Narrabeen Beach Sydney. New South Wales
Narrabeen is located at the northern end of Pittwater and encompasses the area surrounding Narrabeen Lakes. James Meehan first surveyed the lagoon in May 1914 and marked it on his map as Narrabang Lagoons. Meehan suggested they where named after the Aboriginal word for Black Swan. Other historians suggest the area was named after an old Aboriginal women named Narrabeen who lived in the area years ago.
A drive east through the pristine bushland along the Wakehurst Parkway crosses two creeks which flow into the lakes ( Middle and Deep Creeks) before skirting the north-western shores of the lagoon and down into North Narrabeen.To the North towards Palm Beach is Mona Vale and South towards Sydney is Collaroy.
Activities
The lakes are a popular recreation spot all year round. Activities include fishing, prawning, canoeing, windsurfing, surfing and swimming. At the western end of the Lake is the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) with a wide range of sporting facilities including an excellent athletics track. The AIS also use the lake for water sports such as kayaks.
The calm waters of the lakes, and absence of speedboats (they have been prohibited) make it an extremely popular spot for windsurfing and on a summer weekend hundreds may be seen zooming up and down the lagoon.
There is a coastal walk around Turimetta Headland. Taking 30 minutes for the round trip the walk features scenic lookouts up and down the coast and over Turimetta Beach and the lagoon.
Just next the football ground is Narrabeen Golf Driving Range where you can improve your swing with a bucket of balls, clubs may also be hired.
Beaches
North Narrabeen Beach is one of the most famous surfing beaches in Australia. The beach is protected from north-easterly winds and the lagoon emptying into the ocean at the northern end of the beach provides excellent sand banks for surfers. Many contests are held on the beach throughout the year including the richest contest in the world, the Coke Classic held in April.
North Narrabeen Beach and Narrabeen Beach(2km south) are both patrolled by lifesavers during the summer months. A 50m rock swimming pool and children's wading pool is at the entrance to the lagoon on the northern side. Turimetta Beach, situated just around the rocks from North Narrabeen Beach is not patrolled by lifesavers. This secluded beach is rarely crowded and often deserted. Access is by a short dirt track down the hill from the road.
North Narrabeen Beach and Narrabeen both have toilet and shower facilities and nearby food outlets. Turimetta has a shower at the top of the track.
Fishing
Narrabeen has lots to offer the rock, beach and estuary fisherman. The lakes provide the angler with excellent bream and flathead fishing. Powerboats are not permitted on the lakes although there many great spots to fish from all around the lakes shoreline.
Prawning is very popular on summer moonless nights, just bring a torch and a net to catch a good feed of school prawns.
For the beach fisherman the long stretch of beach from North Narrabeen to Collaroy offers many opportunities for a good catch. Many deep gutters can be found all along this stretch. Tailer, bream and whiting are common while snapper and large Jewfish are never that far away.
Just north of the rock pool at North Narrabeen are "The Gutters" which is one of the best if not the best spots in Sydney for luderick. These two distinct gutters in between the rocks can also produce bream, drummer and the occasional tailer and trevally.
Entertainment
Popular bands used to perform at the Sands Hotel on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. It is nothing more than a place to lose money gambling these days, and is recommended only for a beer on your way to a more entertainment concious facility. Narrabeen
RSL Club visitors can try their luck on the Poker machines.
The local rugby union football "Warringah Rats" has its home ground in North Narrabeen and games are regularly plated on weekends during the winter months.
There is a Picture Theatre just south of Narrabeen at Collaroy.
