NORTHERN BEACHES COAST WALK & WHALES - Freshwater to Collaroy Beach - 10km easy

Come for a beautiful day roaming five of Sydney's most idyllic northern beaches, and let's take this last chance to catch the magnificent humpback whales before their annual migration leaves Sydney. We'll do an easy 10km walk following wonderfully scenic seaside boardwalks, across golden beaches, past quiet lagoons, and breezy trails over spectacular rocky headlands, with endless glorious views over the ocean and watch our whale friends venting and leaping before us. And at the end let's have a drink and great food at the excellent beach-side pub in Collaroy, before an easy trip home.

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THE PLAN
Meet at 10am on the lawn outside the Pocket Cafe (at the Freshwater Surf Lifesaving Club building, just off Kooloora Ave, Freshwater Beach).

(We'll be at the cafe from 9am onwards, so if you arrive early, come join us for a coffee before the walk at 10am).

We'll head off along the coastal route through several beaches and headlands, stopping at a couple of high points to enjoy the panoramic views of the coast and watch for whales.

We'll stop at Dee Why beach for lunch at the seaside park, and there are cafes and takeaways if you want food, refreshments, coffee.

We'll be crossing the mouth of Dee Why lagoon - this is just several metres across the very shallow waterway that runs across the beach. If the tide is down it is a dry walk over the sand, or if the tide is up we will have to take off our shoes to walk through knee deep water - it will be easy and fun! Bring a towel to dry your feet.

We'll try to finish the walk at Collaroy beach by 3.30pm. Express buses depart frequently for the City, or for Freshwater beach if you left your car there.

If you like, stay after the walk with us at the beautiful Collaroy Hotel, to relax with a drink, excellent food, and great views over the ocean.

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IS THIS ACTIVITY RIGHT FOR ME?
This walk has excellent boardwalks, a couple of short flat beaches to walk along, and the well-formed dirt trails ascending over the headlands are gentle, so the walking is not challenging. If you have done a walk of at least 5 - 7 km previously you will find this 10km route very do-able.

It's an easy walk, but there are lots of outpoints with bus connections if you need them.

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TRANSPORT

Arriving by bus from Wynyard station:

• From York Street, stand L, take the B1 bus at 8.49am, arriving at Warringah Mall (bus stand C, Pittwater Rd, Brookvale) at 9.18am.
• Walk 100 metres back along Pittwater Rd, and cross the road at the traffic lights to bus stand A.
• Then from bus stand A take the 167 bus at 9.30am, arriving at Charles Street (just after Ocean View Rd), Freshwater at 9.50am.
• Walk forward 100 metres along Charles St, turn left onto Kooloora Avenue and walk 250 metres to the beach-side park, and the Surf Lifesaving Club building is on the right.

See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for all public transport connections and times.

Arriving by car:

• There is parking in the residential streets around Freshwater Beach, but spaces can be hard to come by - arrive early to find a spot.
• There is a 12P car park next to the Surf Life-Saving Club, but metered parking is expensive.
• An alternative is to park in Collaroy Beach in the morning so that you have your car close by at the finish point. In this case, look for free untimed street parking spaces in Collaroy St, Fielding St, or Jenkins St, or use the metered parking in the car park next to the Collaroy Hotel. Then take the B1 bus from the Collaroy Hotel (on Pittwater Rd) to Pittwater Rd, Warringah Mall, followed by bus route 167 from Warringah Mall (stand A, corner of Pittwater Rd and William St) to Charles Street, Freshwater, and walk 350 metres to Freshwater Surf Lifesaving Club.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $10 to help offset the group's operating costs.
You can

• make a PayID bank transfer to the organiser's phone number 0411 600 717 in the 24 hours before you arrive to the event, or
• bring cash on the day.

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BRING

• Opal card for public transport
• your lunch, snacks - or there are cafes at our lunch spot in Dee Why
• water bottle (refills available along the way)
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses - even on winter days UV light can be sharp
• warm jacket and pants for later in the day
• towel or foam pad to sit on the lawn at lunch time

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LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read HERE.