West Head Beach gives fantastic views over Broken Bay and is generally well protected from the open ocean so the water is gentle with no surf waves. There are apparently sharks, but people are often seen swimming in the shallows. There is also a nice rocky island which offers an ideal snorkelling opportunity with many a small marine life, but be aware of the barnacles that cover the rock.

The walk to West Head Beach involves a medium steep to steep grade regarded as medium difficulty down to the beach and back up the numerous stairs and winding dirt ramps again. The track is about 0.4 to 0.5km walk one way and starts along the same path to the toilets at West Head lookout.

Back in 1788, six weeks after settling in Sydney Harbour Governor Arthur Phillip, with extensive global experience, declared of Pittwater "... the finest piece of water I ever saw and which I honoured with the name of Pittwater" after William Pitt the Younger, Prime Minister of Britain. Now Ku-ring-gai National Park covers the area between the western shores of Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River. There are many splendid bushwalks along marked trails to secluded beaches, aboriginal engravings and lookouts. Winter and Spring (the months of May to October) are the best times to visit the park to observe the spectacular wildflowers and wildlife.