THE BEACHES BRIEF
Northern Beaches
THE BEACHES BRIEF
Friday 24 July 2026
ON THE BEACHES
Whale season is at its peak, here is where to watch from the cliffs
Whale season runs May through November along our stretch of coast, and late June through July is the peak of it. Every year thousands of humpbacks and southern right whales pass by on their migration, and you do not need a boat to see them.
The best land based vantage points near us are Long Reef Headland, Curl Curl boardwalk, Manly North Head and Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Long Reef is the pick if you want something close and easy.
A few tips if you are heading out: pick a clear, high visibility day, watch for the blow before you look for the whale itself, and windier days tend to bring more breaching. Pack a blanket, a thermos and binoculars if you have them, and be prepared to wait a little.
Source and more tips: Northern Beaches Council, whale watching season
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COMMUNITY
Narrabeen Beach clean up effort is paying off
The Surfrider Foundation’s Adopt A Beach program has been running clean ups along our beaches, and its 2026 report shows 141 kilograms of waste collected off Narrabeen Beach this year, with cigarette butts the single most common item pulled off the sand. It is a good reminder of what a bit of regular, unglamorous effort from locals can do for the place we all use.
Source: Surfrider Foundation Australia, Adopt A Beach
What’s on this weekend
Friday 24 July, 5:30pm to 7:00pm Open Mic Night at Manly Library, 1 Market Place. Come along to perform or just to support the local talent.
Saturday 25 July, from 10:15am Zine Fair workshops at Manly Library, including how to make a zine, how to design your own manga character, and how to make a zine game.
Sunday 26 July French Reflections, a chamber music performance from Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows, at OLGC Catholic Church, 9 Currie Road, Forestville.
Looking ahead, Wednesday 29 July, 6:00pm Beyond Timbuktu with Catherine DeVrye at Manly Library, a local author’s memoir talk on her journeys of hope and humanity.
LJ Hooker Narrabeen
M A R K E T B R I E F · J U L Y 2 0 2 6
Northern Beaches Property Update
Narrabeen · North Narrabeen · Collaroy
Warriewood · Elanora Heights
W I N T E R U P D A T E · D A T A C U R R E N T T O 2 0 J U L Y 2 0 2 6
A Buyer’s Winter, Still in Play Sydney values continue to soften and auction clearance rates remain below balanced-market levels, while the Reserve Bank’s next rate call is now weeks away. Locally, Northern Beaches suburbs are recording mixed but comparatively steady results. Here is the current picture for the Northern Beaches.
P I L L A R 1
Sydney values keep easing Cotality’s Home Value Index shows Sydney
dwelling values fell 1.2% in June 2026, the sharpest monthly fall since December
2022. Over the June quarter, Sydney values fell 3.2%, leaving values about 3.7%
below the January 2026 peak. The national index fell 0.4% over the same month.
Source: Cotality Home Value Index, June 2026, cotality.com
P I L L A R 2
Auctions lift off their winter low Sydney’s auction clearance rate fell to a
five-year low of 47% in mid-June before recovering. For the week ending 18 July
2026, Domain recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 49%, against 69% for the
same week last year, on lower auction volumes.
Source: Domain Auction Results, Sydney, week ending 18 July 2026,
domain.com.au
P I L L A R 3
Rates on hold, August decision looms
The RBA held the cash rate at 4.35% at its June meeting, following three rises earlier
in 2026. The next decision falls on 11 August 2026, with the June-quarter CPI,
due 29 July, expected to settle the debate. Major bank forecasts remain split between
a hold and a further hike.
Source: Reserve Bank of Australia, rba.gov.au
P I L L A R 4
Northern Beaches: a mixed but steadier picture
Suburb-level CoreLogic data shows Narrabeen houses at a $4.0m median (78
days on market), Collaroy Plateau at $2.9m (32 days), Elanora Heights at $2.55m (36
days) and Warriewood at $2.375m (35 days), with growth and days-on-market
varying by suburb rather than moving as one.
Source: CoreLogic suburb data via corelogic.com.au, realestate.com.au and pricefinder.com.au
Click on the Links to View Local Recent Sales
Click here for FREE Market Estimate of Value on your Home or
(Simply send me a text to 0438 261 600 with your details)
In a shifting market, the right price is everything. I offer a free, no-obligation appraisal with honest local advice and no pressure. Just reply to this email or give me a call.
Talk soon,
Grant Matterson
Licensed Real Estate Agent | LJ Hooker Narrabeen
Narrabeen, North Narrabeen, Elanora Heights, Collaroy, Mona Vale
gmatterson@ljhnarrabeen.com.au 0438 261 600
This Beaches Brief is general information only and not financial or property advice. Figures are sourced from the RBA, CoreLogic, Domain, htAG and Northern Beaches Council and can change. Always seek advice tailored to your situation before acting.
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