Manly Beach

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The best thing about Manly is the fantastic ferry trip out there. The Manly Ferry is probably Sydney’s cheapest harbour cruise and if you get a seat outside it’s probably also one of the best. The 35 - 40 minute trip takes you past the Opera House, the central harbour bays with some of Sydney’s most expensive property , Taronga Zoo and the heads, where it can get satisfyingly rocky.

People used to go to Manly for their holidays and I can see why. The ferry pulls into a relaxed, sprawling but clean looking wharf which leads onto the relaxed, sprawling Corso which links the wharf on the harbour side and the long beaches on the ocean side. So maybe the best thing about Manly is walking along the Corso seeing the ocean open out before you.

On the ocean side the beach is a long scoop. To the right as you’re facing the ocean is a path and if you follow it around past a pool carved into the ocean you’ll get to Shelly Beach which hooks around to face the rest of Manly and is a good spot for scuba diving and has a truly excellent and secluded café. Which could also be the best thing about Manly.

Surfers do come along here but the surf schools are mostly in the other direction up towards Queenscliff where there are less rocks in the water. There are also beach volley ball nets set up along beach next to the path that runs along the front US style with rollerbladers, cyclists and people who don’t want to get sand between their toes.

You’re going to see tourists in Manly - it’s one of the most popular beaches in Sydney, but it’s not badly spoilt by the crowds and even in the peak of the Christmas school holidays there’s still enough sand and ice cream for everyone and the pub on the harbour side wharf extends out on decking above the ocean, so there’s more space to enjoy an afternoon drink Sydney style. Which could also be the best thing about Manly…

2 / 5 Review by editor Kat Mackintosh

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