The story of this place
The 30-minute climb to Barrenjoey Lighthouse from Palm Beach car park rewards with one of the most dramatic coastal panoramas in NSW. The sandstone headland drops 120 metres to the sea on three sides, with Palm Beach's long sandy arc to the south and the broad Hawkesbury entrance to the north. Sunset light from the west bathes the lighthouse in warm gold, while the breaking surf below turns luminous. The lighthouse itself — a Victorian-era sandstone structure — photographs beautifully as a foreground element against the broad sky. The walking track passes through restored bushland populated with wallabies and echidnas.