This city-to-coastal drive from Sydney to Palm Beach ends with a stay at one of Australia’s most unique accommodations.
It’s been more than 14 years since Australians were first able to purchase an electric vehicle, and while our road-trip-loving nation has been slow to embrace them, with concerns over charge distance and available charging stations both hindering uptake, the tide has slowly turned in their favour. July marks the third consecutive month that electric vehicles have accounted for one in every five new car sales; that’s 21.7 per cent of all new vehicle sales, according to new data from the Chamber of Automotive Industries; no doubt a reaction in part to the current global fuel crisis.
While I don’t own an electric vehicle, I have been curious about making the switch for some time now, which is why an invitation to test out the new Macan GTS, Porsche’s electric mid-size SUV, was the perfect excuse for a road trip.
Driving from Sydney to Palm Beach
A road trip through Sydney’s Northern Beaches feels even better when it ends at Lilypad Palm Beach – a luxe floating villa moored on Pittwater. From Champagne on arrival to a sumptuous dining experience coupled with uninterrupted water views… this is the kind of close-to-home escape that makes you feel a world away.
As a travel writer and editor, I have been fortunate enough to stay at some pretty incredible places, but there is one experience that has been on my wishlist for a while, and it’s undoubtedly one of Australia’s most unique stays. Lilypad Palm Beach is a floating luxury villa permanently moored in Pittwater, under an hour from where I live in Sydney. It’s a short drive, but it gives me the chance to see how the car handles as I swap city traffic for the winding coastal roads of the Northern Beaches.
It’s been a wet and windy week in Sydney, so it’s encouraging to see the sun emerging from behind the clouds as my husband and I set out for Palm Beach. We stop for coffee at Story, our local cafe in Lane Cove, before hitting the road. We’ve had the car for over a day, and we’ve been told it delivers an impressive 700 kilometres of range; given that Palm Beach is under 40 kilometres away, we have more than enough charge to do a round trip without worrying about losing power.
The new Porsche Macan GTS all-electric. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The iconic Porsche interior clock. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Views of Pittwater while we unload for a night at Lilypad. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Testing out the new Porsche Macan GTS on a road trip to Palm Beach. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
(Credit: Katie Carlin)
The drive is smooth, the handling incredible, but it’s the power that really surprises me. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres in 3.8 seconds. Not that I hit that speed, but picking up speed is effortless. I feel the stress of the week melt away as the scenery turns green, winding our way through Wakehurst Parkway to Barrenjoey Road, where the ocean comes into view. There’s a noticeable mood shift when you hit Palm Beach. It’s only a 50-minute drive away yet it exudes that unmistakable coastal holiday energy.
Arriving at Lilypad Palm Beach
Spot Lilypad Palm Beach among the boats moored on Pittwater. (Credit: @jampal)
Katie, the Lilypad Concierge, greets us at the check-in point beside Pittwater. We park next to the sand to unload and follow her to the tender. The five-minute boat ride only adds to the sense of arrival. Lilypad, the only floating house in a sea of moored boats, is easy to spot. After a short tour, we’re left to enjoy the villa on our own.
The loft-style villa sleeps two in a king-size bed. There’s a bathroom with a rain shower, a living area with a fireplace – I find the television cleverly disguised as a painting just above it. Lilypad features the kitchen of my dreams with an arched pink-tiled feature above the stove and an oversized window that perfectly frames a boat bobbing on the water nearby. The fully functioning kitchen has a coffee pod machine, microwave, wine fridge, oven and stovetop. The fridge is stocked with lunch, dinner and breakfast supplies as well as beverages. A bottle of champagne or wine is included in the stay as well as whisky, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. I spot fresh fruit and sourdough on the countertop, Loco Love Chocolate on the coffee table and nuts and chips for snacking on the shelf. We’re definitely not going hungry. And while indoor dining space is sparse, there’s a high table built into the wall under a window that lifts open to invite the outdoors in.
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The living area and built-in dining table. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The kitchen onboard Lilypad Palm Beach. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The loft bedroom features a king size bed. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Bathroom details. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The bathroom features a rain shower. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The interior space onboard Lilypad Palm Beach. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
A seafood feast for lunch
We uncork a bottle of Morillon Blanc Jeff Carrel chardonnay to enjoy on the deck in the sun with the seafood platter from the fridge – it’s overflowing with oysters, prawns and sashimi. And sit like that for the next hour. Sipping, eating and resting.
