The Northern Beaches

Pat and Ron met us at the cafe across from the hotel for breakfast. Across the street is Colloroy Beach, so our morning meal was set to the sound of waves. Ron grew up in this area and was an amazing tour guide. We started with a walk up the beach and around the Long Reef golf course. We stopped to watch some paragliders practice their craft and made several other stops just to take in the view. Returning to the car park, we drove up the coast and into the hills, past Newport and into Palm Beach. The towns have the same vibe as SoCal, with surf shops and cafes dotting the Main Street; enormous homes built into the hillside, off a winding two lane road. The view was incredible, regardless of where the car was pointing.

After lunch and a long walk on the beach, Kim needed a nap, and I threw some ice on my swelling ankle. We later rounded out the night with dinner at the Colloroy Beach Club. The Club is literally on the beach, with floor to ceiling windows for a magnificent view of the crashing waves. Dinner was good but the location was incredible.Read more