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ManlyThe Locals' Guide

MANLY.
Ferry in. Switch off.

Hop on a ferry past the Opera House and the city falls away. What's left is sand, a long ocean walk, and a town that takes its long lunches very seriously.

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A band playing on a low waterfront stage at Manly Wharf at dusk, warm string lights overhead, a moored ferry on the calm harbour behind, and a sulphur-crested cockatoo perched on the railing watching the show.

Featured from the journal

Surf + Sound 2026: Manly's New Three-Weekend Festival, and the Local Boy Closing It

Three weekends, 16 October to 1 November: a boardriders battle on Main Beach, a free art trail down the wharf, and a music program that ends with Winston Surfshirt playing a free hometown show. Here's what's actually on, what it costs, and which weekend to pick.

11 September 20269 min read
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This weekend

The weekend in Manly

Saturday and Sunday at a glance: the forecast, what's on and the markets.

24 Oct

Saturday

…

25 Oct

Sunday

…

Plan your weekend

Coming up

What's on next

The festivals and events in the weeks ahead, each with its full guide.

All festivals

From the journal

Latest guides

Painting of North Head's sandstone cliffs above the Pacific, with flowering banksia in the foreground: the headland the Gayamaygal knew long before the name Manly.

Why Is Manly Called Manly? The Story Behind the Name

5 min read

A costumed ghost-tour group on a lantern-lit path to the old Quarantine Station at North Head at dusk, a small cockatoo flying overhead.

Halloween in Manly 2026: Q Station Ghost Tours, Trick-or-Treat and a Costume Sunset

4 min read

Painterly scene of a surf contest at Manly Beach: a surfer riding a wave, spectators on towels, a contest marquee and red-and-yellow flags on the sand, Norfolk Island pines along the beachfront and a small cockatoo flying overhead.

Manly Surf Open 2027 (15–16 January): A Spectator's Guide

4 min read

Illustration of a lively Manly pub on finals night, with locals watching Australian football on a large screen and a small cockatoo flying above the palms on The Corso outside.

Where to Watch the NRL Finals in Manly: Every Pub, Club and Big Screen

6 min read

All posts

Plan your visit

Start with your trip

Pick the trip you're planning and start with the guide written for it.

Two first-time visitors walk beneath palms along Manly's Corso toward the distant wharf and ferry, with a small cockatoo flying overhead.First time in ManlyManly Without the Guesswork: A Local's Cheat Sheet for Your First VisitTwo visitors walk above Manly Beach, with Norfolk pines along the sand, pale blue water and a small cockatoo flying overhead.Day trip from SydneyA Manly Day Trip from Sydney: The Locals' PlaybookManly Beach at dawn with the first light catching the curve of sand, a single swimmer in the foreground.One perfect day24 Hours in Manly: A Local's Hour-by-Hour ItineraryChildren building a sandcastle on Manly Beach while a parent watches from a towel, a child running past with a boogie board, a dog sitting nearby, and Norfolk pines lining the promenade under a flying cockatoo.With kidsThings to Do in Manly with Kids: A Local Family's GuideThe Corso in Manly on a rainy afternoon, palms lining wet, reflective pavers, people with umbrellas, glowing café windows and a small cockatoo flying for shelter.Rainy dayManly in the Rain: A Local's Plan for the Soggy DaysView of a couple dining at a candlelit waterfront table in Manly at golden hour, with the harbour and Manly ferry in the background, fairy lights overhead, and a sulphur-crested cockatoo perched nearby.Date nightManly Date Night: Romantic Restaurants, Sunset Bars & Evening Ideas

The map

All of Manly on one map

Beaches, walks, restaurants, bars and ferry wharves in one place. Save favourites to your itinerary as you go.

Open the map

The Index

Explore Manly

Pick your angle. Each easily fills a day, and most fill two if you let them.

The Ferry — Getting Here№ 01

Getting Here

The Ferry

Six Beaches — Surf & Sand№ 02

Surf & Sand

Six Beaches

Coast Track — Walks & Nature№ 03

Walks & Nature

Coast Track

Eat by the Sea — Food & Wine№ 04

Food & Wine

Eat by the Sea

Year-Round — Festivals№ 05

Festivals

Year-Round

Sundown — After Dark№ 06

After Dark

Sundown

Stay Near the Beach — Where to Stay№ 07

Where to Stay

Stay Near the Beach

Understand Our History — History№ 08

History

Understand Our History

Know before you go

The quick answers

The questions most travellers ask. Tap any card to go deeper.

Arriving in Sydney

From the airport to Manly

Two sensible ways to swap the terminal for the ocean. All prices in Australian dollars and approximate.

  1. № 01 · Easiest

    Train + ferry

    ~60 min≈ A$33

    T8 Airport Link runs direct from the airport to Circular Quay — no changes, about 25 minutes — then the F1 ferry to Manly (30 min). Prettier, no traffic, and the harbour does the welcoming.

  2. № 02 · Fastest

    Taxi or Uber

    35–60 min≈ A$70–95

    Direct door to door. Fastest off-peak; double the time in heavy Harbour Bridge traffic. Worth it with luggage or late arrivals.

FERRY GUIDEOr see Manly on the map

A perfect day

From dawn till late

Six moments to pin together if you've got one good day in town.

  1. Hop the 9:00 ferrySit starboard, watch the harbour roll past.
  2. Walk Shelly BeachSnorkel Cabbage Tree Bay before brunch.
  3. Long lunchOysters, a glass of something cold, no rush.
  4. Quarantine StationSandstone, ghosts, and a slow stroll back.
  5. Sunset wineRooftop view of the Heads turning gold.
  6. Live musicFind the small room. Stay for an extra song.
Read the first-timer's guide All 21 things to do in Manly