A Guide to the Best Things to Do in Manly

Beyond walking down the Corso from the ferry wharf to the beach, what other things to do in Manly should be on your radar? Well, lots in fact, so much that as a Sydneysider I still find new things to do in Manly every time I visit. Read on for my insider’s guide to what I love to see, eat and do in Manly.

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About Manly

When Captain Philip visited in 1788, shortly after arriving in Australia, he encountered some of the local Aboriginal people on landing here.

The Cannalgal and Kayimai people were the custodians of Manly and the northern beaches.

This meeting prompted him to name the area after them. He said, “Their confidence and “manly” behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place.”

Fun fact: The first World Surfing Championships were held at Manly Beach in 1964, establishing its reputation as Australia’s surf capital.

Manly and Bondi go head to head for attention, and they are very different. Many locals feel Manly is more relaxed than Bondi – I agree – the traffic is better too. The Norfolk Island palm trees that line the beach are a lot prettier than the car park fringing Bondi. I mean, I love Bondi too but I could do without the cars!

Best Things to Do in Manly

Most visitors ask “What can I do in Manly besides the beach?” The answer depends on your interests and how much time you have. Whether you’re looking for free family activities, Instagram-worthy walks, adrenaline-pumping water sports, or simply want to eat and shop your way through the day,

I’ve organized everything by type so you can easily plan your perfect Manly experience.

• Free things
• Walks in Manly and the surrounding area
• Activities and tours
• Shopping, eating and drinking

Free things to do in Manly

Wondering how to enjoy Manly without spending money? These free activities offer everything from Instagram-worthy photo spots to educational experiences, proving you can have an amazing day without opening your wallet.

• Head to the free BBQs at Shelly Beach and cook up a feast.
• Take a walk to Freshwater Beach and look for the wormhole, a natural rock formation tunnel that’s great for photos.
• Go snorkelling at Cabbage Tree Bay.
• Have a swim at Fairy Bower Pool.

Fairy Bower Rock Pool and its Sea Nymph Sculpture

• Find some friends and hit the free volleyball courts.
• Follow the Manly Heritage Plaques. They are an excellent way to learn the history of Manly.
• Check out an exhibition at Manly Gallery.
• Walk the Path of Olympians from the wharf to the museum. It honours residents who have represented Australia in the Olympics.

Which Manly Walk Should I Choose?

Choosing the right walk in Manly depends on your fitness level, time available, and what you want to see. Here’s how to pick the perfect coastal walk for your visit, from 15-minute family strolls to challenging 3-hour harbour hikes.

The first, and possibly the most popular, is the Shelly Beach walk. This short 1.5km stroll from The Corso around to Shelly Beach features eleven sculptures that make a fun scavenger hunt for kids. This flat walk only takes 15 minutes and is wheelchair friendly.

Can you find all 11 sculptures along the Manly to Shelly walkway?

The Fairfax Walk, at the North Head Sanctuary is an easy 800m circuit that is also wheelchair friendly. It’s a fabulous spot for whale watching between July and October. Start at the North Scenic Drive carpark.

If you’re up for something longer, Manly has some of Sydney’s best coastal walks. The three most popular longer coastal walks are:

• The Manly to Spit Bridge Walk follows the harbour from Manly Cove Beach to the Spit Bridge. It’s 10km one way and takes about 3 hours.
• North Head Sanctuary Walk is an 8km walk that starts at Shelly Beach and makes its way up to North Head. The views are hard to beat, but it’s also a brilliant choice for those with an interest in military history.
• The whole route of the Manly Coastal Walk is 50km, but you can stop anywhere you like with buses along the route heading back to either Manly or the city.

When you arrive, check out more local walks at the Visitor’s Centre located right outside Manly Wharf for some local advice and free maps.

Best Water Sports and Active Adventures in Manly

Looking to get your heart pumping? Manly’s unique geography offers both calm harbour waters perfect for beginners and surf beaches for experienced water sports enthusiasts.

• Rent a bike. There are lots of bike tracks here – over 20kms worth. You can take an organised electric bike tour or rent a bike for a few hours.
• Rent a kayak and paddle to Store Beach.
• Or do a 4-hour rental and explore further afield.
• Go stand up paddle boarding at Shelly Beach.
• Go snorkelling with a guide.
• Rent a surfboard.
• Take a surfing lesson.
• Check out one of the 15 rock pools along the northern beaches.
• Give your drinking arm a workout on the Northern Exposure Brewery Tour.
• Walk to Forty Baskets Beach.

The beaches of Manly

Here’s what confuses many first-time visitors: when you get off the ferry, you’re not looking at the famous Manly Beach. The beach at the wharf is actually the harbour beach—Little Manly Cove to the east and West Esplanade Beach to the west. Both are great for kids, but the main attraction is a short walk away.

