Sydney is a great tourist destination with many attractions. However, one of the most popular things to do is explore the beaches.
There are plenty of options for both families and couples, so it’s easy to find one that suits you best! Here are some of our favourite Sydney beaches: Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, Cronulla Beach, Palm Beach.
This blog post will be about exploring Sydney’s beaches in case you’re not sure which would be perfect for you! So explore all these amazing places with your partner or your family and enjoy your time in this beautiful city!.
Some beaches also offer inviting saltwater beach pools. Kayaking, snorkelling, SCUBA diving, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), and fishing are other popular things to do. Surfing is another top sport along Sydney’s coast, with fantastic breaks for all abilities.
If relaxing is high on the agenda, Sydney has plenty of picturesque slices of coast where you can lay out a towel and soak up some rays, or plop down with a picnic or some fresh-cooked fish ‘n’ chips.
We have compiled a list of the top 7 beaches that we feel best to represent what Sydney has to offer as far as its beauty and culture go.
Which one will you visit?
1. Bondi Beach
The day begins early at Bondi Beach. As glorious sunrise edges above the ocean horizon, surfers gracefully carve up waves, joggers limber up on the promenade, and swimmers flip turn in Bondi Baths.
Hands down, Bondi is a favourite for best city beach; in fact, it’s one of the closest beaches to Sydney’s CBD, and its fame lands it on the list of the top beaches in Australia.
The famous beach is buzzing from dawn to dusk, and then Bondi’s night-time scene sparkles.
About 15 minutes by car or bus from the city centre, it’s a great spot to trade the hum of traffic for the soothing slosh of surf-Bondi comes from an aboriginal word meaning “noise of water breaking over rocks.”
The beautiful sandy beach is perfect for travel snaps or selfies at any time of the year. Just 8km from the city centre, Bondi is easy to get to by public transport – the trip from Town Hall is 30 minutes.
Or you can take a scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay for a connecting bus to Bondi.
The main beach area is in front of the Bondi Pavilion. So roll out your beach towel and soak up Sydney’s laid-back beach lifestyle and enjoy a dip between the red and yellow flags.
Professional lifeguards patrol Bondi Beach 365 days a year.
People-watching is a top perk here. Bondi’s beachfront promenade buzzes with laid-back locals, globe-trotting tourists, and crowds of fun-loving backpackers, and if you love shopping, you can browse the market stalls along the beachfront every Sunday.
You can learn to surf year-round at one of the accredited surf schools. Then, experienced surfers head to the beach’s southern end, where southerly swells and a rocky reef create powerful waves. On adjacent Campbell Parade, you’ll find shops selling surf gear and swimwear. Surfboard hire is also available.
At the southern end of the beach on the rocky headland is the iconic Bondi Icebergs, one of Australia’s oldest swimming clubs; it gets its name from diving in the middle of winter when the water is arctic-cold.
The 50-metre pool and wading pool for kids are open to the public. Visitors are also welcome at the bar and restaurant.
Swimmers should beware of “Backpackers Rip,” a dangerous riptide at the southern end of the beach, which also provides much of the drama for the Aussie reality hit TV show Bondi Rescue.
Those who want to don their cap and goggles for some severe laps can opt for the Bondi Baths at Iceberg’s. This oceanfront pool has been a famous Sydney swimming spot for more than a century, with a 50-meter Olympic pool and a smaller pool for children.
Between May and November, spot whales during their annual migration from one of the spectacular vantage points along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, a 6km trail that links four beaches. In late spring, the cliffs of the coastal walk are transformed as Sculpture by the Sea, the world’s largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition.
A year-round events calendar highlights the festivals, activities, and attractions held in Bondi throughout the year, including the Festival of the Winds, a kite festival on the beach, the Bondi Beach Latin American Festival and Flickerfest, a short film festival at Bondi Pavilion.
There are delicious places to eat, from beachside cafes and ice cream parlours to hip bars and fine dining restaurants with great views.
