Bilgola.

A secret gem on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Bilgola is a sheltered hideaway on the Tasman Sea along the scenic Barrenjoey Peninsula. Best known for its 500-metre long beachfront, large rock pool and surrounding natural vegetation, Bilgola is one of the smaller suburbs of the Northern Beaches and offers a charming, laidback lifestyle of no shoes and no worries.

The name Bilgola comes from the Aboriginal word Belgoula meaning swirling waters, which sums up the active beachfront that dominates Bilgola’s landscape. Nestled between the bustling suburbs of Newport and Avalon, Bilgola is an easy suburb to miss if you’re not looking out for it. To get to the beach, you have to take a sharp turn off Barrenjoey Road (famously called the Bilgola Bends) and wind your way down The Serpentine where you’ll be greeted by tropical vegetation, peaceful locals and clear blue waters.

On the other side of Barrenjoey Road away from the beachfront is where you’ll find Bilgola’s grand houses and estates. Sitting well above sea level and elevated on an impressive plateau, almost every house in the area has breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

Bumbalino at Bilgola Beach Kiosk is where the locals like to dine, or for more varied cuisine a quick trip up the road to nearby Avalon or Newport is on the cards. Bilgola Beach offers plenty of relaxation and water sports on the weekends, and Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club runs regular beach carnivals and activities for the young and young at heart.