Washaway Beach sits inside North Harbour near Clontarf, on Sydney's lower North Shore. It's not signposted, doesn't appear in most beach guides, and requires a bush walk to reach. The beach rates 4.4 stars from 60 reviews on BeachCheck, with no lifeguard, no facilities, and a calm swim rating thanks to the sheltered harbour position. This post covers how to get there and four nearby beaches that are easier to access.
Washaway Beach
Washaway Beach is tucked between Grotto Point and Dobroyd Head inside North Harbour. The water is calm: harbour-sheltered, no surf, and good visibility on most days. What makes it unusual is the access.
You get there from Dobroyd Scenic Drive in Balgowlah Heights. There's a bush track that takes about 10 minutes to walk, with a steep section near the bottom. No signage marks the entry from the road. Most people who know about it either walked the Spit to Manly track, which passes close by, or found it via hiking apps and walking forums.
At the bottom, you get roughly 100 metres of sand backed by large trees. No toilets, no cafe, no shade structures. Phone signal is poor. The 4.4 stars from 60 reviews reflects what most people find once they make the effort: a genuinely quiet harbour beach within a kilometre of suburban streets.
Not suitable if you have mobility limitations. The track is uneven and the descent to the beach is steep.
Balmoral Beach
Balmoral Beach rates 4.7 stars from 3,401 reviews, and it's the most practical harbour swimming option on the North Shore for anyone who wants facilities. Lifeguard patrol operates here, along with a cafe and calm protected water.
The beach has two sections. The main beach is longer and slightly more exposed. Edwards Beach, separated by Rocky Point Island, is smaller and calmer. On windy days, Edwards is the more comfortable option.
Balmoral is 5 kilometres east of Clontarf and easily accessible with a car. If the appeal of Washaway is the sheltered harbour water but the access track is a problem, Balmoral gives you the same water conditions with full facilities and patrolled swimming.
The tradeoff is crowds. From November through April on weekends, Balmoral fills up. Arriving before 10am makes a significant difference.
Chinamans Beach
Chinamans Beach sits in Mosman, 4 kilometres east of Clontarf, at 4.6 stars from 357 reviews. It's a compact harbour beach, quieter than Balmoral and slightly less well-known. Swim rating is safe.
The beach is small. On hot weekends the sand fills quickly, but the surrounding park is large enough that you can still find space. Street parking is available in the neighbouring residential streets.
No lifeguard is listed, which is common for smaller harbour beaches in this area. If you're comfortable swimming unpatrolled in calm harbour water, Chinamans is a genuinely quieter alternative to Balmoral with a similar water character.
Reef Beach
Reef Beach is on the ocean side of the Balgowlah Heights headland, accessible via bush track from the same area as Washaway Beach. It rates 4.4 stars from 42 reviews. No facilities, no lifeguard, and the access track involves the same steep descent as Washaway.
The key difference from Washaway is the water. Reef Beach faces the ocean, so conditions vary considerably depending on swell. On calm days, the water is clear and swimming is straightforward. On any day with surf running, check conditions carefully before committing.
Many visitors do Washaway and Reef Beach together. They're part of the same headland walk from Dobroyd Scenic Drive, and combining them adds maybe 30 minutes to the trip.
Manly Beach
Manly Beach rates 4.7 stars from 6,444 reviews, the highest review count of any NSW beach in the BeachCheck directory. It's 3 kilometres east of the Washaway Beach access track and the most logical endpoint if you're walking the Spit to Manly track.
The Spit to Manly walk is 10 kilometres and takes 3 to 4 hours. The trail passes through the Dobroyd Head area, close to where Washaway Beach sits. If you're walking the full track, you'll pass this part regardless. Washaway is a short side detour off the main trail.
Manly itself has lifeguard patrol, surf club, and a full cafe strip along the Corso. It's a completely different proposition from Washaway: busy, well-serviced, and predictable. Worth knowing as the practical end point for the walk.
Practical Notes
- Getting to Washaway Beach: drive to Dobroyd Scenic Drive, Balgowlah Heights. The track entry is near the headland lookout area. Allow 20 to 30 minutes total for the walk in and out.
- No facilities at Washaway or Reef Beach. Bring your own water and food. There's nowhere to buy anything nearby.
- Parking: street parking on Dobroyd Scenic Drive is limited. Clontarf Reserve car park (2.5 kilometres away) is larger and you can walk the foreshore path from there.
- The Spit to Manly walk passes close to this area. Washaway is a documented side detour and appears on most versions of the walking notes for this track.
- For patrolled swimming in this area: Balmoral Beach is the right choice.
Find current ratings and conditions for all Sydney harbour beaches at beachcheck.com.au.