| there are also bbqs and kayak rentals. amenities include a communal kitchen, a lounge with sofas, a fireplace and dining tables and a verandah with picnic tables. featuring wooden floors, the no-frills private rooms and mixed or single-sex dorms come with wi-fi (paid), bunk beds and shared bathrooms. overlooking morning bay, this relaxed, lodge-style hostel is a 7-minute walk from the church point ferry, 11 km from akuna bay and 18 km from the lighthouse at barrenjoey head. check-in time: 12:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:00 am
Sydney Airport 1 hr 16
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (1 hr 1)
More than 350 Aboriginal sites are recorded in this protected area of coastal bush and beaches. Bouddi National Park (1 hr 53)
This 1,532-hectare park features a temperate rainforest, marine habitats & picnic facilities. Spit Bridge (57 min)
Completed in 1958, a 745-foot concrete & steel bascule road bridge linking CBD to suburbs. Manly Beach (1 hr 2)
Bustling beachfront & surfing destination surrounded by tall trees & a variety of shops & eateries. Freshwater Beach (1 hr 2)
Protected beach offering calm waters for swimming as well as a 50-m. saltwater pool. Bobbin Head (1 hr 2)
Creekside picnic area with BBQ pits, plus paddle sports & a boardwalk through bird-filled mangroves. Shelly Beach (1 hr 8)
Small, scenic beach with BBQs, an adjacent restaurant & calm waters for snorkeling & scuba diving. Broken Bay (1 hr 53)
Picturesque Tasman Sea inlet measuring 5.6 sq. mi. & featuring a small island & historic lighthouse. Narrabeen Lagoon (50 min)
A haven for wildlife, this large coastal lagoon offers a multi-use trail, picnic areas & boat ramps. Pittwater (29 min)
Scenic estuary between a national park & peninsula known for its Aboriginal art & yacht race. Barrenjoey Lighthouse (1 hr 7)
Built in 1881, this sandstone lighthouse sits at Sydney's northernmost point & offers weekly tours. West Head Lookout (31 min)
Sitting spot with dramatic coastal views & a walking path with Aboriginal rock art & carvings. Brisbane Water National Park (2 hr 3)
Stunning national park known for its hiking trails, cycling loops & Aboriginal engraving sites. Mona Vale Beach (48 min)
Low-key beach split by a rock platform, with surfing breaks, an ocean swimming pool & picnic areas. Dee Why Beach (59 min)
Lively sandy beach near restaurants & cafes featuring a 50 metre ocean pool & a toddler area. | 
