Manly is the Beach. And More.

Beach Culture: One of the first seaside resorts to allow daylight swimming and surfing back in 1903, Manly offers the unique combination of wide ocean beaches on one side and serene sandy harbour coves on the other. 

Try the oceanside surfing beaches and coves of Manly for active water sports: surfing, windsurfing, parasailing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Or simply sunbathe, take a dip in one of the saltwater swimming pools or swim off the patrolled beaches.

Manly's Attractions

Oceanworld Manly: Home to sharks, giant stingrays, turtles, seals, living coral and thousands of marine animals. See daily seal shows and watch from the underground tunnel as divers hand-feed the sharks.

History, Museums & Galleries: Visit the Manly Art Gallery and Museum, one of New South Wales' major regional galleries, to view the permanent historical exhibitions and regularly-changing displays of Australian art and pottery. On Manly wharf, take a ride on the colourful old-fashioned carousel or ferris wheel.

Events and Festivals

Beach Action: Manly is home to surfboard championships, surf lifesaving carnivals, volleyball tournaments, fun runs and the spectacularly gruelling 'Ironman' competition.

Food & Wine: In June, the Manly Food and Wine Festival showcases Manly's own diverse array of ethnic cuisines, along with the best from the wineries of New South Wales.

Art & Jazz: The annual Arts Festival, a showcase of visual and performance arts, opens in September and culminates in October with the Manly International Jazz Festival. Three days and nights of jazz on the sea in six separate stages.

Manly's Natural Beauty

Native Bushland no North Head is little changes since Captain Cook sailed by in 1770. It is the perfect place to enjoy spectacular views of the entrance to Sydney Harbour and the city Skyline.

Walks and Tours: Experience the famous Manly Scenic Walkway, from Manly to Spit Bridge, Middle Harbour. A 10km (3hr) trek on an established path through native bush with spectacular ever changing harbour views. Enjoy the informal stroll and scenic views from Manly , along the ocean front promenade passing Fairy Bower, around to Shelly Beach.

Eating Out

Cuisines of the World: Manly can be a gastronomic odyssey. The cosmopolitan diner can choose from over 60 restaurants and cafes, with cuisines originating from all over Asia, Africa, Japan, the Mediterranean, Europe and the Americas.

And of course, the local cuisine combines international influences with fresh Australian Produce, particularly seafood, a distinctive style which is now highly regarded worldwide.