Manly rolls a lucky 13
From the pounding surf of Oahu’s North Shore to the rugged, Redwood-lined north-west US coastline and the crystal clear waters of the Algarve in Portugal, many different qualities create a noteworthy beach.
So we are very proud to announce that Manly Beach has proven not only noteworthy, but vote-worthy, placing 13th in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice 2023 Best of the Best awards for the top 25 beaches in the world, and 2nd in the category of top 10 beaches in the South Pacific.
To celebrate our lucky 13, we’ve compiled a list of 13 qualities that give Manly that certain je ne sais quoi.
1. Beaches bonanza
Watched over by Majestic Norfolk Island Pine trees, Manly is the stereotypical beautiful Australian beach with its soft white sand, crystal clear water and perfect surfing breaks. But look further and you’ll discover Manly also has six other beaches, all offering variations of beautiful.
If you’re a surfer, you’ll love Manly Beach; if you’re after quiet and calm, Collins Beach or Manly Cove are the perfect sandy sanctuary; and for amazing marine life try snorkelling in the protective hug of Shelly Beach, one of the only west-facing beaches on the Australian east coast.
2. Come from away
One of the most beloved forms of transport in Sydney is the iconic Manly Ferry, carrying visitors from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf in less than 30 minutes. On the way you’ll see Sydney Harbour in all its glory and take in some of Sydney’s most iconic buildings and structures, from the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, to both the Prime Minister’s and the Governor-General’s residences of Kirribilli House and Admiralty House respectively.
Our large and iconic Freshwater-class ferries from the 1980s hold a special place in the hearts of Manly locals. Modern ferries now serve alongside our hulking Freshwaters, whizzing through Sydney Harbour in just 22 minutes. All ferry services to Manly are accessible and run frequently.
3. Food, glorious food
Manly is a thriving paradise for food lovers, with its smorgasbord of cafes, fish and chip shops, fine dining restaurants, pubs and hidden bars set to satisfy your cravings. Cuisines extend from Asia to Europe via the US.
With local residents focused on healthy living, many venues adopt a fresh and wholesome approach to their menu. But if you’d like to have a cheeky little indulgence – you’re probably on holiday after all – you’ll find bubble tea, and decadent gelato, ice-cream and cookie stores.
4. Walk this way
One of the best ways to discover a place is on foot. And Manly offers some of the most incredible walking paths and hiking trails in Sydney, attracting visitors and locals alike with their stunning harbour and ocean views, native bushland and secret beaches.
One of Manly’s most popular walkways leads you along the coastline from the heart of Manly to the relaxing and sheltered cove of Shelly Beach. This walk, as well as the linked Manly Beach Esplanade, are perfect for an idyllic stroll, punctuated perhaps by some people-watching at a café coffee stop.
Manly is also fortunate to be nestled within Sydney Harbour National Park, which encompasses two highly regarded walking tracks – North Head Sanctuary Loop Walk and Manly Scenic Walkway. Soak up the subtle sounds of wildlife, immerse yourself in Sydney’s historic past, take in the picturesque views of Sydney’s sparkling blue harbour and Pacific Ocean, explore dense green bushland, and marvel at sheer sandstone cliffs.
5. Surfing success on the world stage
In 1964, Manly hosted the inaugural World Surfing Championships, with Australians dominating in all events. Since then it has gone from strength to strength as an international surfing destination. Local Barton Lynch was crowned surfing World Champion in 1988 and later was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame and the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame. Australia’s first female surfing World Champion, Pam Burridge, learned to surf at Manly Beach, paving the way for other locals like Layne Beachley, who claimed the top title an impressive seven times.
Manly Beach regularly hosts local, national and international competitions, with surfers of the calibre of 11-time world champion Kelly Slater competing here.
Thankfully the beach offers a variety of surfing conditions, meaning it’s not just the domain of the professionals. From world champions to total beginners, Manly Beach has all your surfing needs covered, with surf schools on hand for those who don’t know their spring suit from their steamer.
6. The great entertainer
There’s never a dull moment in Manly. This ultimate entertainer offers a calendar full of festivals, celebrations and community events to ensure it is always the life of the party.
