Enjoy the ultimate girls’ weekend in Manly
When the girls just wanna have fun, pack a bag and head to Manly for the perfect getaway.
Hit the town and stay the night, give the credit card a workout on a shopping adventure, chill at the beach, hike, bike or yoga to your heart’s content; it’s all here waiting for you in Manly.
We’ve designed a flexible 2-day itinerary, plus accommodation, to make the most of everything Manly has to offer a group of girlfriends looking to enjoy each other’s company.
Where to stay
In such an amazingly picturesque and popular location, accommodation options are always going to be inspiring, from historical cottages and affordable beachside motel rooms, to 5-star glamour hotels.
Q Station, located in the heart of Sydney Harbour National Park and just up the hill from Manly Village, combines a colourful history with stunning views, a private beach and an onsite cafe and restaurant. Gather the girls on the verandah for sunset drinks before heading out to dinner.
Directly opposite iconic Manly Beach is Manly Pacific, a 5-star hotel with stylish rooms with a view and a rooftop pool. You don’t even have to leave the premises to enjoy high-end dining complemented by signature cocktails at their inhouse restaurants and cocktail bar.
The fun and friendship will run late into the night in a 2- or 3-bedroom serviced apartment at Manly Paradise Beachfront Motel and Apartments. In the morning watch the waves and admire the beachgoers from your balcony before heading out for breakfast in a nearby cafe.
Day 1
Start your morning with a soul-affirming yoga session. For yoga with a difference, try a stand-up paddleboard yoga lesson with Flow mOcean. Or if you prefer to stay grounded and keep dry, Manly has plenty of yoga studios. Some local favourites are Qi Yoga, and Power Living.
After a busy morning, you’ll have worked up a healthy appetite for breakfast.
Grab a seat outside at Hemingways Manly, located on the Manly beachfront. This little café serves delicious breakfasts that will have you and your girls wanting to come back for more.
Once you’re fuelled up, head off on the 10km Manly Scenic Walkway and take in the amazing views of the majestic entrance to Sydney Harbour. Have a break along the way at one of the many hidden little beaches that can be accessed only by foot or boat. Allow about 2.5 hours to complete this walk.
If that sounds a bit too intense, take the 161 bus from Manly Wharf and head up to beautiful North Head and the jewel in its crown, Fairfax Walk, with its award-winning lookouts over the exact point the ocean touches hands with the harbour.
As you arrive back into Manly, it must be time to eat again.
Thankfully, you’re spoiled for choice with lunch spots. Both Hugos and Manly Pavilion on the harbour serve up beautiful food with a side dish of stunning water views. Likewise The Boathouse Shelly Beach, which is as close as you can get to the sand without stepping off the promenade.
Finish off your day with a relaxing swim or snorkel at Shelly Beach. Marvel at the calm waters and vibrant underwater world of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. If you don’t have snorkelling gear, rent equipment from Dive Centre Manly.
When the dinner bell rings, try Garfish, opposite Manly Cove. As the name suggests, this fine dining restaurant specialises in delicious seafood. We can highly recommend the Salt & Pepper Squid or the Snapper Pie – absolutely delicious!
Finish your evening in one of Manly’s cool and cosy bars. The Cumberland is Manly’s very own 1920’s-style speakeasy hidden behind a fridge door in the laneways of the village. Other standouts are Insitu Bar & Restaurant, Donny’s Bare and Miami Rice at Hotel Steyne.
Day 2
Head out for breakfast early and enjoy Manly as it begins to come to life.
Market Lane Café is a favourite with it’s all-day healthy breakfasts and tasty dishes like Smoked Salmon Bruschetta and Truffle Scented Chilli Masala Scrambled Eggs.
Fusion Point, tucked up in Rialto Lane just off The Corso, offers all-day breakfast and great coffee, while The Pantry on the beachfront has front row seats to all the goings-on on Manly Beach as well as a cracking breakfast menu featuring our fave Eggs Benedict, plus Buttermilk Pancakes, nostalgic Eggs and Soldiers, and the extravagant Breakfast Board.
Start your day of fun by getting out on the water on a kayak with Manly Kayak Centre at Manly Cove and go exploring some of the local hidden beaches. Our favourite is Store Beach, a short paddle from Manly Wharf and accessible only by water. You’ll find other suggestions in our blog ‘Kayak to these 5 secret spots on the Northern Beaches’.
If you and the girls would prefer a fun land-based activity instead, hire a bike from Manly Bike Tours and get the wind in your hair on the beautiful Manly beachfront.
Head back into the laneways for a healthy salad or a bowl of delicious dumplings for lunch.
The little Asian salad bar Banana Blossom has been a household name on the Northern Beaches since it opened its first store in Mona Vale in 2009. Grab a takeaway salad and eat beside the beach. The Tokyo Classic salad with either chicken or tofu is particularly popular.
Nearby, Momo Bar serves up delicious Nepalese dumplings poke bowls and Nepalese favourites. Sit at outside and watch the world go by as you enjoy your delicious meal. It’s the perfect spot for outdoor dining – in winter, heat lamps and colourful blankets will keep you warm, and in summer the restaurant is in the shade.
After such an eventful break, wind down with a group booking to one of Manly’s indulgent day spas, salons or massage parlours. Bare Beauty House has a range of beautiful pamper packages, while Aqua Vitae Day Spa promotes the power of holistic wellness. Take your pick from our full list.
As you all head home after a fun and fulfilling friend’s getaway, you’ll understand why Manly really is a girl’s best friend.