Six Spring long weekend must-do’s
Spring has sprung, and just in time for the October long weekend!
If you’re having a staycation on the Northern Beaches, or family and friends are coming to town, we’ve got your long weekend sorted.
Enjoy our restaurants, cafes and pubs
We’ve got three days off, and it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and family. Dine out at your favourite local, or buy a takeaway to enjoy at home.
There are so many options up and down the beaches, from water-view restaurants and bars to cosy cafes and eateries. In Manly you have the enviable choice of beachside versus harbourside dining and everything in between.
So get the gang together and celebrate!
Spot a whale
Now is the perfect time to pack a picnic and hike up to one of our headlands for some great views of the migrating whales on their way back to Antarctica. Particularly impressive views can be enjoyed from Manly’s North Head, Dobroyd Head in nearby Balgowlah Heights, Long Reef Headland, and Barrenjoey Lighthouse on Barrenjoey Headland at the furthest end of the Northern Beaches.
Alternatively, get up close and personal waterside on a whale-watching trip. Ocean Extreme is a pioneer of small boat whale watching adventures, with trips departing conveniently from Manly Wharf.
Join the culture club at Manly Art Gallery and Museum
Manly Art Gallery and Museum has several fantastic exhibitions on offer this long weekend. All exhibitions are free. The gallery is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm of the long weekend, but closed on Monday.
Experience our water world with snorkelling, diving, surfing and kayaking
It’s the perfect time of year to head underwater, with clear visibility and average water temperatures of around 19 degrees Celsius. Check out our favourite snorkelling spots on the Northern Beaches or contact one of our reputable dive operators to visit some world-class dive sites right on our doorstep including Fairy Bower in Manly, and nearby Old Man’s Hat and The Waterfall.
If going underwater is bit extreme for you at this time of year, hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore Manly Cove’s foreshore, Pittwater’s secret beaches or Narrabeen Lagoon’s quiet lake and estuary. You’ll be guaranteed to return home with a big smile on your face.
Spring is also a great time to surf, with warm sunshine, blue skies and light winds. Bring your own board or book a group or private surf lesson in Manly or at several other of our local beaches. Wetsuits are provided if the water is still a little chilly.
Buy some local produce and pack a picnic
Get your friends together and pack a basket full of produce from local businesses.
Add some blankets, good tunes, water views and maybe a fishing rod (plus a fishing licence) and you’re all set. Some great picnic spots include in and around Manly include Lagoon Park, Fairlight and Delwood beaches on the Manly Scenic Walkway, Shelly Beach and Manly Dam. Elsewhere on the Northern Beaches look to Bilarong Bushland Reserve, Winnererremy Bay, Station Beach, and Palm Beach.
Get pampered
Treat yourself to some self-care at one of the Northern Beaches’ many beauty salons and day spas. Give them a call and book in some deserved ‘me time’ to feel rejuvenated again.
Manly is an easily accessible little hub of pampering, whether you’re after new hairstyle, a fresh set of killer nails or a relaxing body wrap and massage.
Most of all, enjoy your long weekend. We all deserve a break now and then.