It is a well catered for small town with two supermarkets (including Woolworths), a number of small malls and a lot of places to eat, including the best chicken burgers and chips in the area at the Aces shop, next to St. George, on Bungan Street.
On the corner of Pittwater Road and Barrenjoey Road there is a nice park and a public library.
Sydney's train network does not extend to the Northern Beaches, meaning the only public transport available to Mona Vale is by bus. Fortunately, Mona Vale is well served and is the main bus hub on the Northern Beaches; all limited stops (L) and express (E) buses to and from the city stop here.
Citybound buses use numbers between 184 and 190, the most frequent being the L90 from Palm Beach and the fastest in peak hour being the express buses such as the E86 (beginning at Church Point), E87 (Newport) or E88 (Avalon). The slow 155 bus goes to Manly via Warriewood, giving great views of Warriewood beach along the way. The L60 in peak hour goes from Mona Vale to Chatswood.
Mona Vale has a long golden sandy beach with good surfing and swimming, though the surf can be rougher than at nearby Warriewood, which is more sheltered. Cliffs at the southern end make access difficult for the disabled and those with children.
A 10-minute drive west of Mona Vale along Mona Vale Road takes you to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahai_Temple#Sydney.2C_Australia| Baha'i House of Worship], one of only seven such buildings in the world.
There are two golf courses in the suburb. Mona Vale Golf Club with picturesque seaside views is east of Pittwater Road, the main thoroughfare, very close to Mona Vale beach. The creek adjacent to the 14th hole at Bayview Golf Club forms the border between Mona Vale and Bayview. Bayview Golf Course is considered a more difficult course.
Mona Vale Motel: Clean, friendly & affordable. Well located, easy walk to all ammenities, on public transport.