Speedo’s Café in North Bondi was crowned the world’s most Instagrammable café, and nearby is pretty Biddigal Reserve, affectionately known to locals as the grassy knoll, which has accessible BBQ facilities and priceless views across the beach.
When you want a little exercise out of the water, you can admire the beautiful scenery along the Bondi to Coogee Walk, one of Sydney’s best coastal walks, which winds its way along the sandstone cliffs past Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly Beach, as well as famous cafés and restaurants.
The walk takes about an hour but allows more time so that you can soak up the gorgeous views along the way.
2. Manly Beach
Besides Bondi, Manly is one of Sydney’s most famous beaches, and if you’re based in the city, getting here is part of the fun.
Hop on a ferry from Circular Quay, chug past the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and in 30 minutes, you can be surfing the swells and basking on its golden sands.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Manly Beach. Whether you want to spread a towel out and enjoy the soft white sand all day, surf its waves or explore its depths while snorkelling or diving, there’s something for everyone.
It also makes an excellent backdrop for picnics or walking and cycle tracks for those who prefer to look at it.
Manly is where the world’s first surfing contest was held in 1964, making it one of Australia’s most famous beaches.
The iconic beach curves from South Steyne to North Steyne and Queenscliff, where a submerged reef, or bombora, creates the waves that inspire the world’s best surfers to travel to our shores.
Just south of Manly is Shelly Beach and to the north is Freshwater Beach, where Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku popularised surfboard riding in the summer of 1914-15.
Manly and Freshwater form a National Surfing Reserve and are a famous breeding ground for world champions like Barton Lynch and Layne Beachley.
If you want to follow in the wake of Australia’s surfing champions, sign up for surf lessons with Manly Surf School or Manly Surf Guide.
For something a little calmer, snorkel or dive the crystal-clear waters of Cabbage Tree Bay, an aquatic reserve teeming with colourful fish, near Shelly Beach, with Dive Centre Manly or EcoTreasures.
You can also enjoy the beach without getting into the water. Picnic on the promenade under towering Norfolk Pine trees or DIY BBQ at Shelly Beach, take in the view on the 10km Manly to Spit Bridge walk, cruise the coastline with Manly Bike Tours and Hire or sign up for other fun tours which showcase the area’s beauty.
If you want a beach in the heart of the action, Manly makes a great base, with plenty of shops, restaurants, activities, and attractions nearby. You can rollerblade and bike along the beach; relax at one of the many cafés; and browse the shops along The Corso, a pedestrian-only shopping mall.
It’s an Aussie tradition to buy takeaway fish ‘n’ chips and savour them on the soft sand while soaking up the laid-back beach lifestyle and watching surfers gracefully manoeuvre on the waves. Any spots around the Corso will oblige; be careful to safeguard your dinner from hungry seagulls.
Beginner surfers also love Manly. Swells are usually consistent, and if you need some tips from the experts, you’ll find surf schools here, as well as board rentals along the beach.
Manly is also a top spot for families. Kids can swim in the netted beach pool, visit the Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary, slurp some gelato, and feast on fresh-cooked fish and chips. Quest Manly is a great place to stay with the kids, with fully serviced apartments, just a short stroll from the surf.
Hop on a ferry at Circular Quay and glide across one of the world’s excellent natural harbours to Manly. It’s a leisurely 30-minute ride but even shorter if you catch a fast ferry.
Then hop off at the pier for a short walk to the beach along the Corso, a lively shopping and pedestrian boulevard. Or take the Manly Scenic Walkway from Mosman.
3. Palm Beach
There’s a reason that Palm Beach doubles up as the setting for Summer Bay, the fictional beach in the TV show Home & Away; the golden sand and sparkling blue sea make it look too good to be true.
But there’s more than just sea and sand here; explore Barrenjoey Head, Sydney’s northernmost seaside point and lots more.
The beach sits on a peninsula between Pittwater and Broken Bay, about a 50-minute drive from the city centre, but this distance from the city means Palm Beach has some of the best water quality of all Sydney beaches.
