Manly Beach Sydney
Best for. Visitors who want a classic ferry day out, plus surfers on the main beach and families who walk to sheltered Shelly Beach.
Best spot. The patrolled main beach for surf, then the short walk south to Shelly Beach for calm, sheltered swimming.
Know this. The main beach is open surf, while the sheltered Shelly Beach around the point is the calm family option.
Manly is the northern beaches' great all rounder, and the journey is half the pleasure. The ferry from Circular Quay crosses Sydney Harbour past the Opera House and the Heads, and you step off a short stroll from the sand down the busy Corso. Few beaches anywhere have a better arrival.
The main beach is a long, pine lined surf strip that runs north for over a kilometre, taking in Queenscliff and North Steyne along the way. It is open ocean with consistent surf, well patrolled, and a favourite for learning to surf, with schools working the gentler southern end. Swim between the flags and it is a fine, friendly beach.
The clever move is the short walk south. Around the Cabbage Tree Bay headland sits Shelly Beach, a sheltered, west facing cove that is one of the calmest and best snorkelling swims in Sydney, inside an aquatic reserve. Families who find the surf too much for small children should head straight there.
Manly town is a proper seaside hub, busier and more developed than the eastern suburbs beaches, with surf shops, cafes and restaurants packed along the Corso and the harbour side a short walk away. That makes it an easy full day out, beach one side, harbour the other.
Who might prefer quieter. On summer weekends Manly is busy and the Corso is bustling, so if you want a calmer scene the smaller northern beaches further up the coast are quieter. For a classic Sydney ferry and beach day, Manly is one of the best.
Clubs on this beach
Manly is a public patrolled beach with a busy town, cafes and surf shops behind it, but there is no daybed beach club on the sand, so we route you to the Sydney beaches and venues where a club style day exists.
No beach club on this beach
This is public sand with no daybed club on the beach itself. For a club style day with loungers and table service near Manly Beach, we gather the options in the Sydney beach clubs directory.
Manly, northern beaches
Manly sits on Sydney's northern beaches and is best reached by ferry from Circular Quay, a scenic harbour crossing of about thirty minutes that drops you a short walk from the sand.
Driving is possible but parking is limited and slow on warm days, so the ferry or a bus is the easier choice.
Facilities are excellent, with cafes, surf shops, showers and a long promenade. Swim between the flags on the main beach, or walk south to sheltered Shelly Beach for calm water.
Photo: Chris Cousins via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a club within reach of Manly Beach. We reply by email.
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Common questions about Manly Beach
How do you get to Manly Beach?
The classic way is the ferry from Circular Quay, a scenic thirty minute harbour crossing past the Opera House that drops you a short walk down the Corso from the sand. Buses also run, while driving means limited, slow parking on warm days.
Is Manly Beach good for families?
The main beach is open surf, so swim between the flags and keep young children close. For calm family swimming, walk a few minutes south around the headland to sheltered Shelly Beach, one of the gentlest swims in Sydney.
What is the difference between Manly and Shelly Beach?
Manly is a long open surf beach, while Shelly Beach is a small, sheltered, west facing cove a short walk south around the Cabbage Tree Bay headland. Shelly is far calmer and sits in an aquatic reserve with good snorkelling.
Can you learn to surf at Manly?
Yes. Manly is a popular place to learn, with surf schools working the gentler southern end of the main beach. Always swim and surf between the flags and check with the lifeguards about conditions before heading out.
When is the best time to visit Manly?
Autumn, from March to May, brings warm sea, settled days and thinner crowds than the summer peak. Mornings any time of year are calmer, both on the sand and on the ferry across.
