Top 9 Beaches in Sydney

Manly Beach in northern Sydney. (Maurizio De Mattei/Shutterstock)

Sydney has more than 100 beaches.

Stretching from Palm Beach in the north to Garie Beach in the south, there are a huge variety of swimming spots which range from a few metres through to several kilometres along the city’s Pacific Ocean coastline and its harbours, bays, and rivers.

So where to go?

As a born and bred Sydneysider with a penchant for a short board and a clean swell, here are my tips for the best Sydney water experiences.

1. North Narrabeen

Best beach for surfing with a shortboard.

This beach that earned a place in the Beach Boys’ Surfin’ USA is the domain of the shortboarder where the waves roll in with perfection but be warned, for North Narrabeen is a beach that belongs to the locals, and woe betide the unwary outsider who dares to trespass upon their hallowed shores.

Indeed, the very logo of the local board riders club, a skull and crossbones, serves as a testament to the territorial nature of these aquatic aficionados. If you seek the perfect waves for your trusty shortboard, head south to Long Reef for some great peeling waves in a south swell and locals that are much more tame than their Northern cousins.

2. Tamarama

Best beach for the social scene.

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Tamarama, the so-called “Glama-rama,” where the beautiful people congregate to preen and posture, their egos as inflated as their swimwear.

Just 80 metres of shoreline and ever present rips give it the label of the most dangerous patrolled beach in NSW, but who goes there to swim? The only thing the glama-ramas are in danger of is a severe case of self-absorption.

Tamarama surf view. (Courtesy of Luxico)

3. Balmoral Beach

Best beach for families.

Here, children frolic in the shallows, their parents keeping a watchful eye while sipping on overpriced lattes and nibbling on artisanal fish and chips.

Set in one of Sydney’s more expensive neighbourhoods, Balmoral offers a netted swimming area, shallow rockpools, a great playground, a gorgeous promenade, lots of grassy areas, and great cafes.

4. Quarantine Beach, Manly

The Q Station is where the ghosts of the past linger.

From the 1830s to 1984, it served as a quarantine facility, housing passengers from ships suspected of carrying diseases such as the Spanish flu, smallpox, and the dreaded bubonic plague.

Tragically, over 500 souls perished within its walls, their restless spirits now said to haunt the very grounds they once occupied.

The Manly ferry service arriving at Manly Wharf. (Courtesy of Destination NSW)

Yet, today, it stands as a luxurious resort and restaurant, sprawled across 30 hectares of protected land with its own beach and also, just a mere five minutes from Manly Beach.

5. Palm Beach

Best filmset beach.

A number of films and TV shows have been filmed on the shores of “Palmy,” with Home and Away being the longest running series currently on air and which is filmed at Palm Beach. You may also spot your favourite actors from the show.

It’s also very much a socialite beach with holidayers over summer including everyone from Nicole Kidman to the Rolling Stones, One Direction, and the Hemsworths.

Couple enjoying a scenic coastal hike on the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk in Palm Beach, Sydney. (Courtesy of Destination NSW)

6. Seven Shillings Beach

Best harbour beach.

Tucked away between the affluent enclaves of Double Bay and Point Piper lies a strip of sand that offers a hidden vantage point for breathtaking views of the Harbour Bridge, with a seawall backdrop providing natural protection.

There’s a nearby harbour pool with a surrounding boardwalk that serves as the perfect stage for the see-and-be-seen crowd to lounge and soak up the sun.

7. Coogee Beach

Best beach for ocean tidal pools.

Just a stone’s throw from Coogee Beach, Wylie’s Baths shows off with its breathtaking ocean tidal pool, its sweeping 180-degree vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the renowned Wedding Cake Island serving as a stunning backdrop for the casual swimmer, the dedicated lap-swimmer, and the sun-worshipper alike.

8. Whale Beach

Best beach accommodation.

For those seeking the epitome of a beachside retreat, Jonah’s stands as an idyllic hillside sanctuary overlooking the awe-inspiring beauty of Whale Beach.

Whether arriving via the scenic 20-minute flight from Rose Bay Water Airport with Sydney Seaplanes or opting for the picturesque hour-long drive from the city centre, accessibility is a mere detail in this coastal haven.

Indulge in a delectable lunch, an elegant dinner, or extend your stay overnight to fully immerse in the splendour of Jonah’s.

Adults enjoying a learn to surf experience with Manly Surf School at Freshwater Beach. (Courtesy of Destination NSW)

9. Cabbage Tree Bay/Shelly Beach

Best beach to snorkel.

Snorkellers will be transported to an aquatic utopia spanning some 20 hectares between Manly Beach and the rugged Shelly Beach Headland.

Here, beneath the crystalline waters, visibility reigns supreme, unveiling a cornucopia of marine marvels rivalling even the illustrious Great Barrier Reef.

Encounter the unassuming flounder and flathead to the mysterious old wives and fiddler rays. And should fortune smile, you might chance upon the graceful Port Jackson shark or the elusive wobbegong, while between the months of January and June, the enchanting presence of juvenile dusky whalers graces these pristine waters.