Whale Beach

Whale Beach sits on the narrow peninsula to the north of Avalon with Pittswater on one side and Dolphin Bay on the other. The origins of the name are unknown, but most likely refer to a beached whale.

As the Northern Beaches developed in the 1950s, the area became a popular residential neighbourhood. However, one bungalow that predates that time is Careen House. Now heritage listed, the sandstone home was designed by architect Alexander Stewart Jolly in 1931 and built from stone quarried onsite.

The 600m long sandy beach is enclosed by 40m high headlands (Little Head and Careel Head) and backed by cliffs rising gently to 100m in height. Access is down the steep Whale Beach Road which ends at the car park and beach front reserve.

Whale Beach is always a popular haunt for surfers with a well-known surf break, The Wedge, off the rocks at the north end of the beach. This rocky area is also popular for fishing from the rock platforms. The surf zone is dominated by a bar with 4 rips against either headland.

Each year in January, Whale Beach hosts The Big Swim. Participants swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach, a distance of several km. There are plenty more attractions too with a 25m ocean swimming pool, children’s playground, picnic area, toilets, showers and beach patrol on weekends. The Whale Beach SLSC was formed in 1937 and continues to rescue around 78 people every year.