Mona Vale Rockpool, Mona ValeCredit: Destination NSW
Sydney’s Northern Beaches set the scene for the ultimate seaside holiday.
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Hop on a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and discover a different side of Sydney. Famous for its laid-back lifestyle, the Northern Beaches encompass a 40km stretch of coastline with some of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches. Beyond the sand, there are also of plenty of great cafés, bars, shops, wilderness areas and more to discover. Here are a few highlights to help you plan a memorable visit.
Where to eat
Step off the ferry in Manly and into one of the Northern Beaches’ hottest dining precincts, Manly Wharf. Beyond its ever-popular Wharf Bar, newer openings include Queen Chow for neighbourhood Cantonese, Saké Restaurant and Bar for contemporary Japanese, and El Camino Cantina for Tex-Mex favourites.
In Freshwater to the north, visit the Harbord Diggers, which has been transformed into a huge dining and entertainment precinct. Top chef Giovanni Pilu, of renowned local Sardinian-inspired restaurant Pilu, is behind its Italian trattoria, AquaFresca. There’s also a café from the chef behind Darlinghurst’s Buffalo Dining Club here, and a sleek bar managed by the team at Manly Wharf Hotel.
Up the peninsula, the old Mona Vale Hotel in Mona Vale was reborn as The Park House in 2017. It’s a one-stop shop with a cocktail lounge, craft beer bar, restaurant, pizza kitchen, market stalls, live music, and games for kids. At the region’s northern tip, Palm Beach foodie favourite Barrenjoey House has also had a recent revamp. The new design preserves the character of the century-old building, but makes it a little lighter and brighter, while the menu retains its seafood focus.
Where to drink
Sample a brew from one of Sydney’s original craft beer brands at 4 Pines choose from a rotating selection of beers on the taps. Grab one of the seats along the verandah for views out over the wharf. Or you can try a bloody Mary at Hemingway’s and a crisp white wine at Manly Wine.
Moving up the peninsula, there are plenty of options for a drink along The Strand in Dee Why, but Deck 23 Dee Why is a perennial favourite. Formerly known as Deck Bar, the venue reopened as a Japanese restaurant and bar in late 2020. Further north, on the Pittwater side of Newport, you can find a seat under an umbrella in the sprawling beer garden of The Newport, perhaps after a long lunch at the venue’s high-end brasserie, Bert’s. Another Northern Beaches pub reimagined by the Merivale Group is The Collaroy, an all-day eatery at Collaroy Beach, with sweeping water views from the outdoor terrace.
Where to shop
In Manly, shop for the laid-back beach vibe at one of the many surf stores in The Corso and beyond. Or explore the backstreets and find vintage designs at Sammy and Sid and quirky accessories at Bow + Arrow. The Manly Marketplace pops up on Sydney Road (just off The Corso) every weekend selling local arts and crafts.
The sleepy suburb of Freshwater is one of Sydney’s hidden fashion enclaves. Pick up bohemian pieces at Kivari, high-end kids clothes at Lila and Huxley and international labels at 23 Albert. The Northern Beaches is also a great place to stock up on stylish homewares. Alfresco Emporium in Collaroy is all about Hamptons beachside style, plus there’s a café, kid’s play area and lounge space for grown-ups. If you prefer Scandinavian chic, head to Nordic Fusion in Manly.
Bert's Bar & Brasserie, Newport Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying drinks at Bert's Bar & Brasserie restaurant within The Newport, Newport.
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Bert's Bar & Brasserie, Newport Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying drinks at Bert's Bar & Brasserie restaurant within The Newport, Newport.
4 Pines Truck Bar, Brookvale Credit: Destination NSW
Interior of the 4 Pines Brewing Co. Truck Bar, Brookvale.
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4 Pines Truck Bar, Brookvale Credit: Destination NSW
Interior of the 4 Pines Brewing Co. Truck Bar, Brookvale.
Where to play
The hardest choice you’ll make on the Northern Beaches is which beach to swim at first. Join families at protected Freshwater, surfers at Curl Curl or the rich and famous at Palm Beach. At the southern end of Manly, Shelly Beach is a quiet cove and one of Sydney’s best snorkelling spots. It’s perfect for beginners (as well as beginner scuba divers), with calm waters and almost no ocean swell. Spot schools of fish, harmless wobbegong sharks and — if you’re lucky — turtles.
The Northern Beaches is also threaded with scenic walking and hiking trails. Among the most spectacular is the track to the heritage Barrenjoey Lighthouse (built in 1881) perched atop Barrenjoey Head at the northern tip of Palm Beach. There are two routes to the top, the 3km-return Smugglers Track and the shorter Access Trail. Other popular coastal walks include the Dee Why Headland Walk, which traces the cliffs between Dee Why and North Curl Curl beaches for 1.6km, and the 10km Manly Scenic Walkway (also known as the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk).