The outdoor sauna calls to us as the wind starts to pick up and the sun inches closer to the horizon. We spend a good 30 minutes inside defrosting before braving the outside shower. I quickly retreat inside for a hot shower and settle on the lounge with my book in front of the fire as dusk settles in.
Find a seafood platter ready to be consumed in the fridge. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
A barbecue dinner under the stars
I unwrap the meat platter and two salads – one Greek and one creamy potato – prepped in the fridge while my husband starts barbecuing the two beef fillets, lamb and chicken skewers on the outdoor Weber. I look up to see the sky is full of stars, a sight I rarely see in the city. We rug up and decide to enjoy dinner under its light before retreating to the loft bedroom for an early night. The gentle rocking stops as the wind dies down and I sleep soundly.
Sunset onboard Lilypad. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
An evening sauna session is calling. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Dinner under the stars. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Early to bed. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Sunrise and eggs sunny side up
One of the features I love most about Lilypad is the windows. They come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter the size, they keep you constantly connected to the water. I wake to see the sun is starting to rise and grab my camera to capture it. I’m thankful for the supplied Cultiver bathrobe and ugg boots I packed as the morning air is crisp. But seeing the sun break over the treeline and bathe Pittwater in its golden light is worth it. Inside, I make us coffee and pop on the Lilypad playlist that was playing from the speakers when we first arrived. Crying Shame by the Teskey Brothers starts playing as I cook up the eggs and bacon on the stove. There’s fresh orange juice, yogurt, granola and a fruit salad to be consumed too. We take our feast outside to eat just as locals start to stir on the boats near us and a man kayaking passes by. We still have a couple of hours to enjoy being on the water before Katie arrives with our tender back to land.
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The windows reveal water views from every angle. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The moon is still visible as the sun rises over Pittwater. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Enjoy breakfast in the sun. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Eggs cooking sunny side up. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The drive home
We take our time driving home. Stopping in Avalon for coffee and a muffin at The Sneaky Grind, poking around the stores and picking up another bottle of the delicious chardonnay from Winona Wine we enjoyed at lunch the day before. Not ready to head home just yet, we make a detour to Church Point for lunch at Pasadena. Then take Pittwater Road back to Barrenjoey and follow the Wakehurst Parkway back home.
Travel details
The new Porsche Macan GTS has a charge range of up to 700 kilometres. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Where can you charge EVs in Palm Beach?
While we didn’t need to recharge the Macan, there is a public electric vehicle charging station located opposite the ferry wharf in the Barrenjoey House car park. There is a range of websites and apps available to plan your EV road trip. The free PlugShare app provides comprehensive coverage of charging stations across Australia.
How long does the Macan GTS take to recharge?
The Macan GTS has two rear side charging points, one an AC/DC port and the other an AC-only port. The DC fast charging option connects to high-power public stations and can take the battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent charge in about 21 minutes.
Staying at Lilypad Palm Beach
All-inclusive overnight stays at Lilypad Palm Beach start at $1990 per night (pending day and season) and include chef-prepared meals, beverages and premium snacks, and return transfers.
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Katie Carlin is Australian Traveller's Head of Content and when she’s not travelling or behind her computer, she’s hosting a dinner party (likely cooking an Alison Roman recipe), at brunch, working on extending her running k’s, or has her nose buried in a book.
She joined Australian Traveller in 2018 and is responsible for leading the editorial team across print, digital, social, email and native content. Her job is to make sure we create content that connects readers to incredible experiences in Australia and beyond. In addition to sharing her expertise on travel through industry speaking engagements, Katie appears onToday, A Current Affair and various radio segments.
With a BA in Communications majoring in Journalism and a career that has spanned roles at Fairfax Media and Are Media writing for titles such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and various lifestyle brands, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her most impactful trip to date has been swimming with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef. For her next trip she is longing to experience the romance of train travel – hopefully on The Ghan or Indian Pacific.
Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.
The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.
The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.
By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.
Dive into the world’s best beaches.
That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.
But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.
Beyond the beaches
Dining
Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.
The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.
By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.
Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.
A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.
Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.
One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.
Pristine walking trails
Cool off with a coastal stroll.
Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.
Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.
Enjoy whale watching
Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)
Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.
Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.
