Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
Home and Away is set in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay in New South Wales. In reality, Summer Bay does not exist. The exteriors are filmed primarily at Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches, which has stood in for the town since the show began in 1988, while interior scenes are shot at studios in Redfern, Sydney. Occasional storylines have taken filming further afield, to Queensland and Western Australia.
The Studio Side
Interior scenes are filmed at the Australian Technology Park Studios in Redfern, Sydney. Production moved there from the former Epping studios after 2010. The Diner is the only permanent set built at the Redfern studios, with other interiors constructed as needed. The studio is not open to visitors, so there is no public access to the sets themselves; fans can only visit the exterior locations at Palm Beach and beyond.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Independent visits to Palm Beach are straightforward, since the main locations sit close together on a public beach. For travellers who prefer a structured trip from central Sydney, or who want a guide pointing out spots they might otherwise miss, a dedicated location tour runs from the city.
Day Trip From Sydney
From Sydney: Location Tour of Home and Away
A guided location tour from Sydney that handles the journey to Palm Beach and takes in the show's key sites, with a 4.7 rating from 323 reviews.
★ 4.7 out of 5 · 323 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Visit The Home And Away Set?
The interior sets are not open to the public. They are built inside the Australian Technology Park Studios in Redfern, Sydney, which is a working studio with no visitor access. The Diner is the only permanent set there. Fans can, however, visit the exterior locations at Palm Beach freely.
Where Is Summer Bay In Real Life?
Summer Bay is fictional. The town's exterior scenes are filmed at Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches, which has served as Summer Bay since the show's debut in 1988. The beach, the Pier Diner exterior and the Surf Club exterior are all real places there.
Is Palm Beach Free To Visit?
Yes. Palm Beach, Barrenjoey Lighthouse, The Boathouse and the North Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club are all publicly accessible. The Boathouse operates as a cafe where you can buy a meal, and the lighthouse requires a walk, but none of the Palm Beach locations charge an entry fee.
How Far Is Palm Beach From Sydney?
Palm Beach sits at the far northern end of Sydney's Northern Beaches, roughly an hour's drive from the city centre depending on traffic. Public transport options exist but involve connections, which is why many visitors choose a tour or a hire car for the day.
Where Were The Whitsundays Episodes Filmed?
The island storyline was filmed in Queensland, with Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach used for pool and coastal scenes with Mack and Levi, and Daydream Island Resort used for snorkelling scenes with Ziggy, Mack and Levi. Both are resorts, so visiting generally means booking a stay.
Did Home And Away Ever Film Outside New South Wales?
Yes. The show has filmed in Queensland for the Whitsundays episodes, and in 2025 it filmed its first episodes in Western Australia, including the Ningaloo Coast and Bullara Station near Exmouth, which doubled as both a production base and an on-screen home.
For most fans, a day at Palm Beach delivers the heart of the show: the beach, the diner and the surf club, all within walking distance of one another. A guided tour from Sydney removes the transport hassle, but independent travellers will find the locations easy enough to reach. Those chasing the newer storylines can look further afield to Queensland or Western Australia.
