Driving And Parking
It is best to not attempt to park at Whale Beach and Palm Beach as space is very limited. Swimmers should consider carpooling only if passengers are from the same family or you can abide by the COVID safe regulations.
BEACH-SIDE CARPARKS - There are usually full very early on the day of The Macquarie Bank Big Swim. These parking areas are metered. However, Northern Beaches Council, in a change of policy for this and other community events, will actively enforce Beach Pay and Display fee for the duration of the event. NOTE: This applies to ALL parking areas in the Whale and Palm Beach parking areas.
NORTH AVALON - The soccer fields just past the Careel Head Road turn off. Signs along Barrenjoey Road will direct cars to the soccer field parking area, where marshals will assist you with parking. If the soccer field car park is full, parking is available along Barrenjoey Road.
FREE SHUTTLE BUSES from North Avalon Soccer Fields go to start at Palm Beach and return from finish at Whale Beach to parking area. The Little Swim entrants can take the free bus to Whale Beach to watch finish, along with supporters and spectators. Bus at Palm Beach ferry wharf will take Central Coast swimmers to event start and back to ferry from finish at Whale Beach.
NOTE: The free ferry from Ettalong for Central Coast swimmers will depend on numbers. Please check with FantaSea Ferries the day before.
Parking Rules
Cars parked illegally will be booked by Council Rangers.
Please note that Whale Beach Road and Florida Road are narrow streets with NO PARKING allowed on Saturdays, Sundays and on Public Holidays.
Don’t block driveways.
Park with wheels on the roadway. Don’t park with wheels up over the kerb or on the pedestrian way.PLEASE LEAVE THAT BIG 4WD AT HOME! They’re not suited to narrow Peninsula streets and parking areas.
Central Coast Ferry
For Central Coast and Newcastle swimmers
Fantasea Ferries operates a timetable suitable for swimmers to arrive at Palm Beach in time for the BIG SWIM from Palm Beach to Whale Beach.
Swimmers need to be on the 7:50am ferry at Ettalong to arrive at Palm Beach 8:25am where a mini bus will be waiting to take to you the swim start and log in.
At Whale Beach after the swim, the bus will return swimmers to Palm Beach wharf in time to catch the 14.00 (2pm) return ferry to Ettalong.
Road side parking is available at Ettalong.
Thank you, Fantasea Ferry Services, for your sponsorship and support of this community event.
SUPPORTED BY
