An early start to head across to the Northern Beaches, and once over the Spit Bridge the city fell away and the morning opened up. A memory of an old Kombi food truck was there from ten years ago, and pulling up on the headland at Avalon, there it was: an upgraded food and coffee truck, same friendly vibes. Classic Coffee the van is named, parked in the car park up on the headland, and the morning light draws people from far and wide, with a generous warmth from the locals.
A cockatoo kept a local company while he enjoyed his coffee and pastry, hoping for some crumbs to fall his way. Locals fresh out of the water were enjoying their morning defrost coffees and chats, wet hair being warmed by the spectacular morning sun. Surfers were moving effortlessly across the rocky shoreline to LA, Little Avalon, and nature just envelops you with the sounds of pure bliss to the soul.
The Avalon mornings are a sacred start to welcome in the day, following the same beautiful recipe: warmth from the first sun, friends swimming together and then warming up over a lovely coffee and a chat, gazing out at the beauty and stillness the ocean provides.
The coffee van started fifteen years ago and it is great to see it still thriving, bringing in the community for the warmth and connection every morning deserves.
The Places we explore series continues down the peninsula, from the calm Pittwater side of Palm Beach to Fishermans Beach at Long Reef, and the little film of the whole journey, Places we explore: Avalon to Long Reef, is on our YouTube channel now, with the sound of the waves the whole way.
Every one of these adventures is made to uplift: nature at its best, community at its warmest, and fabulous places to explore on a morning of your own.
Questions you might have
Where does the coffee van park?
Classic Coffee sets up on the Avalon headland in the mornings. Fifteen years on, it is still the meeting place for swimmers, surfers, dog walkers and one hopeful cockatoo.
What is Little Avalon?
LA to the locals: the wave that breaks over the rock shelf at the southern end of Avalon Beach. On a winter morning a small crew shares it while the rock pools catch the light below.
Where can I watch the film of this trip?
Search Earth to Sea News on YouTube for "Places we explore: Avalon to Long Reef", two and a half minutes of the whole morning, from this headland to Long Reef, with the waves doing the talking.
An Earth to Sea News original. By Nicole McMahon. Photography by Oliver Strewe.
