Hello all,

we are relatively novice sailors (maybe 100 hours under our belt) on a Catalina 320 moored at Manly. We are hoping to sail up to Pittwater sometime late December (between 22nd - 27th depending on winds) and are planning to stay 2 nights, and then return to Sydney the third morning. We are fairly confident sailors, but as we have never been to Pittwater, I would hugely appreciate some tips, specifically on the following as I am a little worried about overnight anchoring/mooring without the safe backstop of our own mooring to return to if we can't find anything suitable:

1. I can imagine this is an incredibly busy time of year, but is it generally fairly straightforward finding an overnight courtesy mooring or a sheltered anchorage? Alternatively, is it worth pre-booking a berth/mooring, and if so, where would you suggest? We have a standard plough anchor with 12m of chain and another 48m of rope.
2. Where are the best placed to moor/anchor overnight? We are currently thinking to do the first overnight in refuge/America bay after exploring Cowan Creek the first day and the second night somewhere in Pittwater near Palm beach so that we can explore Palm beach by foot on the afternoon of the second day and return back to Sydney early the 3rd morning.
3. Any suggestions for restaurants to have dinner at near a mooring/anchorage, or would taking food on board for all meals be recommended?
4. Is it generally a fairly safe trip in winds <20kn, and is there anything to be aware of? I have heard that rounding the heads can be a little precarious?

The main thing I am concerned about is finding an overnight mooring or anchorage, so would much appreciate any tips! Any other general tips would also be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,