Palmy is overflowing with beautiful big mansions, and it’s easy to see why when the scenery strikes you as you drive in; rolling pale blue waves crashing on rich golden sand, overlooking dunes, with Barrenjoey Lighthouse standing sentinel on the peninsula.
What makes Palm Beach, a narrow peninsula, so spectacular is its unbeatable location. It won nature’s lottery and is surrounded by water on three sides: Pittwater to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, and Broken Bay to the north at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River, which meanders inland to historic Windsor.
If you’re planning on spending the day at Palmy, as the locals call it, bring your board because you’ll enjoy excellent surf at the northern end of the beach.
The southern end is more lo-fi, offering less active beachgoers a protected area for swimming in the ocean pool and pretty picnic spots under the pine trees.
You’ll find things to do for all ages here. The south side is a perfect spot for picnics. Kids can splash about in the calm water, swim in the 35-meter ocean pool, and build sandcastles along the shore.
On the north side, the waves are great for surfing, and this is an excellent spot to teach the kids how to ride a wave. If fishing is your favourite pastime, you can cast a line off Palm Beach Wharf. Another popular thing to do here is the hike to the beautiful lighthouse-topped Barrenjoey Head.
Palm Beach curves 2.3km, from Little Head to Barrenjoey Head.
Follow the trail to heritage-listed Barrenjoey Lighthouse, which boasts splendid views of the coast, Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. You can get there via the Palm Beach ferry, which lands at the Basin campground or head to Ettalong on the Central Coast via Broken Bay.
Other activities include kayaking with Pittwater Kayak Tours, sailing with Taylor Made Escapes and a nature tour with EcoTreasures.
Visit the locations where Home & Away is filmed with Flamin’ Galah Sydney Tours or Sydney’s Northern Beaches Tours. Play a nine-hole game at Palm Beach Golf Course or shop at the monthly Palm Beach Market.
Palm Beach also attracts many artists, actors, and affluent Sydneysiders, and the upscale cafés and restaurants here offer prime people-watching.
When this much water surrounds you, it makes sense to savour seafood.
The fish ‘n chips at the original Boathouse Palm Beach is legendary; Barrenjoey House is a slightly more upmarket affair, and if you want to go on full-on fine dining, head up to nearby Whale Beach to eat at the acclaimed Jonah’s.
For a bite to eat, head to The Boathouse on the Pittwater side of North Palm Beach, right on the seaplane jetty, and while you munch, enjoy scenic views of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park across the water.
Palm Beach may look far on the map, but it’s only 90 minutes by public transport from the city centre. If you want to slice that time to about 20 minutes, take a seaplane from Rose Bay.
If you feel like making a weekend of it, there is a delightful range of boutique beachside accommodation.
4. Balmoral Beach
Close to the city, Balmoral Beach is fabulous for families. Calm waters lap this harbour beach, and a shark net ensures safe swimming.
This is one of the jewels of Sydney’s beach scene, and you can easily see why.
Balmoral Beach is as expansive as most of the city’s ocean beaches, but its harbourside position means it’s shielded from winds and big waves. Hence, the calm waters provide a sheltered swimming enclosure and lovely picnic spots.
You won’t be bored here; there are enough attractions to keep you occupied the whole day, including snorkelling, kayaking and sailing.
Learn to sail with Balmoral Sailing School or hire kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the sheltered bay. Scuba diving tours are also available.
The Sydney Harbour National Park is a great spot to go on one of the area’s many foreshore trails. For example, the Balmoral Beach to Middle Head track introduces you to colonial fortifications and stunning views of The Heads – the harbour’s entrance. You can also walk along the foreshore to Taronga Zoo.
Nearby is Sirius Cove, named after the First Fleet flagship and one of Sydney’s well-kept secrets with a charming beach and reserve. The cove is culturally significant – artists Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts camped on the eastern side at various times in the late 1800s and painted some great works here.
The heritage-listed Bathers’ Pavilion is adjacent to the beach. Built-in the late 1920s, it has recently had a multi-million dollar renovation. It is home to an acclaimed fine-dining restaurant complete with a chef’s table for 12, a more casual restaurant, plus an upscale rooftop champagne bar.
