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Recommended Reviews - Balmoral Beach
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Before I start, just thought I'd let you all know that the following review contains bias on my part due to Balmoral being my local. So, Balmoral Beach...a little jewel on the North Shore. Easy to get to by car or public transport (the 257 bus takes you right to the beach, everything else will drop you at Military Rd with a nice walk down the hill), just be mindful when driving to get here early for parking and pay attention to parking conditions, the parking inspectors will fine you otherwise! Right off the bat, understand that Balmoral is not a surf beach. It can get choppy at times but pretty calm, so you can simply come down, enjoy yourself & relax. I love that its not as busy as most Sydney beaches (most people continue on to Manly from Military Rd), but does get busy around lunch time & early afternoon. It is a great place for families, picnics, chilling all day and/or evening. I've spent countless hours in the early evenings strolling along the promenade, climbing around rocks, admiring the gorgeous views & watching the tide come in/out (a little sappy huh?). Speaking of views, sunrise here is pretty amazing (have a little pic showing how stunning in in my profile). Balmoral has all the amenities needed for a day at the beach (toilets, showers, changing rooms etc) and some great eateries only steps from the beach for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's clean, the sand is fine and depending on how far you swim out a nice combination of warm & cool currents. All in all, I'm ecstatic that this is my local and happy for you all to come share it too...just not on nice, hot sunny days. Keep going to Manly instead ;oP
This was our go-to beach when we lived in Neutral Bay. But now that we're Inner Westies we still tend to go here, because it suits us, for three main reasons: 1. It's large, and there are lots of shady spots just off the beach (and, at the north end, some on the beach). 2. It has very few tourists. 3. Being in the harbour it's very sheltered, and so easy swimming. It's quite popular with families, so that can be a plus or minus depending on your point of view. There are almost no preening body-self-worshippers. It's very laid-back, and there are plenty of picnics likely to be going on in the grassy spaces just behind the beach. The eating is fantastic, from fish 'n' chip shops, to breakfast cafes, to sandwich kiosks, to the wonderful treat that is the Bathers Pavilion. Parking is, relative to other beach areas, not too terrible if you're not afraid of walking a couple of blocks up the hill.
Walked here to walk off the high tea and it was a great spot! The water is warmer because it's a bit of a bay which was really nice and the first time I properly went into the water in Australia. I got a bit bit up, can't tell if it was from the beach because the bumps started showing up later and I didn't feel anything, so keep you eyes pealed!
I run down here almost every morning and still feel honoured to see he sunrise over the heads and the occasional cruise ship coming in. There's an abundance of PT groups down here and I'm sure you can join one if it takes your fancy. The cafe culture is awesomesauce and cafes are often filled with swimmers and runners gobbling down a well deserved avocado, lime and pepper on rye. The beach is super clean, the sand is raked each weekend morning and the street sweepers are out in force sweeping p sand and leaves. There's even blokes with blowers blowing he trash and leaves off the sand! In fact, this is the perfect beach and only loses one star because of two things: 1) the sand part of the beach is not dog friendly. 2) I want to poke my eyes out after seeing packs of 70 year old men in Speedos.
Balmoral Beach is the first beach I visited when I arrived in Sydney and it confirmed my expectations of what this cities lifestyle was all about. White sand, lush green headlands in the distance, quaint old buildings like the Boatshed, gorgeous homes and expensive yachts. The beach itself is not huge - it's certainly more of a small bay than a Manly style beach so it feels more intimate. That is, unless you visit on a summer weekend in which case every man and his dog (dogs are welcome on leashes) are soaking up the sun on the sand or the large grassy areas. For those new to Australia and have listed to too many shark stories there is a section of the beach that is enclosed by shark nets and a boardwalk. There are a few cafes and expensive restaurants to eat from which are all nice enough but if you are bringing the kids it's a great place to picnic as there is a lot of grass area and a few picnic tables. The toilets, showers and change rooms at the rear of the Bathers' Pavilion are pretty nice as far as public toilets go. The head lands in the distance is actually the Sydney Harbour National Park and is the gateway to Sydney Harbour.
