For our second beach suburb blog, we're chosen another Northern Beaches favourite. Welcome to Mona Vale...
ABOUT MONA VALE
Mona Vale is easily accessible, situated as it is, at the junction of Mona Vale Road and Pittwater Road, with Newport to the north and Warriewood to the south. Yet despite it’s accessible location, you’ll find a suburb that is pretty quiet and low key compared to many of the Northern Beaches suburbs, though the beach does get pretty busy in summer.
This is a stunning and peaceful place to live – perfect for families, beach lovers, country lovers, retirees and singles looking for a more relaxed pace.
The suburb is home to 2 primary schools, a high school, 2 supermarkets, some great cafes and restaurants, a bushland reserve and an award winning golf course.
SWIMMING AT MONA VALE
Mona Vale beach is actually two separate beaches punctuated by possibly one of the most dramatically positioned ocean pools around Sydney. Perched on a promontory platform of rock, the 25m ocean pool is free to use and there is a smaller pool for children too.
There are some incredible photos of this pool, which is almost completely engulfed by the ocean at high tide, but arguably none more dramatic than this arial pic from Gab Scanu (below right). Seeing the pool from this perspective really gives you a sense of the thrill it is to swim here.
Check the tides before swimming here, especially with little ones.
When swimming in the ocean, please take note, the rolling wages along the southern edge of the rock platform can create an undertow that can be dangerous, or at least problematic for swimmers though the beach’s surf club does operate a patrol right by this area.
Mona Vale ocean pool, featuring stunning photo from Gab Scanu.
ACTIVITIES
BUSHLAND RESERVE
Mona Vale Headland features a bushland reserve and lookout with picnic areas, walking tracks and bush regeneration sites and is home to a wide variety of native birds and wild flowers. The walk here is leisurely with open grassy areas and a scenic lookout point, where you’ll find a few insights into the history and settlement of the area.
MARITIME MODEL MUSEUM
Visit the unique Maritime Model Museum, where you’ll find models of such famous vessels as HMS Victory, Soleil Royale, HMB Endeavor, HMS Bounty, a model of The Mayflower built from 12,000 matches, plus over 20 warships and 20 working steam engine models. You can pick up some gifts and souvenirs and enjoy fresh coffee too.
https://maritimemodelmuseum.blogspot.com.au
DIVING
If diving is your thing, head to Dive Spear and Sport. You can top up your skills with a wide range of courses and find just about any item of equipment you may need at the online shop. If you are booking a course and you’re not local, these guys even have accommodation available.
Landing page
THE WINNERERREMY BAY PLAYGROUND
AKA Flying Fox Playground) on Pittwater is a great place to visit with kids and has the added benefit of The Flying Fox café right next door to entertain the adults while the kids go crazy on the fox.
APEX PARK
This wonderful park on Seabeach Avenue is, as the location suggests, right by the beach, so it makes a great place to combine a family picnic or barbeque with a swim.
Free parking here too.
MONA VALE GOLF COURSE
For golfers, Mona Vale boasts an award winning golf club, right next to the beach.
Clockwise from top left: Flying Fox Cafe, Mona Vale Headland, Mona Vale Golf Course
NIPPERS
The Mona Vale Lifesaving Club has been providing vital patrol services since 1922. This is a family oriented club, welcoming all ages and abilities. The club operates Nippers programmes for children aged 5 to 14. Membership covers children within this age group as well as parents or guardians. The club also has two rowing teams and is very competitive at the Surf Lifesaving Carnivals.
PLACES TO EAT
COFFEE BROTHERS MONA VALE
A hip boutique coffee spot on Darley St., serving breakfast, house roasted coffee and light meals. Great coffee form award-winning baristas, casual atmosphere and friendly staff.
BLACKSMITH MONA VALE
A welcome oasis in the Pittwater Place Shopping Centre. Funky design, more great coffee, healthy food with some good vegetarian options.
ARMCHAIR COLLECTIVE
Great little café / homewares shop, serving breakfast, lunch and coffee. A fun place to eat on Darley St.
BONZE KIOSK
Calling this place a kiosk undersells it somewhat, though there is a kiosk as part of the café. You can’t beat this spot, right on the beach with light and airy décor and alfresco areas. Food and coffee both excellent.
Mona Vale cafes: Top - Coffee Brothers & Blacksmith Mona Vale, Middle - Armchair Collective, Bottom - Bronze Kiosk
DINNER
You wont find much in the way of sophisticated fine dining here, but there’s plenty on offer including grills, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, Indian, TexMex, plus a sushi bar and an Austrian restaurant & bierhaus.
SCHOOLS
Mona Vale Public School
Co-ed public primary school – yrs K-6
2 Waratah St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Co-ed primary catholic school – yrs K-6
Pittwater High School
Co-ed public high school – yrs 7-12
AND FINALLY
We'll leave you with a shot of the sun going down over the beach - just because it's beautiful...
