After living in Australia for almost 2 years, guess which beach is my favorite? If you would have guessed Bondi…you’re wrong! Manly Beach is my absolute favorite beach in Sydney (and actually, Manly is just my favorite place as well)! Not that I need to prove it, but here’s why; Manly has all of the things that make a beach great: stunning water, coves, wormholes, art, nature, incredible views, walking treks…Oh, the things that Manly offers. Let’s get started!

How to get to Manly

It’s very easy to get to Manly by public transportation, you can either take a ferry from Circular Quay or a bus. I prefer the ferry since it’s faster and it’s one of my favorite features to living in Sydney. Check out the ferry times before you leave and be sure to arrive at the wharf at least 5 minutes before the ferry leaves (you usually have to tap on with your Opal card 2 minutes before or the gate will close). The trip over should take around 30 minutes and you’ll have great views the entire time! Try to go on a Sunday since Opal costs are capped at $5. The ferry takes you to Manly Wharf and the first place to visit is Manly Cove.

Manly Cove

I fell in love with Manly just from walking around the cove, before I even saw the beach! There are so many breathtaking scenic spots. Go for a walk and choose one of the viewing spots to soak in the view. If you walk all the way down the path you’ll see boats in the bay and you may get some major house envy from all the surrounding gorgeous houses (and their views)!

There are plenty of places to eat around Manly Cove and Wharf. My two favorite places are Criniti’s (italian) and El Camino (mexican). There are also burger joints and pubs all around. I am by no means a foodie, but I love eating at all the places there, so you will too! Along with restaurants and scenic spots, there’s also a small Aquarium in Manly and an Art Museum you can check out. After you’ve seen your fill of Manly Cove, the next place to visit is Manly Beach, a 5 minute walk from Manly Wharf.

Manly Beach

If you didn’t eat at Manly Wharf you have plenty of places to choose from on your way to Manly Beach and then once you’re at the beach. The water here is so pretty; deep blues, icy blues, and white foam combined. There’s plenty of beach to walk around, and a walking path if you want to keep your feet from getting too sandy. Another thing I love about Manly is it has my favorite trees, these Christmas looking ones with the needles lifting up towards the sky.

There’s plenty to see around Manly. There is beach art and a few rock pools if you don’t want to get straight into the ocean. If you head right you’ll be walking towards Shelley Beach. Shelley beach is a smaller beach, but the water is just as stunning as the front view from Manly Beach. There is also a walking trek that boasts incredible views!

This most likely doesn’t count as Manly, but the Shelley walking trek connects to North Head National Park and the Sydney Harbour National Park. The views around are magnificent to say the least!

Manly Extras

If you head to the left side of the beach you will find the Manly Wormhole. This is a man made walkway through the rock that makes a hole. Fishermen used to use it, but now, it’s just a fun spot to get a glimpse of the ocean from another less used spot!

There are a few other things that I love about Manly. Although it’s not on the beach, you can take a short 15 minute bus trip to the college that was used for Gatsby’s mansion! Also, one of the most popular hikes, the Manly to Spit walk, starts in Manly! With so many different things to offer, Manly should definitely be on your Sydney list.