Top Things to do in Northern Beaches
Top Hotels in Northern Beaches
- 1. Travelodge Hotel Manly Warringah Sydney
- 2. Manly Pacific
- 3. Quest Manly
- 4. The Sebel Manly Beach
- 5. Manly Paradise Motel & Apartments
- 6. Q Station Sydney Harbour National Park Hotel
- 7. NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park
- 8. Miramare Gardens
- 9. Checkers Resort & Conference Centre
- 10. The Outback Lodge
Things to do in Northern Beaches, New South Wales: The Best Beaches
Discover the best top things to do in Northern Beaches, Australia including Freshwater Rockpool, Shelly Beach, Avalon Beach, Mona Vale Beach, Queenscliff Beach, Clareville Beach, Fairlight Beach, Little Manly Beach, Forty Baskets Beach, Curl Curl Beach.
Restaurants in Northern Beaches
1. Freshwater Rockpool
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Freshwater rockpool is located on the northern beaches in Sydney. The rockpool is neatly tucked into the headland between Curl Curl Beach and Freshwater Beach. There are excellent facilities available with change rooms, showers, toilets and parking. The pool is a 50m olympic size swimming pool with marked lanes. There is also a fabulous boardwalk above the pool which continues onto Curl Curl Beach
Reviewed By Ellemay - Sydney, Australia
Freshwater Rockpool is a wonderful for swimming laps or just enjoying a quick dip and it’s totally free ! . The pool is cleaned frequently so it’s best to check the roster on the northern beaches council website before heading off. There are change room, toilets and parking available.
2. Shelly Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,490 reviews
Reviewed By Breadleg - Foster City, United States
A nice walk through the bush and along the cliffs from Manly Bay to Shelly Beach with lots of great outlooks along the way. Some areas require stabile footing due to rocks. Glad we wore trail running shoes. And we did this all in torrential rains. Still loved it.
3. Avalon Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By MeredithAussie - Cannes, France
This is a beautiful beach with surf and golden sand. It is patrolled by surf-lifesavers, so it's best to swim between the flags OR in the excellent ocean baths on the southern end of the beach. Council has also provided a shower/tap for rinsing salt and sand off before you go home. There are plenty of seats (in both sun and shade) and a grassy area and children's playground. Just one block back from the beach are restaurants, cafes and other shops (with parking available).
4. Mona Vale Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Reviewed By JElliot32 - New South Wales, Australia
Mona Vale may not be the most picturesque of the Northern Beaches but it makes up for this in lots of other ways. It offers something for everyone: families, swimmers, surfers, walkers, even beach fishermen. There is a good-sized carpark though parking is very expensive if you are not a local. It is a long beach, so in post-Covid times could be ideal for social distancing! Mona Vale is good for long walks, as for a large part of its length the local golf course backs onto it, giving it a bit more of a 'bushland' appearance, and at low tide it is easy to walk around the rock platform at the southern end and then walk the length of Warriewood Beach, and back again. At the northern end of the beach there is another extensive rock platform out of which a large ocean pool has been excavated. This is popular with swimmers as can be the small sheltered beach beyond the northern platform, which is called The Basin.
5. Queenscliff Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Queenscliff Beach is located at the far northern end of Manly. At first glance, Queenscliff looks just like a continuation of Manly Beach and many tourists do not tend to venture past the commercial and tourist centre of the main beach. If you want to explore a little further, Queenscliff is easy to get to and has a character of its own. It’s easy to get there on foot. From Manly, just head north along the beach promenade until you get to the big yellow Queenscliff Surf Life Saving clubhouse. It takes about 10-15 minutes. Two particularly nice Queenscliff features are a large tidal pool and a lagoon estuary. A path under the bridge leads to the lagoon, a running track and a large fenced kids’ playground. If you have kids with you and need a break from the sand and surf, this is handy to know about. Directly across the road from the SLS clubhouse are two very popular local spots, the Salty Rooster (the best burgers) and the Corner at Queensie, a café which also does a roaring take-away trade at its side window. There are 2 other ‘hidden gems’ to look out for once you are at Queenscliff: i) One is a secret tunnel, the Manly Wormhole. Cut into the cliff by local fisherman as a shortcut between Queenscliff and Freshwater beach, the entrance is located near the big painted heart on the cliff. ii) The other is what has to be one of the best seats in Sydney. On the rocks, sitting high above the tidal pool, is a single metal bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the entire length of Manly beach. If ever there was a spot to sit and contemplate, this has to be it. WARNING – If you are parking at the metered beachfront carparks, don't be tempted to not pay. It is regularly patrolled (as are the surrounding streets) and you are highly likely to be fined. This applies to all of Manly.
6. Clareville Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By 447conradg - Sydney, Australia
Peaceful beach, with great perspectives on sunsets, and ideal venue for some sundowners on the beach with friends and family. Can also be a nice romantic spot for couples as well. The facilities are very good, great bbq spots, toilets are well lit and clean.
7. Fairlight Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Well known to locals, this is a hidden gem for tourists. It is only a short 15 min walk from Many ferry and the walk along the coastline is beautiful in itself. Tourists of course will want to see Manly Beach first. It’s the main attraction. However, if you want to explore beyond the mainstream tourist sights and go a bit away from the commercial centre of Manly, then this is a perfect diversion. Fairlight Beach is not a typical large surf beach, like Manly. Rather, it is a small, gentle harbour beach. It has excellent snorkelling which brings a lot of people here. If you just want to paddle or have small children, it’s calm waters make it a very good spot. The grassy verge leading down to the sand is perfect for picnics Other features include rock-pools and a tidal swimming pool. From the swimming pool, you can float around, looking out through the Sydney Heads. A great view. There is a shower and toilet block but no lifeguards. GETTING THERE: As you head out of the wharf, turn left and follow the coastal path around behind the Manly Art Gallery and the Waterworks until you reach this beach. The path is a part of the much longer Spit Bridge to Manly Walking Trail.
8. Little Manly Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By JElliot32 - New South Wales, Australia
Little Manly Beach is one of the 'other', less well-known beaches in Manly. Unfortunately, can't say it is unknown or even overlooked, as it can be popular, especially on with families on weekends and during school holidays. It is a harbour beach that offers lovely clean water and sand, safe swimming (the water is shallow, there are no waves and part of the beach is enclosed). There are lawns to sit on as well as the beach itself, as well as an excellent kiosk. Parking is tricky, but then the Manly ferry terminal is less than a km away.
9. Forty Baskets Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By 871rebeccan - Dee Why, Australia
A little hidden gem. A beautiful walk to a little beach usually without many others around. Part of the manly to spit walk path. Great spot as no waves for kids to play and swim in the shoreline.
10. Curl Curl Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By ianl136 - Berkhamsted, United Kingdom
Great beach, popular with families and Surfers alike. good Lifesaving station and it has a great cafe if you are hungry