Coming up on 26-28 May is the iconic Taste of Manly – a proud showcase of Manly’s best and brightest local restaurants and brewers alongside Australia’s finest wine producers across two music-filled days.
September 22-24 sees Manly come alive to the sound of music, while December embraces all things Christmas and NY with a beautiful Choral Concert and fireworks.
7. Never a dull moment
Whether you’re interested in striking a downward-facing dog pose on the harbour with a stand-up paddle board in place of a yoga mat, exploring on bike or kayak, or hitting a sizzling cross-court shot at your beach volleyball opposition, activities abound in Manly for visitors seeking wellbeing, activity and adventure. Pop in and see our friendly staff at the Visitor Information Centre at Manly Wharf Forecourt for advice on things to do.
8. The colour and the shade
With a sun-shiny image and glossy-magazine vistas, Manly is a place of colour and vibrancy, originally developed as a beautiful seaside resort that served as an antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city.
However, Manly’s history is much more than meets the eye; it is a place where history and beauty combine, telling tales of the past against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour, national parks and the vast Pacific Ocean.
For many thousands of years before Europeans arrived, First Nations Australians lived in Kay-ye-my (or Gayamay) – now known as Manly – where they fished, gathered food in the dunes and hunted in the eucalypt forests and open heath country. Evidence of their rich cultural life remains throughout the landscape.
Manly is also home to a number of historic and heritage sites offering a glimpse into the town’s rich, and at times dark, history. At the former Quarantine Station at North Head (now Q Station), which operated for more than 100 years during the time of smallpox, Spanish influenza and bubonic plague and where 572 people died and were buried, ghost stories abound. Experience it for yourself on one of the ghost tours offered.
Also at North Head is North Fort, a remnant military complex established as part of Australia’s defence system during WWII. It features heritage gun emplacements, a 200m military tunnel complex, and the intriguing-sounding Plotting Room.
9. Endless summer
With a water temperature that sits at around 23 degrees Celsius in the warmer months and rarely dips below 18 degrees at its coldest, an average of 11 hours of sunshine a day in summer and only a couple of hours less in winter, and temperatures that are a Goldilocks ‘not too hot, not too cold, but just right’, Manly is the perfect year-round outdoor destination.
10. Somewhere, under the sea
Goggles – tick!
Snorkel – tick!
Flippers – tick!
Now get ready to experience the best snorkelling and scuba-diving spot in Sydney.
Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve is Manly’s answer to the Great Barrier Reef – an underwater paradise full of captivating marine creatures such as blue groupers aka the friendliest fish in the sea, weedy sea dragons, giant cuttlefish and placid Port Jackson sharks. This ‘no take’ marine sanctuary covers 20 hectares extending from the southern end of Manly Beach to the northern end of Shelly Beach headland. It includes a beautiful array of rocky reefs, kelp and seagrass beds, and has been described by one of our intrepid young snorkellers as “like swimming in a giant fish tank”. So take a breath and dive right in.
11. Child’s play
Manly is like one giant playground, equally entertaining for little kids, big kids, or the child within us all. Water-based activities are the obvious choice, from surfing, swimming and snorkelling to water-sliding at Manly Waterworks. But don’t miss our wide range of land-based activities such as exploring by bike, skateboard or roller skates; adventuring through the bush on our beautiful hiking trails, or communicating with the other side on an age-appropriate Q Station ghost tour.
12. Putting out the welcome mat
Manly is far enough from Sydney’s CBD to have developed a very separate culture, but close enough to share many of the same values.
While we pride ourselves on our close-knit community vibe and laid-back coastal ambience, we embrace visitors – both domestic and international – to our village with open arms, and revel in the chance to introduce them to our quintessentially Aussie lifestyle.
13. Views for days
Standing at the northern entrance to Sydney Harbour, Manly boasts national parks with dramatic clifftop vistas; Sydney is literally at your feet, laid out in shades of blue and green and city lights. It is the perfect viewing platform to admire the daily comings and goings of the harbour, the rough and tumble of the ocean and dramatic playtime of migrating whales, the city skyline and the northerly stretch of the Northern Beaches Peninsula, of which Manly serves as the worthy gateway.