Things to do in Manly
Manly is the most visited Northern Beaches suburb for a reason, with so many things to do you could easily spend a couple of days making the most of this beachside suburb.
Take a picturesque 30-minute ferry ride across Sydney Harbour to Manly and disembark onto the palm tree-lined Corso, seven miles from Sydney and 1,000 miles from care!
Dive in to the clear, warm water and discover a vibrant aquatic reserve, or sip on sunset drinks and watch the last of the day slip over the horizon. Before you begin to explore, make sure you call in to the Visitor Information Centre located at Manly Wharf to collect your free map and guide of the area.
We’ve put together some of the best things to do while you’re visiting Manly.
Things to do
Kayak Manly Cove
Discover Manly Cove from a new angle and hire a kayak from the Manly Kayak Centre or Manly Sailing. If you are looking for the best locations, have a read of the secret spots that you can explore by kayak. Explore the area on your own or join a tour for a 90 minute adventure with the team at Manly Kayak Centre.
Have a go at stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)
In Manly you’re spoilt for choice for places to stand-up paddleboard, with both Manly Cove and Shelly Beach being popular with locals. Have a read of some of the best places to SUP on the Northern Beaches for local tips and tricks.
Shop at a local market
Markets are a great way to shop for local gifts and homewares in Manly. The weekend market, Manly Market Place, runs from 10am to 5pm on the Corso and Sydney Road. There is a huge variety of goods on offer from eco-friendly items, artisan products, handcrafted jewellery, unique imports, vintage apparel and original art.
Every third Saturday of the month another market is run at Manly Village Public School in the heart of Manly. There are about 100 stalls offering a huge variety of goods including fresh produce, food, and second-hand and boutique clothing. It’s a great market if you enjoy perusing knick-knacks, vintage items or local crafts, before or after heading to the beach.
Hire a bike
Rent a bike from Manly Bikes and explore the area. Some scenic rides include North Head and along Manly beachfront. You will cycle past some of the most iconic attractions in Manly, including Shelly Beach, Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, North Fort, Q Station and Collins Beach. Check out our list of the best bike routes on the Northern Beaches.
Go on a scenic walk
Manly is fortunate to be home to some of the most amazing walks in Sydney as well as the end of the iconic Bondi to Manly Walk. If you’re looking for a leisurely stroll we recommend doing the Manly to Shelly Beach walk. For a more heart-pumping walk try the stunning Manly Scenic Walkway (also known as Manly to Spit Walk) or explore North Head Sanctuary.
Read our Manly Walking Guide for more information in regards to walking times, location and lengths.
Learn to surf
Manly Beach is the perfect place to learn to surf with Manly Surf School, which operates group and private lessons daily. The friendly instructors will show you all the basics and will have you up on your feet and surfing by the end of the 2-hour lesson.
Dive deep into Cabbage Tree Bay
Manly is lucky to be home to Cabbage Tree Bay, an aquatic reserve with over 150 different species of marine life for you to discover, including iconic species such as blue gropers, giant cuttlefish, wobbegongs and a resident green turtle. With its calm waters, it’s the perfect spot to snorkel or dive. You’ll be amazed what but what you see.
Manly Wormhole
The Manly Wormhole is an impressive tunnel that was carved out by fishermen over 100 years ago and is still a great spot to visit! The best time to visit is in the morning because the adjacent headland casts a shadow in the afternoon.
To find the Manly Wormhole turn left at the end of the Corso and walk to the end of the beach at Queenscliff. Head around the rockpool and climb the rocks to find the hidden tunnel.
Be careful at high tide and when there are large waves because the rocks can be slippery.
Try Manly Waterworks
Manly Waterworks is the perfect thing to do with the kids when the weather is warm. Set up at the nearby cafe or grab a takeaway and watch from under the shady tree as the kids enjoy the water slides. Manly Waterworks is open every day during summer school holidays and weekends during the warmer months.
Check out the history of Q Station
Q Station, located at North Head, was used from 1832 to 1984 to quarantine passengers and crew from ships suspected of carrying contagious diseases like smallpox, Spanish influenza and bubonic plague. They have 65 heritage buildings that have been repurposed as hotel accommodation, two restaurants, a café and a museum. The grounds are free to explore, but if you want to get the full experience we recommend you book one of their amazing tours.
During the day they have a historical one-hour wander tour and a wildlife tour. In the evenings they have their spooky ghost tours. For more information check out times and availability on their website, qstation.com.au.
Experience the local art galleries
Manly Art Gallery & Museum is dedicated to showing artists from the Northern Beaches region. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and entry is free. Be sure to check the ‘What’s on’ page to see the current exhibitions.
Spend the day by the beach
Manly Beach is one of Australia’s most famous beaches, having hosted the first world surfing championship in 1964 and regularly featuring in the top of lists of best beaches in the world. This iconic 1.5km stretch of golden sand is lined by magnificent Norfolk pines and bordered by a wide, flat promenade, making it perfect for strolling.
It also caters to those wanting to learn to surf, and most days you will see schools of surfers launching into the rips and paddling hard to get onto the perfect wave. Swimmers are advised to swim between the yellow and red flags indicating that area is patrolled by lifeguards and judged as safe. At North Steyne – the middle part of the beach – you’ll find volleyball nets and surfboard hire, as well as cafes and amenities.
You’re definitely spoilt for choice when it comes to Manly Beach. Whether you want to spread out a towel out and enjoy the soft white sand, surf its waves or explore its underwater marine life, there’s something here for everyone.
Swim in one of the local rockpools
Manly is fortunate to have two rockpools – Queenscliff and Fairy Bower, which are free to enjoy.
The Queenscliff rockpool is a 50m pool at the northern end of Queenscliff Beach, tucked up against the cliffs on the headland.
Walk along Marine Parade to the lovely Fairy Bower Pool. It is triangular in shape and features sculptures that sit along the rock edge called The Oceanides, also known as The Sea Nymphs, which were created by artist Helen Leete.
In winter go whale watching
If you are visiting between May and November, Manly has plenty of spots to see whales. For the most popular whale-watching locations on the Northern Beaches read our list of top four whale watching spots on the Northern Beaches.
How to get there
Manly is 14km from Sydney’s CBD.
Travelling on public transport?
- Catch a ferry from Wharf 3 in Circular Quay.
- Catch a B1 bus from Wynyard and change at Spit Junction to a 144 bus.
Further afield
Looking for more things to do nearby, get inspired with our blogs on things to do in Balgowlah, Freshwater and Seaforth.