Mona Vale to Avalon
Looking back to Newport from North Bilgola Lookout
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A scenic Northern Beaches coastal walk linking Mona Vale, Newport, Bilgola and Avalon via beaches, headlands and bushland reserves.
Distance: 9 km
Time: 2–3 hours
Steps: 14,000
Level of Difficulty: Moderate -
Numerous beaches and ocean pools
Stunning views
Optional detour to secluded Bungan Beach
Cafes at Mona Vale, Newport, Bilgola and Avalon
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This is a point-to-point walk. Return by retracing your steps or catch the 199 bus from Avalon to Mona Vale.
Some short climbs and stairs are involved, especially around headlands.
Most beaches and reserves prohibit dogs, so it’s best to leave them at home.
Sun protection is recommended
Parking is available at Mona Vale Beach car park (ticket or permit required), or in nearby streets.
This coastal walk begins at Mona Vale Beach and heads north to Avalon, dipping onto several beaches along the way. For much of the route you’ll be walking close to the ocean - across sand, along headlands and through small reserves - with occasional stretches through quiet residential streets linking one beach to the next.
There’s a little climbing involved (think views!), but most of the walk is fairly easy. With beautiful beaches at regular intervals and several good café stops along the way, it’s an easy walk to stretch out over a morning.
WALKING THE TRAIL
Mona Vale Beach to Mona Vale Headland
To begin the walk, start at Mona Vale Beach near the Surf Life Saving Club. If you’re starting out early, the café attached to the club usually opens from around 6:30am.
From here, step down onto the sand or follow the footpath and head north. Beyond the ocean pool lies Basin Beach, a small arc-shaped beach tucked beside the main beach. Surfers like this spot for the reef breaks, but if you’re thinking of taking a pre-walk swim, keep in mind that there’s often a dangerous undertow here.
Mona Vale Beach and Ocean Pool
Just up from the end of the beach is the stairway leading up to Mona Vale Headland. Before heading up, check out some of the interesting rocks at the base of the headland including one with a face carved into it. I have no idea who did it or how long it’s been there (anyone?), but I’m told it’s not the only face adorning rocks along the Northern Beaches.
Climb the stairs to the headland reserve, which looks out over Mona Vale Beach and north toward Long Reef and Manly. The reserve, once known as a bushranger hideout, is sometimes referred to as Bushranger Hill, though there have been calls for the headland to be renamed in honour of Bowen Bungaree, a local policeman and tracker.
The reserve is home to many birds, including my favourites — the busy Willy Wagtail and the ever-watchful Nankeen Kestrel.
Mona Vale Headland to Newport Beach
After leaving the headland reserve, the route includes a short section of street walking, with an optional detour down to Bungan Beach (see below).
Head down Hillcrest Avenue, at the end of which you’ll meet busy Barrenjoey Rd. Take care here as the traffic flies past and the footpath is narrow.
Fortunately, you’re not on this road for long. Turn right at Karloo Parade and continue on to turn right at Bungan Head Road before taking a quick left onto Myola Rd which will take you all the way to Newport Beach.
Local real estate agents refer to this area around Myola Rd as The Golden Triangle. It’s not got the grandest homes in the area, though many are very nice, but it has good-sized blocks, and is close to the village and beach. It has some pretty gardens and trees too which attract the noisy, colourful parrots you’ll likely hear as you walk.
Bungan Beach
Optional detour: Bungan Beach
For an extra 2,000 steps or so, turn down Beach Road and follow the path through Betty Morrison Reserve to Bungan Beach.
This is a pretty little beach and relatively quiet as access is mainly on foot. The beach backs onto lush native bushland alive with birdlife and other wildlife including long-nosed bandicoots, peregrine falcons and powerful owls.
Newport Beach to Bilgola Beach
Newport Beach is a little over one kilometre long, and is backed by beautiful big Norfolk pines. The beach is popular with surfers and families.
There’s a rock pool at the south end and a fenced playground near the Surf Club. There are cafes nearby if you want to make a stop here, or do as we did and pick up something at Bilgola Beach, or Avalon at the end of the walk. There are plenty of options.
Look for the pathway on the northern edge of the beach car park that leads to the South Bilgola Headland. At the top of the stairs there’s a pretty boardwalk section that skirts the headland, offering views back down to Newport and soon to Bilgola.
The path continues on, partly shaded by overhanging trees, down to Bilgola Beach.
Bilgola Beach to Avalon Beach
Bilgola Beach has a relaxed, local feel. It’s about 500 metres long and has a 50 metre long accessible ocean pool at the southern end. There’s a Surf Lifesaving Club, showers, toilets and a popular cafe - Zubi at Billys - just up from the sand.
We stopped here for breakfast (watch out for the birds) before walking to the northern end of the beach to complete the last leg of the journey.
At the end of Bilgola Beach is a set of steep stairs which lead to The Serpentine. On your way up the stairs look out for the large Moreton Bay Fig, also known as a strangler fig, with one of its victims, a palm tree, beside it.
Follow The Serpentine as it winds around North Bilgola Headland for about 500 metres. It’s reasonably quiet but there are no footpaths.
There are some beautiful houses along this stretch with coastal gardens and expansive views. You can get your own taste of these views from North Bilgola Lookout, which you’ll come to on the left as the road curves around the headland.
Continue on to the end of The Serpentine where it meets Barrenjoey Road. You’ll briefly rejoin this busy road before turning off again near Avalon.
As you get closer to Avalon look for a sign marked: Access to Beach. This path leads to Surfside Avenue, which takes you down to Avalon Beach.
Avalon Beach
Avalon Beach
The walk ends at the ocean pool at the southern end of Avalon Beach.
This is as good a place as any to take a dip, and this end of the beach is probably best as surfers favour the northern end. There are toilets and change rooms at the surf club.
Behind the beach is a skate ramp and basketball court, and there’s a playground in nearby Dunbar Park. There’s a vibrant village on the other side of Barrenjoey Rd where you’ll find many cafes and shops.
The 199 bus will get you back to Mona Vale in around 15 minutes. It won’t take you all the way to the beach though. If you parked at the beach you’ll need to get off at the stop near Seabeach Avenue and walk around 500m back to the car park.
In the area
This walk begins where the North Narrabeen to Mona Vale walk ends and the Avalon to Palm Beach walk begins. If you’re feeling energetic you could tack either one on to this trail for a much longer day out.
If you fancy a long lunch or lazy afternoon in a waterside beer garden, the 199 bus goes past the old Newport Arms, now The Newport. Or take a twenty minute ride on the 191 bus to Clareville, a pretty little protected beach on Pittwater. The water is calm, great for kids and there’s plenty of shade. Facing west, it’s also a nice spot to watch the sunset.
