Where to stay at Collaroy Beach
The southern end of a 3.4 km run of sand that carries on north as Narrabeen. A long, open surf beach on the B-Line, with very few places to stay by it.
The closest place to stay is Nightelier Narrabeen, on Pittwater Road just past the north end of Collaroy: a 6-minute walk to the sand, almost flat, at $130 a night when we checked. The only other option within walking distance is the Time and Tide Hotel, a pub with rooms over the hill to the south: 30 minutes, with a 95 m climb home. The old Collaroy YHA is closed.
At a glance
- 22 km north-east of the CBD
- B-Line bus · no train
- flags Sep – Apr
- 3.4 km of sand with Narrabeen
A long beach with two hotels, both at the edges.
Collaroy is the south end of one long surf beach: the sand runs unbroken for 3.4 km from the Collaroy rocks north through South Narrabeen and Narrabeen to the lagoon mouth. Pittwater Road and the B-Line run right behind it.
When we checked, the Collaroy Beachhouse YHA was listed as permanently closed, which left two accommodation businesses within walking distance: Nightelier at the Narrabeen end and the Time and Tide Hotel over the hill at Collaroy Plateau. Sargood on Collaroy, on the beachfront, is purpose-built holiday and respite accommodation for people living with spinal cord injury, booked by request. The rest are holiday rentals, which we don’t list.
Where to stay
Every place on the map, closest first. Real businesses; nobody paid to be here.
| Map number | Place | Price a night | Walk to the sand | Climb home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nightelier NarrabeenHotel, north end | $100–200 | 6 min walk · 487 m | 10 m |
| Further back: a bus, or a climb | ||||
| 2 | Time and Tide HotelHotel | Under $100 | 30 min walk · 2,422 m | 95 m |
How we measure. Times are walking times, not driving: the walking route from each property to the nearest edge of the sand, at an easy 4.8 km/h. Climb is the uphill on the walk home, rounded to 5 m. Prices are bands from one nightly rate on Google Maps on 9 October 2026.
Which end of the beach?
South end
Collaroy Surf Life Saving Club and the beachfront park are at the south end, below the hill of Collaroy Plateau. Long Reef is round the headland to the south.
User:DO'Neil / CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia
The beachfront
Houses and apartments back straight onto the sand along Pittwater Road. In June 2016 a storm took the backyards off a strip of beachfront houses here.
Wheres.dot / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia
North, towards Narrabeen
The sand keeps going north into South Narrabeen and Narrabeen. Nightelier Narrabeen is just past the Collaroy end.
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia
Collaroy and Narrabeen are one beach: 3.4 km of sand, with four surf clubs along it.
David Edwards / CC BY 3.0, WikimediaKnow before you go
How do you get to Collaroy?
From the city. There’s no train. The B-Line bus between the city and Mona Vale runs along Pittwater Road, right behind the beach. Plan the trip on the Transport NSW trip planner.1,2,3
From Manly. Buses run north from Manly along Pittwater Road.2
From the airport. About 35 km by road. Most people with luggage take a taxi or rideshare.
Is Collaroy Beach safe?
Is Collaroy Beach patrolled? In the season. Northern Beaches Council lifeguards patrol most of their beaches for 32 weeks between September and April, and the Collaroy surf club volunteers patrol too. Swim between the red and yellow flags.4,2
Water quality after rain Stormwater runs onto the beach after heavy rain. Check Beachwatch for the daily pollution forecast before you swim.5
With kids
The beachfront park at the south end is the easy base: surf club, flags in the season, flat ground. Pittwater Road and the bus run right behind the beach, so there’s no hill to climb from the stop.
The catch
- Almost nowhere to stay. One hotel at the Narrabeen end, and one pub hotel over the hill.
- No flags in winter. Patrols run September to April.
- It’s a bus ride: 22 km from the city, with no train.
Quick answers
Are there hotels in Collaroy?
- Very few. When we checked, the closest was Nightelier Narrabeen, a 6-minute walk from Collaroy’s north end. The Collaroy YHA is listed as permanently closed.
Is Collaroy the same beach as Narrabeen?
- Yes. The sand runs unbroken for 3.4 km from Collaroy north to Narrabeen.2
How far is Collaroy from Sydney CBD?
- About 22 km north-east of the CBD.2
Is there accessible accommodation at Collaroy?
- Sargood on Collaroy provides holiday and respite accommodation built for people living with spinal cord injury. Bookings are by request.6
Is Collaroy Beach patrolled in winter?
- No. Northern Beaches beaches like Collaroy are patrolled between September and April.4
Nearby beaches
Also close: Long Reef (round the headland to the south).