Pittwater & Barrenjoey: A natural harbour shaped by history
Barrenjoey Headland
A place best experienced from the water
Nestled between Sydney’s Northern Beaches and the bushland of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Pittwater is one of the city’s most naturally protected and beautiful waterways.
Long, calm and deeply sheltered, Pittwater feels a world away from the city, despite being close enough for an easy escape. From quiet bays and sandstone headlands to clear water, moored yachts and bush-lined shores, it’s a place where time naturally slows — especially when you experience it from the water.
For many Church Point Charter guests, Pittwater is the perfect first charter area. You do not need to travel far to feel like you have gone somewhere special. A slow cruise, a swim from the boat, lunch onboard and an afternoon on a mooring can be more than enough.
Starting from Newport
Church Point Charter operates from Princes Street Marina in Newport, right on the edge of Pittwater.
That makes Newport a practical place to start and finish your trip. Many guests collect groceries, drinks and ice on the way, meet friends nearby, or grab coffee before boarding. For overnight charters, it is worth arriving organised so you can settle in, complete your briefing and make the most of your daylight on the water.
Despite the business name, our current operating base is Newport — and from here, Pittwater opens up almost immediately.
Barrenjoey Headland and the gateway to Pittwater
At the northern entrance to Pittwater sits Barrenjoey Headland, crowned by the iconic Barrenjoey Lighthouse.
The name Barrenjoey is believed to come from an Aboriginal word meaning “young kangaroo” or “wallaby”, reflecting the area’s deep Indigenous heritage long before European settlement.
Built in 1881, the lighthouse has guided vessels safely into Pittwater for well over a century and remains one of the most recognisable landmarks on Sydney’s coastline.
Approaching the northern end of Pittwater by water, with Barrenjoey rising above Palm Beach, is one of those moments that reminds you why this area is so loved.
A harbour shaped by nature
Unlike exposed coastal waters, Pittwater is naturally protected by surrounding headlands and bushland. That shelter is one of the reasons it has long been a favourite boating destination — calm, scenic and forgiving for those new to boating.
Much of Pittwater’s western shoreline borders Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, creating a rare sense of wilderness so close to Sydney. From the boat, you can see sandstone cliffs, eucalypt forest, quiet inlets, beaches and moorings tucked into sheltered corners.
It is not a place you need to rush through. Pittwater rewards slow boating: moving gently between bays, stopping for a swim, picking up an authorised mooring and letting the day unfold.
Favourite Pittwater stops
Pittwater has plenty of beautiful places to enjoy from the water. Depending on your vessel, experience, weather and charter length, guests often explore areas such as:
Scotland Island
Morning Bay
Towlers Bay
Coasters Retreat
The Basin
Mackerel Beach
Palm Beach
the western national park shoreline
Some places are best for swimming and relaxing. Others are useful for shore access, walks or guest transfers if conditions are suitable and access is planned properly.
Church Point Charter vessels must use authorised moorings only. Anchoring is not permitted except in an emergency, and guests should not tie up to wharves, jetties, marina berths or restaurant pontoons unless access has been expressly arranged and approved.
Palm Beach, The Basin and going ashore
The northern end of Pittwater is full of familiar names: Palm Beach, Barrenjoey, Coasters Retreat, The Basin and Mackerel Beach.
These areas are wonderful to see by boat, but shore access should be planned carefully. In many cases, the best approach is to keep the charter vessel safely on an authorised mooring and use the tender, a hired outboard, ferry connection, water taxi or approved access point where suitable.
The Basin can also be useful for guest transfers. Friends may be able to catch the ferry from Palm Beach to The Basin, then transfer by tender if your vessel is nearby on an authorised mooring and conditions are calm. As always, tender transfers should be short, careful and completed in daylight.
A simple rule: if access to a wharf, jetty, pontoon, marina berth or private facility has not been clearly approved, do not use it.
Dining and supplies around Pittwater
Pittwater has some lovely places nearby for food, coffee and supplies, especially around Newport and Palm Beach.
For most charters, the easiest option is to organise groceries, drinks and ice before you arrive at Princes Street Marina. Click and collect from a supermarket or bottle shop can work well, and some delivery services may also operate in the Newport area depending on availability.
Palm Beach also has well-known dining options nearby, but a restaurant booking does not automatically mean the charter vessel can tie up. If you are planning a lunch stop or shore visit, think ahead about where the vessel will be secured, how guests will get ashore, and whether you have enough daylight to return to a mooring.
West Head and the entrance to Broken Bay
At the northern end of Pittwater, West Head marks the gateway toward Broken Bay, Cowan Creek and the Lower Hawkesbury.
It is a beautiful part of the waterway, but it deserves respect. Conditions around West Head and Broken Bay can be different from the calmer water inside Pittwater, especially when wind or swell is present.
If your charter plan involves crossing between Pittwater and Cowan Creek or the Hawkesbury, CPC operating limits apply. We will help you understand what is suitable before departure, and you should always choose a plan that gives you plenty of time, daylight and margin.
For many guests, especially on a first charter, there is no need to cross West Head at all. Pittwater itself offers more than enough for a relaxed and memorable day on the water.
Pittwater in culture, film and storytelling
Pittwater’s distinctive landscape has made it a natural backdrop for film, television and photography over the years. Its combination of calm water, bushland, beaches and dramatic headlands has appeared in Australian productions ranging from lifestyle programming to long-running television series filmed around Palm Beach and the Northern Beaches.
Beyond the screen, Pittwater has always been part of Sydney’s coastal story — a place for fishing, boating, family holidays and quiet escapes, passed down through generations.
It is the kind of place locals feel lucky to have nearby, and visitors often remember long after they leave.
Why Pittwater is perfect for relaxed boating
What sets Pittwater apart is not just how it looks, but how it feels.
It is calm enough to build confidence, beautiful enough to feel special, and varied enough that every charter can be a little different.
Pittwater is ideal for:
first-time self-drive boaters
relaxed day charters
family trips
swimming and lunch onboard
easy overnight stays
guests who want beautiful scenery without big distances
slower weekends where the boat becomes the destination
You can spend a few hours exploring or stay overnight and wake up on the water. Either way, Pittwater invites you to slow down, look around and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Exploring Pittwater with confidence
You do not need to be an experienced boater to enjoy Pittwater. Its sheltered waters, short distances and clearly defined shoreline make it one of the best places in Sydney for self-drive boat hire.
Before departure, CPC will brief you on your vessel, the charter area, moorings, daylight operation and any weather considerations for the day. We can also help you shape a simple plan that suits your group and your level of confidence.
The best approach is often the simplest: choose a few places you would like to see, allow plenty of time, and do not try to fit too much into one day.
Start exploring
From Pittwater, you can enjoy:
calm bays perfect for swimming and relaxing
authorised moorings for lunch or overnight stays
national park shoreline and bushland views
Palm Beach and Barrenjoey from the water
The Basin, Coasters Retreat and Mackerel Beach
easy day trips without travelling far
longer adventures toward Cowan Creek and the Lower Hawkesbury when conditions allow
Each part of Pittwater offers something slightly different, but they all share the same easy rhythm: calm water, beautiful surroundings and the feeling that you have properly stepped away.
For many guests, that is the real magic of Pittwater.