Manly offers both ocean and harbour beaches. The three main sections of the famous beach are Queenscliff, North Steyne and South Steyne.

Ocean beaches

• Manly Beach is the star attraction. 1.5km of golden sand backed by Norfolk pines. It’s patrolled, has good facilities and offers reliable surf.
• Shelly Beach sits around the southern headland and is more sheltered. It’s perfect for snorkelling and families with small kids.
• Freshwater Beach is a 10-minute walk north and tends to be less crowded than Manly.

Harbour beaches

When you arrive at the wharf, you will see the harbour beaches. A short walk to the west past the art gallery will take you to Fairlight and on to the secluded harbour beaches along the Manly to Spit walk.

• East Manly Cove Beach and West Esplanade Beach flank the ferry wharf. They’re calmer than the ocean beach and perfect for young kids.
• Fairlight Beach has a tidal pool and is popular with locals. It’s about a 10-minute walk west from the wharf.

Little Manly Beach and Collins Beach are tucked away and offer more seclusion, especially midweek. Head to the end of East Manly Cove Beach to reach them.

Want more beach fun? Jump on the 199 bus for the 75 minute trip to Palm Beach. Along the way, explore some great Northern Beaches gems.

What Are Manly’s Best Attractions Beyond the Beach?

Beyond the beaches, Manly has some fascinating attractions that most visitors miss. Here’s what is worth your time:

• Q Station – has incredible harbour views and fascinating history. This former quarantine station offers ghost tours that are genuinely spooky, or you can come for the sunset drinks with a view that competes with the Opera House.
• North Head Sanctuary – Come for Sydney’s best harbour views without the crowds. The old military tunnels and gun emplacements are fascinating for history buffs, and it’s prime whale-watching territory from June to November.
• Four Pines Brewery is ideal for a post-beach beer. Their Pale Ale is excellent and the venue has a relaxed vibe right opposite the ferry terminal. You can also join a northern beaches brewery tour that includes several local breweries.
• Manly Distillery – If you’re into spirits, their gin tastings are brilliant. The “Marine Botanical Gin” really does taste like the ocean in the best possible way.
• Manly Art Gallery is small but worth a visit if you need a break from the sun. They often have local artists’ work and photography exhibitions featuring the Northern Beaches.

Shopping in Manly

Manly’s main shopping strip, the Corso, runs straight from the ferry wharf to the beach. You’ll find everything from quality surfwear to independent bookshops, not just tourist items. With over 200 shops in the area, it’s perfect for browsing between beach sessions.

What to look for:

• Surfwear and beachwear – Several quality surf shops with brands like Billabong and Rip Curl
• Independent bookshops – Great for picking up something to read on the beach
• Local fashion boutiques – More interesting than chain stores
• Coles supermarket and BWS – Convenient for putting together a beach picnic or grabbing drinks

The Corso in Manly was named after Rome’s Via Del Corso.

On weekends, the markets in Market Place (parallel to the Corso) have local crafts, jewellery and food. They’re small but worth a browse if you’re around on Saturday or Sunday.

Where to eat in Manly

Manly has brilliant food options, from beachfront cafes to proper restaurants. Rather than overwhelm you with every cafe and restaurant (there are over 120), here are my tested favourites organized by meal type.

Our favourite spots for breakfast in Manly

• The Bower – Prime people-watching spot overlooking Fairy Bower pool. The coconut Bircher muesli is excellent and the coffee is among Manly’s best.
• The Pantry – Right on Manly Beach with stunning ocean views. Their muesli and fresh fruit breakfast is exceptional, and you can watch the waves while you eat.
• Bella Vista Cafe – The perfect spot for breakfast after a hike around North Head. The view alone is worth the trip.

Where I head for lunch in Manly

• The Boathouse Classic beach food done well with harbour views. The fish tacos are excellent, and the Shelly Beach Salad (cabbage, kale, carrot, zucchini, bean sprouts, crispy noodles with sesame dressing) is fresh and filling.
• Fika the Cafe Light-filled Nordic cafe with excellent bakery treats. The skagen toast (Swedish shrimp salad on toast) is light and fresh, and their cheese buns are worth trying. Perfect for a relaxed lunch with Scandinavian flair.
• Fishmongers Manly Outstanding fresh seafood that puts most fish and chip shops to shame. The calamari is incredibly tender and fresh, the battered flathead comes with crispy homemade chips, and their grilled salmon is perfectly flaky. The light tempura batter and homemade tartar sauce make this a standout.

