1 August 2026 · 4 min read
The NSW beaches worth the early alarm
Winter pushes sunrise back to a forgiving 7am, and the east-facing coast turns gold before anyone else is awake. Seven stops from Sydney to Byron worth setting the alarm for.
Articles
Guides to Australia’s beaches
Where to swim, surf, camp and wander — and how to plan the trip. From the team mapping every beach in Australia.
25 July 2026 · 4 min read
Where the dog is welcome on the South East Queensland coast
Council-verified dog beaches from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, with the exact hours and zones that apply. Eight beaches, no guesswork.
18 July 2026 · 6 min read
Sydney's Northern Beaches, off-season
Sydney's most familiar coast is better in winter: offshore westerlies, empty sand from Manly to Palm Beach, and whales moving past the headlands. The case for going now.
11 July 2026 · 4 min read
Seals, penguins and the quieter wildlife of the NSW coast
The whales get the headlines, but the coast keeps quieter company too: fur seals off Seal Rocks and Montague Island, resident dolphins in Port Stephens, wallabies at Jervis Bay, and a fenced-off penguin colony inside Sydney Harbour.
4 July 2026 · 5 min read
The ocean pools worth a winter swim
NSW's built sea baths keep the state swimming all year. From Bondi Icebergs to the heritage baths at Merewether, these are the pools that earn the winter trip.
14 June 2026 · 5 min read
A winter swim on the NSW South Coast
Why the South Coast is at its best in winter: milder sea than you'd expect, no crowds, whales close to shore, and the sheltered bays and pools to swim.
14 June 2026 · 6 min read
Where to watch whales from the shore in NSW
From May to November the NSW coast turns into a whale-watching grandstand, and you don't need a boat. The best headlands to watch from, and when to go.