I can't think of another city that has a swimmable beach within its harbor. Sydney has several. Balmoral Beach, to me, is the most standout. With some of the nicest, most velvety sand around, this beach offers panoramic views of Sydney harbor, from Manly to Watson's Bay and more. Make sure to head out to Rocky Point--massive sandstone boulders jutting out into the harbor, furnished with eroded crevices ideally suited for sitting. There are natural caves on these small 'cliffs' that recall the geology of the American Southwest. The water is very calm and quite pristine for a harbor beach. You'll see shark nets not too far from the sand, which give an illusion of safety (though their effectiveness has been questioned). When I was there last, the view out to the harbor was filled with hang gliders, parasailing, sailboats, kayaks, paddle boarders--any water sport, you name it! There are several cafes that line the Esplanade, a perfect option if you haven't packed your own picnic.
I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of this World Class harbour beach. It's utterly perfect and I don't even need to be biased. A walk along here at any time of day can connect me to myself in seconds. I'm a little spoilt as I get to enjoy this place during the week when it's quiet and serene but hot weekends see the throngs descend filling the sand and the grassy areas with boisterous hubbub. It's an ideal beach for families. Being a harbour beach it's protected from ocean waves and rips but it's worth staying vigilant - this isn't a patrolled beach and sharks are (infrequently) sighted in the area - it's gets its fair share of Blueys too when the wind is in the right direction. The Wishing Well about half way along the parade has a notice board that is maintained by the Rotary Club and gives all sorts of useful information about the water temperature and what to look out for. The Parking Meter furore is the stuff of much debate by locals as the council have introduced paid parking. The proceeds appear to have helped with the renovations of the toilet blocks and shower facilities which are now truly impressive. If you'd prefer not to pay for parking then Sydney Buses run services to here from the City and Chatswood and there is a local 'hail and ride' operated by the Council to get you back up the hill to Mosman Village, where there are a greater number of transport options. There are great formations to the North End of the beach that are worth exploring with a camera or fishing net - but watch out for the deadly Blue Ringed Octopus likes to hang out here too (are any non-Australians freaking out yet!). The Island in the centre of the Esplanade is a great picnic spot if you prefer less sand in your sandwiches - you might even spot a proposal. The Rotunda has been restored recently and provides a beautiful setting for weddings (you can hire it through Mosman Council). The Southern end of the beach has a bathing area, playground and kayak hire. A number of restaurants, cafes and kiosk for when you've done your exploring. It's really got everything. What's not to love?!
I have a deep and abiding love for Balmoral Beach. It's simply a spectacular place to visit - to play, to picnic, to stroll or to swim. Sure it can be maddening finding a park (particularly on sunny weekends), but once you're in you won't want to leave! There are a scrummy collection of cafes to grab a bite, but my favourite times at Balmoral have been strolling arm in arm with a loved one - catching up or making plans, the conversation punctuated by deep sighs of contentment. You really do feel spoiled as a Sydneysider when you visit Balmoral. Tourists all flock to Bondi and Manly, so if you have overseas guests in town, treat them to a visit here instead. The surf may be virtually non-existent, but the ambiance is just magic.
It takes a lot to convince me to go to the North Side, but Balmoral Beach is one convincing sand bank! Along with Camp Cove, this is my favourite beach in Sydney. Its inner-harbour location means that it's not a beach for the surfers out there, but great for those who aren't a massive fan of waves (or not a fan of massive waves), such as myself. As well as the double beach split by the grassy peninsula in the middle, there are number of good take-away cafés, so that's lunch taken care of. Buses (although I can't remember the numbers) service the area, otherwise you're best driving down, as it is at the bottom of a rather large hill making walking there - especially on a hot, summer day - inadvisable. If you're in town for just a few days and you've drawn up the list of beaches to go to, make sure that this is on that list!
This is one of my favorite beaches in Sydney. It isn't that crowded, kid-friendly, has good food options close by, and has a decent public toilet. It can get a little windy at times, but generally, this is a nice beach to come to. The surf is very small, so if it's waves your after, this isn't the beach for you.
