Sydney Harbour Beaches

Sydney Harbour Map

The waterfront on Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) stretches two hundred and forty kilometres. Along it there are numerous beaches that are safe to enjoy for a swim, as there is very little surf or strong currents. They also have shark nets to protect swimmers, there are also rock pools that you may wish to use for lap swimming.

Harbour Beaches

North Harbour Aquatic Reserve

Those keen on snorkelling and diving, may wish to check out the North Harbour Aquatic Reserve. Accessible from North Head Quarantine Station Beach in Manly. There are other harbour beaches there, see below.

Beaches at Manly (North of Sydney Harbour)

Manly, a thirty minute trip from the city by ferry from Circular Quay has harbourside beaches, including Little Manly Beach, North Head Quarantine Station Beach and Chinamans Beach, as well as the beaches that are on both sides of the ferry wharf.

Within a short distance west from Manly Wharf along the Harbour Foreshore Walk, is Fairlight Beach. Dobroyd Head at Balgowlah Heights is on the other side of the waters with Lady Jane Beach, a nudist beach.

There are a number of ocean beaches at Manly as well, only a short walk from the harbourside wharf where the ferries from the city stop. A five minute walk east towards the ocean on the Corso will get you to the beaches of Queenscliff, North Steyne, and South Steyne. From there, you can take a scenic walk to Fairy Bower and Shelley Beach, just south-east of the main surf beaches.

All three of the Queenscliff, North Steyne, and South Steyne have surf clubs, which patrol the swimming areas of those beaches, marked by red and yellow flags. Swim between them, the lifeguards are there for you and your families safety. If a beach is closed, due to rough surf, rips and strong currents, the flags will be crossed.

Manly Harbour Beaches

See the Manly Maps, showing the beaches:

Manly Map

More about Manly Beach.

Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Manly is the first of the Northern Beaches that are great for swimming, surfing and snorkelling, as well as just about every other water activity that people do on ocean beaches:

Greater Sydney and Surrounds

Map of Greater Sydney

Main Photo: Beach next to Manly Wharf, with the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary (Aquarium) in the Background.