If you travel north from the Strand past Kissing Point, the next suburb that you come to is Rowes Bay.

This is not the best beach in the area but it is in a great location, close to the city, and it’s relatively quiet.

There’s a good caravan park there if you’re looking for somewhere central and quiet to stay overnight that’s close to  the beach.

Rowes Bay, QLD 4810,Australia

Cape Pallarenda seems like a remote wilderness a million miles away from anywhere, and yet you can see Castle Hill and the city across the bay.

Most people go to Pallarenda for walking tracks and mountain biking but it does also have a couple of beaches.

This whole area is a conservation park that provides habitat for over 200 species of birds.

There are no facilities (besides toilets) so make sure you take sufficient water, insect repellent and sunscreen if you plan on exploring the walking tracks.

Quiet and residential, Toolakea Beach is lined with beachfront homes.

There aren’t any shops or facilities at the beach but you will have no problem finding an empty spot for a family picnic. Bring your own shade because the trees are set back from the beach.

At low tide you can see that much of the beach is shallow and rocky under the waves but if you head to the northern end, beyond the houses, the beach is better.

You need to swim a long way out to find water deep enough for swimming but we would recommend staying close to shore anyway.

There are crocs in nearby Bluewater Creek and locals do sometimes see them swimming past. They are known to swim out to the islands.

On the upside, this is a great beach for walking the dog or playing beach cricket at low tide.