14 years ago
Before I start, just thought I'd let you all know that the following review contains bias on my part due to Balmoral being my local. So, Balmoral Beach...a little jewel on the North Shore. Easy to get to by car or public transport (the 257 bus takes you right to the beach, everything else will drop you at Military Rd with a nice walk down the hill), just be mindful when driving to get here early for parking and pay attention to parking conditions, the parking inspectors will fine you otherwise! Right off the bat, understand that Balmoral is not a surf beach. It can get choppy at times but pretty calm, so you can simply come down, enjoy yourself & relax. I love that its not as busy as most Sydney beaches (most people continue on to Manly from Military Rd), but does get busy around lunch time & early afternoon. It is a great place for families, picnics, chilling all day and/or evening. I've spent countless hours in the early evenings strolling along the promenade, climbing around rocks, admiring the gorgeous views & watching the tide come in/out (a little sappy huh?). Speaking of views, sunrise here is pretty amazing (have a little pic showing how stunning in in my profile). Balmoral has all the amenities needed for a day at the beach (toilets, showers, changing rooms etc) and some great eateries only steps from the beach for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's clean, the sand is fine and depending on how far you swim out a nice combination of warm & cool currents. All in all, I'm ecstatic that this is my local and happy for you all to come share it too...just not on nice, hot sunny days. Keep going to Manly instead ;oP read more
This was our go-to beach when we lived in Neutral Bay. But now that we're Inner Westies we still tend to go here, because it suits us, for three main reasons: 1. It's large, and there are lots of shady spots just off the beach (and, at the north end, some on the beach). 2. It has very few tourists. 3. Being in the harbour it's very sheltered, and so easy swimming. It's quite popular with families, so that can be a plus or minus depending on your point of view. There are almost no preening body-self-worshippers. It's very laid-back, and there are plenty of picnics likely to be going on in the grassy spaces just behind the beach. The eating is fantastic, from fish 'n' chip shops, to breakfast cafes, to sandwich kiosks, to the wonderful treat that is the Bathers Pavilion. Parking is, relative to other beach areas, not too terrible if you're not afraid of walking a couple of blocks up the hill. read more
9 years ago
Walked here to walk off the high tea and it was a great spot! The water is warmer because it's a bit of a bay which was really nice and the first time I properly went into the water in Australia. I got a bit bit up, can't tell if it was from the beach because the bumps started showing up later and I didn't feel anything, so keep you eyes pealed! read more
I run down here almost every morning and still feel honoured to see he sunrise over the heads and the occasional cruise ship coming in. There's an abundance of PT groups down here and I'm sure you can join one if it takes your fancy. The cafe culture is awesomesauce and cafes are often filled with swimmers and runners gobbling down a well deserved avocado, lime and pepper on rye. The beach is super clean, the sand is raked each weekend morning and the street sweepers are out in force sweeping p sand and leaves. There's even blokes with blowers blowing he trash and leaves off the sand! In fact, this is the perfect beach and only loses one star because of two things: 1) the sand part of the beach is not dog friendly. 2) I want to poke my eyes out after seeing packs of 70 year old men in Speedos. read more
15 years ago
Balmoral Beach is the first beach I visited when I arrived in Sydney and it confirmed my expectations of what this cities lifestyle was all about. White sand, lush green headlands in the distance, quaint old buildings like the Boatshed, gorgeous homes and expensive yachts. The beach itself is not huge - it's certainly more of a small bay than a Manly style beach so it feels more intimate. That is, unless you visit on a summer weekend in which case every man and his dog (dogs are welcome on leashes) are soaking up the sun on the sand or the large grassy areas. For those new to Australia and have listed to too many shark stories there is a section of the beach that is enclosed by shark nets and a boardwalk. There are a few cafes and expensive restaurants to eat from which are all nice enough but if you are bringing the kids it's a great place to picnic as there is a lot of grass area and a few picnic tables. The toilets, showers and change rooms at the rear of the Bathers' Pavilion are pretty nice as far as public toilets go. The head lands in the distance is actually the Sydney Harbour National Park and is the gateway to Sydney Harbour. read more
15 years ago
