Family Friendly Stays on the Beaches
Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches ticks all the boxes for an unforgettable family holiday.
Family accommodation? Check.
Kid friendly restaurants? Check.
Gorgeous beaches? Check.
Hours of fun? Check.
Stay on the Northern Beaches and we promise you there is so much to do. It will keep the kids entertained for hours. Have a read of things to do with families on the Northern Beaches:
Where to Stay
Choosing where to stay can be difficult especially when you have kids but don’t worry there are plenty of options on the Northern Beaches. There is a wide variety of hotels, apartments, holiday rentals, camping, cabins and budget accommodation that will suit your style and budget.
Whether its heritage harbour-side luxury or stunning ocean views you’ll find a great escape to the stunning Northern Beaches. If you are wanting to camp, staying at the NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park is central to everything. It is the closest beachside caravan and camping location to Sydney CBD. Only metres from both the beach and the calm waters of Narrabeen Lagoon. It makes a perfect location for your next family getaway. If camping is not your thing during winter, they also have villas and cabins with heating allowing you to have the ultimate family glamping vacation.
Things to Do
Are you looking for a way to entertain the kids? The Northern Beaches has you covered with a bunch of fun activities to keep the whole family enthused. We have put together a list of our top six family activities
Ride the Manly Ferry
Take the iconic Manly ferry to the heart of Sydney, Circular Quay. This 30 minute ferry ride is the best way to view the city skyline and is the best way to enjoy Sydney from the water.
Learn to Surf
With plenty of beautiful beaches and surf schools in the area, the Northern Beaches is the perfect place to learn to surf. The best way is to enrol your kids in a surf school and they will be standing on a surfboard in no time. Most companies supply wetsuits so all you need to do is turn up with a pair swimmers, towel and sunblock.
Enjoy a Walk
The Northern beaches is surrounded by beautiful native bushland and has amazing walks that the whole family can enjoy. Some beautiful walks include Dee Why Headland, Palm Beach lighthouse, Shelly Beach or Warriewood wetlands. If you need some inspiration have a look at ‘Five picturesque walks to get your steps up.’
Ride a Bike
The Northern beaches is known for their beautiful family bike paths and is a great day out with the kids. One of the favourites amongst families is the Narrabeen Lagoon trail. An easy and flat 8.4km loop which has beautiful views of both the lake and surrounding nature.
If you are in Manly ride up to north Head and enjoy the spectacular views of The Northern Beaches, Sydney Harbour and the city of Sydney. If you forgot your bike or it doesn’t fit on your car – don’t worry, you can hire one from the many bike hire companies.
Maybe you’re an avid off road cyclist then there are many challenging trails to choose from like Manly Dam and the soon to be opened MTB park a cumulative 1.6km of gravity trails, which includes a pump track and skills area with lots of dirt jumps. Less experienced riders can start on the pump track and skills area before working through a progression zone and then tackling the advanced gravity trails.
Experience a Ghost Tour
If you are looking for a unique experience that is a lot of fun and a little bit scary, head up to the Q Station for their Ghostly Trackers family tour. Walk around with gas lamps and enjoy the spooky stories told by the tour guide about the history of the Q station. This tour is recommended for children aged between 8 – 14 years old.
Snorkel Cabbage Tree Bay
Explore the underwater world of Cabbage Tree Bay, which is home to an extraordinary amount of sea life. Keep your eyes peeled for the colourful cuttlefish hiding amongst the seaweed. You can hire a snorkel and mask, bring your own or jump on a tour with Ecotreasures to ensure you don’t miss out. A wetsuit during winter is a must so you and your family stay warm while exploring underwater.
Where to Eat
Once you are on the Northern Beaches you will be overwhelmed with the amount of kid-friendly restaurants and cafes available. No matter where you go you will always find an eatery close by that will suit your family needs. Some favourites among locals are Ruby Lane Café, Harbord Diggers, The Flying Fox Café, The Tramshed, The Newport, Dunes Palm Beach just to name a few. Grab your picnic blanket and head out to a nearby beach or park. Make sure you pack a picnic filled with local produce or simply grab take away from a nearby restaurant or cafe.