Manly conditions today

How to read Manly's surf

Manly Beach faces just north of east, so it picks up east and south-east swells, and the waves are usually biggest at the Queenscliff end. A westerly wind blows offshore and cleans the waves up; a north-easter, the usual summer afternoon sea breeze, blows onshore and chops them up.

When a southerly is blowing or a big swell is running, Shelly Beach is the calm option. It faces west into Cabbage Tree Bay, ten minutes' walk south of the Corso. Fairy Bower, on the way there, is a reef point break for experienced surfers only.

The tide matters too. A rising tide pushes clear ocean water into Cabbage Tree Bay, which is the time to snorkel at Shelly. A dropping tide uncovers the Fairy Bower rock pools. Learning to surf? Start at the gentler southern end, in a lesson.

Swimming safely

• Swim between the red and yellow flags. Manly Beach is patrolled from about late September to late April, usually from about 9am to 6pm.
• Shelly Beach, the rock pools and the harbour beaches are never patrolled. Calm doesn't mean watched: swim with someone.
• After heavy rain, wait about 24 hours before swimming at the ocean beaches and up to three days in the harbour. Check Beachwatch.
• Live hazards and patrol updates are on Beachsafe.

More in our guides: is it safe to swim in Manly?, the best places to swim, snorkelling at Shelly and all of Manly's beaches. Getting here? The ferry guide has the full timetable.