I can't think of another city that has a swimmable beach within its harbor. Sydney has several. Balmoral Beach, to me, is the most standout. With some of the nicest, most velvety sand around, this beach offers panoramic views of Sydney harbor, from Manly to Watson's Bay and more. Make sure to head out to Rocky Point--massive sandstone boulders jutting out into the harbor, furnished with eroded crevices ideally suited for sitting. There are natural caves on these small 'cliffs' that recall the geology of the American Southwest. The water is very calm and quite pristine for a harbor beach. You'll see shark nets not too far from the sand, which give an illusion of safety (though their effectiveness has been questioned). When I was there last, the view out to the harbor was filled with hang gliders, parasailing, sailboats, kayaks, paddle boarders--any water sport, you name it! There are several cafes that line the Esplanade, a perfect option if you haven't packed your own picnic. read more
I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of this World Class harbour beach. It's utterly perfect and I don't even need to be biased. A walk along here at any time of day can connect me to myself in seconds. I'm a little spoilt as I get to enjoy this place during the week when it's quiet and serene but hot weekends see the throngs descend filling the sand and the grassy areas with boisterous hubbub. It's an ideal beach for families. Being a harbour beach it's protected from ocean waves and rips but it's worth staying vigilant - this isn't a patrolled beach and sharks are (infrequently) sighted in the area - it's gets its fair share of Blueys too when the wind is in the right direction. The Wishing Well about half way along the parade has a notice board that is maintained by the Rotary Club and gives all sorts of useful information about the water temperature and what to look out for. The Parking Meter furore is the stuff of much debate by locals as the council have introduced paid parking. The proceeds appear to have helped with the renovations of the toilet blocks and shower facilities which are now truly impressive. If you'd prefer not to pay for parking then Sydney Buses run services to here from the City and Chatswood and there is a local 'hail and ride' operated by the Council to get you back up the hill to Mosman Village, where there are a greater number of transport options. There are great formations to the North End of the beach that are worth exploring with a camera or fishing net - but watch out for the deadly Blue Ringed Octopus likes to hang out here too (are any non-Australians freaking out yet!). The Island in the centre of the Esplanade is a great picnic spot if you prefer less sand in your sandwiches - you might even spot a proposal. The Rotunda has been restored recently and provides a beautiful setting for weddings (you can hire it through Mosman Council). The Southern end of the beach has a bathing area, playground and kayak hire. A number of restaurants, cafes and kiosk for when you've done your exploring. It's really got everything. What's not to love?! read more
15 years ago
I have a deep and abiding love for Balmoral Beach. It's simply a spectacular place to visit - to play, to picnic, to stroll or to swim. Sure it can be maddening finding a park (particularly on sunny weekends), but once you're in you won't want to leave! There are a scrummy collection of cafes to grab a bite, but my favourite times at Balmoral have been strolling arm in arm with a loved one - catching up or making plans, the conversation punctuated by deep sighs of contentment. You really do feel spoiled as a Sydneysider when you visit Balmoral. Tourists all flock to Bondi and Manly, so if you have overseas guests in town, treat them to a visit here instead. The surf may be virtually non-existent, but the ambiance is just magic. read more
15 years ago
It takes a lot to convince me to go to the North Side, but Balmoral Beach is one convincing sand bank! Along with Camp Cove, this is my favourite beach in Sydney. Its inner-harbour location means that it's not a beach for the surfers out there, but great for those who aren't a massive fan of waves (or not a fan of massive waves), such as myself. As well as the double beach split by the grassy peninsula in the middle, there are number of good take-away cafés, so that's lunch taken care of. Buses (although I can't remember the numbers) service the area, otherwise you're best driving down, as it is at the bottom of a rather large hill making walking there - especially on a hot, summer day - inadvisable. If you're in town for just a few days and you've drawn up the list of beaches to go to, make sure that this is on that list! read more
11 years ago
It is my favorite beach in Sydney. It can be a little bit busy at the weekends, but not as busy as Bondi or Shelly Beach. The publuc toilet is decent when compared with the the toilets at the other beaches. Water is very clear and stull, so it is great for swimming. Not for surfers. read more
14 years ago
This is one of my favorite beaches in Sydney. It isn't that crowded, kid-friendly, has good food options close by, and has a decent public toilet. It can get a little windy at times, but generally, this is a nice beach to come to. The surf is very small, so if it's waves your after, this isn't the beach for you. read more
This is my favourite beach in Sydney. I used to live 5 minutes walk from this beach and went there quite often. Unfortunately of late this place has become too busy on weekends and it takes away from the charm and serenity of this beach. read more
10 years ago
We absolutely love this beach, it does get busy on the weekends and parking can be a bit tricky but it is worth it. read more
13 years ago
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15 years ago
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