The Boathouse Balmoral Beach is also right on the water and is a more casual option, but be prepared to queue.
There’s a reason that people are happy to line up for takeaway fish ‘n chips at the Bottom of the Harbour Seafoods. You can also BYO picnic hamper and relax in the pretty parklands next to the beach.
You’ll also find plenty of cafés nearby, as well as idyllic picnic spots in the adjacent parkland for when little bellies start to rumble. Gazing out over the blue-green water, you can see yachts bobbing on the glassy surface and the Sydney Heads looming beyond.
Getting to Balmoral Beach is accessible by public transport. Hop on a ferry at Circular Quay and glide across the sparkling harbour to Taronga Zoo in Mosman for a connecting bus. The total trip takes about 30 minutes.
5. Coogee Beach
Coogee Beach is a popular family destination. The beach is patrolled; there are four calm ocean pools, seaside playgrounds and parks with barbecue facilities. Families with young children are drawn by the flat surf conditions and seawater pools that make it easy to keep an eye on kids.
One of the most popular of the South Sydney beaches, Coogee Beach has something for everyone. Thanks to Wedding Cake Island, families love the typically calm waters, which shelter them from larger swells.
Three of the oceans pools can be found at the southern end of the beach. McIvers Baths, built-in 1886, is Australia’s last remaining seawater pool for women and children only.
Wylie’s Baths is a tidal pool with an elevated timber deck, and Ross Jones Memorial Pool is known for its castle-like turrets jutting out from the concrete pool walls.
In 1886, McIver’s Baths at Coogee Beach were the only seawater pool in Australia reserved for women. Female swimmers (and children) can paddle here in privacy and unwind afterwards with a relaxing massage overlooking the beach.
Farther along the beach, Wylie’s Baths are tidal pools with a small admission fee.
Giles Bath is a natural rock pool with great ocean views that can be found at the foot of the northern headland. Access is via the coastal walkway near the Bali Memorial at Dolphins Point, or, in low tide, you can walk along the rocky foreshore from Coogee Beach.
You can see Wedding Cake Island, made famous by rock band Midnight Oil’s eponymous instrumental, just off the south end of Coogee. It’s 1km out to sea, and the rocky outcrop is what protects the beach from most swells. The relatively calm waters are a gift to snorkelers and scuba divers who want to explore the underwater world.
You can walk from Coogee’s northern headland to Gordons Bay, another excellent snorkelling and diving spot. It’s a hidden oasis that is only accessible to pedestrians and happens to be one of the prettiest bays in town. Sydney Underwater Scooter Tours offers terrific underwater experiences in the bay.
Across from the main beach, Goldstein Reserve is perfectly positioned if you want a pretty spot to eat your takeaway fish and chips. Grant Reserve on the southern end of the beach is popular with families thanks to picnic tables, barbecues and a ship-shaped playground to entertain them.
For something more grown-up, head to Coogee Pavilion‘s rooftop for a drink overlooking the ocean before enjoying the punchy flavours of South East Asian cuisine at Sugarcane or head to one of the delightful local cafes, such as Barzura, Rosie’s and The Lion and Buffalo.
Picnickers love the seaside parks, hipsters love the nearby restaurants and cafés, and swimmers love doing laps in the ocean-fed pools.
Getting to this beautiful beach by public transport is easy. You can hop on a bus at Circular Quay or Central Station for Coogee or take a train to Bondi Junction for a connecting bus. Alternatively, you can arrive at the beach on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, a 6km trail with spectacular views.
6. Cronulla Beach
Besides fantastic surfing, Cronulla‘s claim to fame is that it’s the only beach in Sydney accessible by train, which means no parking hassles on hot summer days.
Whether you want to spend the day relaxing on a soft, sandy beach or riding world-class surf breaks to get your adrenaline pumping, Cronulla has something for you.
There’s a reason that this beautiful stretch of coastline attracts sunbakers, swimmers and surfers in equal measure as well as local wildlife, including dolphins.