Mountain biking is a rapidly growing sport on the Northern Beaches, with plenty of off-road trails to satisfy all skill levels. One of the most popular rides in the area is the 19km circuit around Manly Dam, which is suitable for all skill levels. To learn the ropes or discover some of the region’s more hidden trails, sign up for a tour with Joe’s Mountain Bike Tours, which runs tours at top mountain biking spots across the region.
Where to stay
Spending the night in Manly can feel like being on holiday from the city, even though it’s just a 30-minute ferry ride away. The Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific has well-priced rooms and apartments overlooking the ocean and is just steps away from cafés, restaurants, shops and activities.
Jonah’s at Whale Beach has been a Northern Beaches institution for more than 90 years. The boutique hotel had a complete refurbishment in 2017 and the 11 rooms now feature parquet flooring, textured wallpaper, a neutral colour scheme and rich gold accents. Don’t miss a meal at the award-winning restaurant, washed down with a selection from the 1,600-strong wine list.
Be surrounded by water at The Sands, sitting in between ocean and lagoon on the narrow Narrabeen peninsula. The property has 47 studios, suites and one-bedroom apartments, many with ocean views, as well as a restaurant and bar. You can hire one of the hotel’s bicycles to explore the local area.
Palm Beach, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Dolphins swimming off Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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Palm Beach, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Dolphins swimming off Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Summer in Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views from Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotelpool, Whale Beach, Sydney.
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Summer in Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views from Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotelpool, Whale Beach, Sydney.
Blue Pool, BermaguiCredit: Destination NSW
The scenic Blue Pool on the Bermagui coastline.
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You’ll find spectacular ocean pools dotted along the southern coastline of New South Wales. These handmade pools, fed by the ocean’s waves, are often built into the rocks near beautiful sandy beaches, can be hidden away along the coastline and are enjoyed mostly by locals. Ocean pools are great for kids learning how to swim, lap swimming and for a dip on the days when the waves are a little too big for your liking. Here’s where to find an ocean pool on the coast south of Sydney.
In the Illawarra
You’ll find many spectacular ocean pools in the Illawarra area, from south of the Royal National Park all the way through to the popular seaside town of Kiama. These include lovely pools at Coledale, Bulli, Towradgi, Port Kembla and North Wollongong.
Take the road through the Royal National Park to Stanwell Park and onto Coalcliff Beach, where the ocean pool is set against a dramatic backdrop of the escarpment.
Nuns Pool, at Flagstaff Point in Wollongong, is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to the 1830s. (The title of oldest ocean pool goes to the Bogey Hole in Newcastle, north of Sydney. It was built by convicts in 1819.) Located below the lighthouse, the Nuns Pool (formerly known as Chain Baths and used by the nuns of St Mary’s convent) sits in a small, sheltered cove and is accessed via a narrow path chiselled into the sandstone.
Further south at Kiama, the Blowhole Point Ocean Pool offers a safe swimming spot near the area’s famous blowhole, the largest in the world, on a headland near the town centre. This beautiful, hand-cut pool is an irregular shape and has a varied depth and rock bottom – it was also once a men-only bath. You can also take the 15-minute walk around Kiama Harbour from the blowhole to Black Beach Reserve. Here you can do 50-metre laps in the Olympic-size Continental Ocean Pool.
A 15-minute drive south of Kiama is the tiny coastal town of Gerringong. Head down to Gerringong’s Werri Beach for a swim at Ourie Ocean Pool, at the southern end of the beach. This rectangular pool, carved into a flat rock shelf, has a smooth concrete bottom and is perfect for a summer’s day dip.
Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
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Bulli Rockpool, Bulli Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Bulli Rockpool, Bulli.
Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
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Ourie Pool, Gerringong Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial over Ourie Pool off Werri Beach, Gerringong.
From the Illawarra to the Shoalhaven
Drive an hour further south into the Shoalhaven region and seek out Huskisson Sea Pool at Huskisson. This coastal town has a rich shipbuilding heritage, which you can explore at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum after your swim.
A 45-minute drive south of Huskisson brings you to Mollymook, where you’ll find the South Coast’s famous Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool on the headland south of the beach. There’s also a lovely ocean pool at Ulladulla, a five-minute drive further down the coast.
On the Sapphire Coast
One of the state’s most famous ocean pools is found at Bermagui, a little over five hours by car from Sydney, on the Sapphire Coast. Bermagui’s Blue Pool is revered as one of the prettiest, filled with azure-hued water fading to turquoise and green. At 50 metres long it makes for a great lap-swimming pool and there’s also a shallow wading pool, ideal for kids, just next to the pool.
One of the southernmost ocean pools on the NSW coastline is the Aslings Beach Rock Pool, a hidden gem carved into the pink-and-white cliffs at Aslings Beach in Eden, a six-hour drive from Sydney. It’s only a short walk from town, but its low profile makes it hard to spot from further down the beach. Make your way over the rocks from the beach and take a dip at low tide before the waves have a chance to deposit any seaweed.
Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
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Blue Pool, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
The picturesque Blue Pool situated along the Bermagui coastline.
Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.
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Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.