North Curl Curl, SydneyCredit: Adam Krowitz
Sun setting over North Curl Curl Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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Discover a thrilling new side to Sydney on the city’s Northern Beaches. Immerse in awe-inspiring nature along this exquisite coastline stretching some 30km from Manly north to Palm Beach. Take a cleansing dip in one of the many ocean pools, embark on a mountain biking adventure, or choose from myriad other outdoor pursuits. Here are some exciting activities to try.
Choose your own beach adventure
Relish the variety of options as you take your pick from more than 20 surf beaches alone on the Northern Beaches. Get a buzz riding the waves at Manly, Curl Curl, Narrabeen and beyond, or sign up for a surf lesson with the likes of Manly Surf School to learn the ropes. Introduce your family to a beach you haven’t visited before, such as protected Freshwater; it’s one of more than a dozen northern beaches with an ocean pool. Or channel your inner celebrity at Palm Beach, the most glamorous stretch of sand of them all.
Be awed by the underwater world of Manly
Slip under the waves at one of Sydney’s best snorkelling and scuba diving spots at Shelly Beach. This picturesque cove at the southern end of Manly forms part of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. Strap on a snorkel and head straight out from the beach to marvel at schools of fish, docile wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish and more, or increase your chances of spotting marine critters on an action-packed guided snorkelling tour with Manly Eco Treasures. For a deeper immersion, sign up for a scuba dive, or seize the opportunity to complete a dive course with Pro Dive Manly or Dive Centre Manly — Shelly Beach is one of the most popular places in Sydney to get certified. Or, for something closer to the shore, but just as exciting, check out Manly Waterworks - an iconic outdoor playground bringing the fun since 81'.
Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Views of beachgoers at Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly from the water.
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Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Views of beachgoers at Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly from the water.
Get a buzz exploring biking trails
Indulge a passion for mountain biking on the Northern Beaches, home to off-road trails to satisfy all skill levels. Get your adrenalin pumping on the 19km circuit around Manly Dam, which is suitable for all rider levels. Or find your flow in Bare Creek Bike Park in Belrose, or enjoy a leisurely cycle on the 8.6km Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, with bike hire available from Boomerang Bikes, just inside Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park.
Feel restored on a nature walk
Uncover dozens of scenic walking and hiking trails threading the bushland and sandstone clifftops of the Northern Beaches. Be rewarded with spectacular coastal views from historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, perched atop Barrenjoey Head at the northern tip of Palm Beach, after choosing your route to the top: the 1.6km-return Access Trail or the short but steep Smugglers Track (800m return).
Breathe in the fresh, salty air on the Dee Why Headland Walk, which traces the cliffs between Dee Why and North Curl Curl beaches for 1.6km. Spend a glorious day out on the 10km Manly Scenic Walkway (also known as the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk) at the southern end of the Northern Beaches. Or get a buzz spotting whales (May to November) as you explore the freshly upgraded trails and lookout at North Head. Learn more about these exquisite landscapes and enjoy some good company on your hike on a walking excursion with Go Beyond Tours.
Cycling, Manly Beach Credit: Destination NSW
enjoy a bike ride at Manly Beach on Sydney's northern suburbs.
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Cycling, Manly Beach Credit: Destination NSW
enjoy a bike ride at Manly Beach on Sydney's northern suburbs.
Enjoy a peaceful paddle
Discover calm, protected waters perfect for kayaking at Narrabeen Lagoon in Narrabeen and the azure natural harbour of Pittwater on the western side of the Northern Beaches peninsula. Hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) at Narrabeen Boat Hire (which also rents out small boats that don’t require a licence to operate) and head out to explore the hidden corners of the serene local lagoon, which flows out to Narrabeen Beach. Or embark on a kayaking adventure in Pittwater with the likes of Paddlecraft Pittwater, which offers SUP and kayak hire as well as a range of tours, or Pittwater Kayak Tours, which specialises in guided excursions of the stunning marine ecosystem, fringed by the wilderness of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Prefer sailing? Feel the wind in your hair as your skippered yacht slices through the water.
Take a thrilling seaplane flight
Admire the Northern Beaches from a stunning new perspective on a scenic seaplane adventure. Take off from Rose Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and soar above the peninsula on a flight with Sydney Seaplanes before circling back to Sydney Harbour. Or make a day of it with Sydney by Seaplane, which offers the opportunity to fly to Palm Beach to spend your day as you wish before flying back to Sydney. You can also opt to make the ultimate entrance to a local restaurant such as Barrenjoey House at Palm Beach or Bert’s in Newport as your seaplane transfer touches down on Pittwater.
Allsail Sailing Club and Pittwater Yacht Charter, Church Point Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy a yacht charter experience with Allsail Sailing Club and Pittwater Yacht Charter on Pittwater, Church Point.
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Allsail Sailing Club and Pittwater Yacht Charter, Church Point Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy a yacht charter experience with Allsail Sailing Club and Pittwater Yacht Charter on Pittwater, Church Point.
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.