The beach culture here is an inclusive one that welcomes all ages and abilities. So whether you’re here for a picnic in pretty parklands by the Esplanade, to spot turtles and dolphins frolicking by the shore, to take part in a life-saving surf event or even harbouring hopes to become the next world surfing champion, then you’re in the right place.
A seaside path connects Cronulla Beach to North Cronulla Beach, creating one large swathe of coastline.
This stretch of coast combines four famous beaches, including Cronulla Beach (also called South Cronulla), North Cronulla, Wanda, and Eloura.
Cronulla Beach has an exposed beach break with decent waves year-round and surf lifesavers patrol in every season. Swimmers will also enjoy this beach, and you can explore rock pools between here and North Cronulla Beach.
From North Cronulla, you can walk along the sand to the smaller Elouera Beach and Wanda Beach. Cronulla’s beaches are National Surfing Reserves, part of a register of iconic surfing locations in Australia.
This is where former world champion surfer Mark Occhilupo learnt how to surf, and so can you. Lessons are available at several venues, including Surfing Cronulla Surfschool, Cronulla Surfing Academy or Bodyboard Academy, which offer classes for children and adults at all levels.
You’ll find plenty more things to do, from stand-up paddleboarding to snorkelling. Go swimming in the rock pools along the Esplanade at the north and south ends of Cronulla Beach if you fancy calmer waters or discover what lies beneath. See why divers make a beeline for the crystal-clear waters off Oak Park Beach.
Cronulla Wharf is the launching pad for the ferry, which will take you to pretty Bundeena and the Royal National Park. Nearby Gunnamatta Park has plenty of shade, barbecue facilities, a children’s playground and an enclosed swimming area, making it popular with families looking for a fun day out.
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from, including the Greek-leaning Ham café, Blackwood Pantry, which serves craft beer alongside contemporary café fare, upscale Thai at Alphabet St and Middle Eastern food and live music at the Brass Monkey, a local institution.
Another highlight is the multicultural café scene, offering everything from Lebanese food and gelato to good ol’ fish and chips. Of course, you’ll also find plenty of shops selling surf gear and equipment.
For those that expect an ocean view with their meal, Summer Salt Restaurant, Zimzala Restaurant and Sealevel all offer modern Australian fare with a focus on seafood as well as fantastic vistas over the water.
For something more casual, pick up fish ‘n chips at one of the many takeaway places and eat them on the sand.
7. Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach is located in Manly and forms part of Cabbage Tree Bay, a protected marine reserve adjacent to North Head and Fairy Bower.
With a maximum depth of approximately 12 metres, Shelly Beach has become popular with Scuba Divers and Snorkelers alike with a large variety of marine life that can be viewed in relatively shallow water.
If you’re looking for a relatively quiet beach experience near Manly, head to picturesque Shelly Beach, one of the best beaches north of Sydney.
Take a walk around the bush track which hugs the headland offering spectacular views of North Head and the Northern Beaches.
A 20-minute walk from The Corso, Manly’s pedestrian-only shopping mall, around Cabbage Tree Bay, this lovely sheltered cove is a peaceful spot to paddle, surrounded by a nature reserve.
It’s also the only west-facing beach along the Sydney coast, making it a perfect spot to watch a seaside sunset.
Shelly Beach has showers, toilets and a cafe, along with two free electric barbeques, perfect for that family picnic. For a more formal dining option, there is a cafe on the beach named The Boathouse.
Shelly Beach is also one of the best places to snorkel and SCUBA dive from the beach in Sydney. The calm waters are part of a no-take aquatic reserve, which protects a diversity of marine life.
Don a snorkel and mask, and you might see blue groper, wobbegong sharks, cuttlefish, and even sea dragons darting among the kelp and seagrass beds.
When hunger strikes, you can grab a bite to eat at The Boathouse Shelly Beach, an upscale café/restaurant is overlooking the bay. You’ll also find picnic benches, showers, and drinking fountains along the beach.
Shelly Beach has a pay and displays ticketed car park available during daylight hours.