Our top picks for dinner in Manly

• Hugos Manly offers Italian dishes and pizzas right on the wharf with iconic harbour views. The burrata with eggplant is perfect for sharing, I also enjoy the ceviche, and their pasta with crab is excellent. Book ahead for dinner, especially weekends.
• Felons Manly Come for the harbour views, solid pub food and great week day deals. Perfectly positioned for catching the ferry home.
• The Herring Room is a great special occasion option. This seafood restaurant combines exceptional quality with attentive service. The crispy NZ whole baby red snapper with ginger and sweet soy glaze is outstanding, perhaps the best fish dish I have had. I also recommend the braised Tasmanian octopusand the banana rum baba for dessert.

Where to drink in Manly

• North Steyne Classic pub downstairs with a trendy rooftop bar above. Something for everyone, with an old school pub on the outside and ground floor, and a funky rooftop area above.
• Hemingway’s – Drink surrounded by books with ocean views. Perfect for a quieter drink.
• 4 Pines Brewing Company Local brewery right opposite the ferry wharf. Try their tasting paddles if you have difficulty deciding.

How Do I Get to Manly from Sydney CBD?

Most visitors don’t realize that Manly is actually faster to reach from Sydney CBD than Bondi Beach. The ferry journey isn’t just transport—it’s one of Sydney’s best sightseeing experiences. Here’s exactly how to get there and which transport option saves you both time and money.

Journey times from Sydney CBD:

• Ferry: 25-30 minutes from Circular Quay (the scenic route)
• Bus: 50+ minutes from Wynyard with at least one transfer
• Car/Uber: 30 minutes in perfect traffic, but often much longer. Plus, parking is expensive and limited.

Everything you need to know about the Manly Ferries

Multiple ferry companies run services to Manly, which can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right service for your trip:

Public Manly Ferry

The F1 route runs direct from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf in 30 minutes. Look out for the original ferries (Queenscliff, Narrabeen, Collaroy or Freshwater) rather than the newer Emerald Class—they’re much more comfortable, especially in rough weather.

Timetable: First ferry 5:30am, last ferry 11pm. Ferries run roughly every 30 minutes during the day.

Private ferries to Manly

These are faster (20 minutes vs 30) but cost a bit more than public ferries.

Manly Fast Ferries runs services between Manly and Circular Quay.

• Darling Harbour to Manly via Circular Quay and Taronga Zoo

Captain Cook Ferries offers two direct services to Manly:

• Manly to Barangaroo
• Manly to Watsons Bay – Perfect if you want to combine Manly with Watsons Bay in one day

Payment: Both accept Opal cards or contactless payment. Manly Fast Ferry fares are the same price as public ferries and count towards weekly Opal caps, while Captain Cook fares are slightly more expensive and don’t count towards daily caps.

Find even more things to do in Sydney on our list of 75 things to do for free in Sydney

Where to sleep in Manly

Manly has solid accommodation options, from beachfront hotels to budget hostels. Here are three standouts that offer great value and location:

Peppers Manly Beach Hotel

Peppers is directly opposite the southern end of Manly Beach. You are surrounded by dining options and just a short walk around to family friendly Shelly Beach.

We have stayed here twice and enjoyed both the location and the service. We had an ocean facing apartment and found it difficult to leave!

Location: 8-13 South Steyne, Manly
Room types: studio and one-bedroom apartments can accommodate four people.
Facilities: 2 swimming pools and a spa pool, a handy guest laundry

Manly Pacific Sydney MGallery Collection

The Manly Pacific Sydney MGallery Collection is Manly’s premium option. It sits opposite the ocean beach and offers 213 rooms, a mix of Coastal Suites, Sun Lounger one-bedroom apartments, hotel rooms and for special occasions the Infinity Residence, a 177 sqm apartment which may be the best beach front hotel residence in Sydney.

The property has three restaurants onsite; 55 North, Bistro Manly and Tokyo Joe. There is also a rooftop bar and pool. There is a strong focus on health and wellness with surfing lessons, kayaking, boot camps, beach yoga, facials, massages and cryotherapy all available to guests.

Location: 55 North Steyne Road, Manly,
Room types: Studio and one and two-bedroom apartments 1-4 guests.
Facilities: Rooftop swimming pool

Stoke Beach House

If you’re a budget or solo traveller and want a social hostel experience without sacrificing comfort, Stoke Beach House is your best option. It’s 18+ only and just one street back from both the beach and ferry wharf.

This isn’t your typical backpackers, the pod-style bunks have individual lights, charging stations and fan. There is also free continental breakfast, beach cruiser bikes and surfboards. The communal areas close at 11pm, so you get some sleep.

Location: Just off the Corso, Manly
Room types: Pod-style dorms and private twin rooms
Facilities: Free breakfast, bike hire, surfboards, modern kitchen and lounge

Want to decide yourself if Manly to Bondi is Sydney’s best beach? Check out our Bondi Guide before your visit.

We also recommend this guide for visiting beaches in Sydney by public transport if you want to explore further.