Sally and Ann's Excellent Adventure 04: View from Barrenjoey Lighthouse

The sandstone Barrenjoey Head was cut off from the mainland by rising sea levels about 10 000 years ago. The subsequent build up of sand forms the spit (or tombolo) between the Head and the settlement of Palm Beach.

Looking south from the lighthouse, on the left hand side you can see the surfing beach of Palm Beach, on the right, the calmer waters of Pittwater.

The headland at the southern end of Palm Beach is called Little Head, which separates Palm Beach from the next beach, Whale Beach. The larger headland further south is Bangalley Head, where we will venture in a few days.

Palm Beach is where popular TV soapie, Home and Away is filmed.

The southern end of the Palm Beach is marked as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour on a map of 1832. It was latter named Palm Beach after the nearby cabbage tree palms.

The view to the north takes in Lion Island, the entrance to Broken Bay and the national parks and beaches of the Central Coast