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Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Photo: Poyt448 Peter Woodard, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Manly is a harbour and ocean-side suburb and locality of Sydney and the southernmost of Sydney's Northern Beaches. It is known for its beaches and for its surfing culture.
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Manly Beach is popular with both visitors and locals alike and is the defining feature of Manly. There are free bathrooms and showers. Plenty of take away food options. Locker hire is available for storing your possessions.
The museum highlights the history of Manly with historical photos, swimming costumes and beach memorabilia.
Sydney Harbour National Park, Scenic Drive, North Head. (bookings essential). Day Tour: Tu Th Sa Su 1:15PM. Adult $11, Concession $7.70. (Catch bus 135 from Stand B at 1:08PM - to meet with tour time) 3 hr tour includes supper. Ghost Tour: 7:30PM (8PM during daylight savings) W $22, F-Su $27.50. Kids Ghost Walk: 6PM (7PM during daylight savings) Fr $13.20, 2 hr tour. Wander through a maze of historic buildings and hear how Sydney was protected from diseases such as smallpox, bubonic plague, cholera and Spanish influenza. For the courageous, join the famous ghost walk conducted at night by kerosene lantern, followed by tea and damper to calm the nerves.
A feeling of isolation with dramatic views over the Pacific Ocean. Whales can be spotted from this park on the clifftops.
Beautiful building dominating the skyline of Manly.
A smaller beach a short walk away from Manly that seems to attract families for the most part. Next to the beach are some walks along the cliffs with some dramatic views.
A clifftop walk with lots of World War II-era military installations.
Victorian Gothic estate and former residence of Edmund Barton, Australia's first prime minister.
Surfboard riding lesson
Sydney's offshore adventure boat company. Departing from Manly wharf daily. Tours from 30 min to 1.5 hr experiencing the thrill and adventure of offshore powerboating. Go swell riding and jumping, see the rugged 100-m (300-ft) cliffs of North Head, WWII gun emplacements and awesome marine wildlife (including whales during migration).
Manly's Shelly Beach (very gentle surf entry, max depth 12 m (40 ft) is often used for open water training dives, but is also a good night diving site. In addition, Manly is used as the launch for several boat operators.
Pro Dive's boat Sealife V (carries 23 divers, equipped with marine toilet) conducts 2 dive day trips leaving Manly Wharf and Rose Bay wharf on weekends and most weekdays; trips are $119 weekends and $99 weekdays if you only hire tanks and weights, or $189 weekends and $149 weekdays with gear hire. PADI certification is available: Open Water from $425.
On Sydney harbour, with Manly Yacht Club for twilight races and weekend club races. Sail training available and casual crew welcome.
Held annually in the first week of October and running for three days of fantastic music.
Usually busy pizza place, with a large wine selection. No BYO.
A South African-themed and based steakhouse serving everything that once grazed or swam, with a few locations in Sydney, as well as South Africa and Dubai. Good place to try kangaroo. Beware of The Challenge. Part of the restaurant overlooks the beach, but fills up quickly in the season.
Ultra-trendy décor with fish and fusion menu, panoramic windows look across the road to Manly Beach.
Café and bar next to Shelly Beach.
Several locally brewed beers on premises. The unique flavours are far removed from the mass produced beers. Food in the form of burgers, chips etc is available.
Rear 63 The Corso. Summer rates $28 dorm bed, $75 twin/double. With dormitory style accommodation or private rooms for the budget conscious traveler.
Stoke Stays
Well-equipped, free internet access available.
Clean comfortable, right by the beach in the heart of Manly.
Motel and serviced apartment beachfront accommodation.
Price varies upon views and noise level. Most rooms have a shared bath, some with a closet-type bath. Try to get one facing North Steyne (the beach) as the noise from the hotel bars can be intrusive.
Run by Novotel over the road from Manly Beach. Great views and location but is a favourite with international sporting teams visiting Sydney.
Hotel accommodation directly opposite Manly Beach.
Dive Centre Manly offers boat dives. PADI dive certification is available: Open Water is $395 mid-week.
By bike
Bikes are permitted on the Manly ferry from the city at no charge, just wheel them on. There are a few different places to hire bikes from in Manly and plenty of tracks to use once you get there.
By car
From the City, Manly is signposted from the north side of the Harbour Bridge. Take the Bridge and then the Manly exit from the Warringah Expressway.
By bus
Bus from the city to Manly is usually a two step affair. First get a 100 to Spit Junction. Change there for a 144 towards Manly.
Hiking
From Spit Junction there is a well marked path that runs along the harbour all the way to Manly. It will take a good 2-3 hours, and refreshments are not readily available.
Manly has two sides, the harbour side and the ocean side. The harbour side has the ferry wharf, and some attractive bay beaches with constructed swimming rockpools and calm netted beaches.
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