackerel Beach offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, canoeing, beachcombing, picnicking, boating, sailing, bushwalking, snorkeling, and watching wildlife. If you are planning to go into the water, the waves are usually calm, making it a safe swimming area. The water near the beach is shallow, which is ideal for canoes, kayaks, and small boats. If you enjoy fishing, you may catch a variety of fish. Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity. The beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience. Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.
Disability Access
Great Mackerel Beach does not offer an access path for people with disabilities.
Parking
Getting to Great Mackerel Beach is easy - the beach is only accessible by boat, ferry, or by walking from nearby Palm Beach. Visitors can conveniently take a ferry from the Palm Beach Wharf located at 1151/1153 Barrenjoey Road to access the beach.
Fun Fact
Great Mackerel Beach has a permanent population of around 100 residents living in beach houses. In addition, the beach is also the filming location for several TV shows, including Home and Away.
Attractions
There are many attractions near Great Mackerel Beach. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is spread over 15,000 hectares and is home to a wide variety of landscapes, including forests, woodlands, heaths, rainforests, mangroves, rivers, waterfalls, cliffs, beaches, rocky formations, and Aboriginal sites. Visitors can enjoy many fun activities, including bushwalking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, boating, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, picnicking, fishing, and bird watching. Governor Phillip Park is a beachfront dog-friendly park that offers many amenities, including a gazebo, picnic areas, picnic tables, benches, barbecue grill facilities, restrooms, and a large playground with swing sets. Upper Gledhill Falls features a small waterfall that cascades into a deep emerald pool surrounded by many rocky cliffs, where visitors can enjoy a refreshing dip. Barrenjoey Lighthouse is a 36-foot-tall lighthouse positioned on the northernmost tip of the Palm Beach Peninsula. It was built in 1888 to monitor the smugglers activities in bringing contraband into Broken Bay, and it has also served as an observation point to watch Japanese ships during World War II. Visitors can climb up the lighthouse and enjoy incredible views of the vast Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Garigal National Park preserves fragile ecosystems, including bushland, wetlands, forests, and estuaries, that offer unique insight into the local biodiversity. The park offers many interesting activities, including fishing, cycling, horseback riding, kayaking, canoeing, picnicking, sailing, boating, bushwalking, birdwatching, and picnicking.
Restaurants
If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants within a thirty-minute drive of Great Mackerel Beach. Sunset Diner serves burgers, salads, sandwiches, and shakes. Charbel'sserves amazing eggs, omelets, burgers, sandwiches, crepes, salads, meat, and poultry dishes. Fernando’s Peruvian Rotisserie serves delicious salads, burgers, sandwiches, burritos, wraps, nachos, and pre-designed meals. Wasabi Japanese Sushi Bar serves soups, salads, sashimi, sushi, rolls, and bento boxes. If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Han Court Chinese Restaurant serves amazing soups, noodles, fried rice, and Chinese dishes.
Hotels
If you are looking for a hotel near Great Mackerel Beach, there are many great options nearby. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Park Hyatt Sydney is one hour away by car and offers many amenities including a rooftop pool, a deck with harbor views, a spa, a fitness center, and two restaurants. A more affordable hotel is the 4-StarJonah’s Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, which has many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, whirlpool tubs, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast. Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Metro Mirage Hotel Newport, which has many amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness room, a hot tub, a restaurant, and a private jetty. A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star The Hornsby Inn, which offers a few amenities including pool tables, a Thai restaurant, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Blues Point Hotel offers a few amenities including a restaurant, a sports bar, and a terrace.
650 meters
Entry Fee
Restroom Available
24 / 7
Beige
Parking Available
Amenities
Dogs
Restrooms
Activities
Fishing
Snorkeling
Volleyball
Rentals
Bikes
Fishing Boats
Food
Restaurants
Access
Car Access
Foot Access
Parking - Free
Features
Top Traveler Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Surf through our FAQs to help you find your perfect beach!
Does Great Mackerel Beach have parking? If so, is it free or paid?
Yes, this Beach provides free parking at the entrance, although spaces are limited. Visitors can also find street parking nearby for easy access to the beach.
Does Great Mackerel Beach have lifeguards?
No, this Beach does not have lifeguards monitoring the beach - please be careful when swimming on this beach.
Is Great Mackerel Beach a family-friendly beach?
No, this Beach is not family-friendly and does not have restrooms, lifeguards, and nearby food.
Is Great Mackerel Beach good for swimming?
Yes, this Beach boasts excellent swimming conditions, attracting swimmers of all skill levels with its gentle waves and clear waters.
Does Great Mackerel Beach have restrooms?
Yes, Restrooms are conveniently available on or adjacent to the beach at this Beach.
Is Great Mackerel Beach a nude beach?
No, this Beach maintains a family-friendly atmosphere and does not allow nude bathing.
Is there food near Great Mackerel Beach?
Yes, this Beach has multiple restaurant options near or on the beach.
What are the activities at Great Mackerel Beach?
Yes, this Beach is renowned for its vibrant beach scene, offering various activities for everyone to enjoy Fishing, Snorkeling, Volleyball.
Does Great Mackerel Beach have accommodations for people with disabilities?
No, this Beach does not have accommodations for people with disabilities.
Is Great Mackerel Beach a dog-friendly beach?
Yes, bring your dog with you to this Beach!
Is Great Mackerel Beach good for surfing?
No, this Beach is not generally considered to be good for surfing.