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Manly for Families

A resort beachside break just 30 minutes from Sydney city sounds quite compelling when you consider the usual costs of school holiday travel. And with the promise of 30 beachside attractions and activities, 40 accessible beaches and nature walks and hundreds of shops and family friendly dining options, it’s easy to see why Manly is one of Sydney’s favourite destinations.

With more than 26 accommodation options within Manly, ranging from international hotels to self contained apartments and holiday lettings, it’s walking distance to everywhere, or a 20 minute ferry ride into the city.

From safe swimming beaches to Sydney’s biggest sharks at Oceanworld, a close encounter with the fairy penguins or weedy sea dragons at the Marine Reserve or surf lesson with Manly Surf School, there are many opportunities to get your feet wet.

Whether on kayak or rollerblades, searching the endless supply of buckets and spades for sale along Manly’s famous Corso, or enjoying the temptation of the largest concentration of surf shops in the Southern Hemisphere, every holiday experience in Manly is unique.

Picnics and play parks, scenic harbour bushwalks through national parks, historic tours (with or without ghosts) at Q Station (former North Head Quarantine Station), Annual Jazz and Food Festivals, weekend markets and entertainment, the giant Waterworks slides in the warmer months and extensive school holiday programs in and out of the water. In Manly, it’s always quality time with the family.

Did you know?

  • There are over 50 parks and playgrounds in Manly alone.
  • Over 3 million ice cream cones are purchased in Manly each year.

To keep you busy
Activities in the water…
Learn to surf at Manly Surf School
Experience wave jumping with Sydney Ocean Adventures
Visit SEA for surf awareness and basic surf skills
Learn to sail at Manly 16ft Skiff Club
See the Fairy Penguins at Manly Marine Reserve
Snorkel Cabbage Tree Bay

…and on land
Bike around the area with Manly Bike Tours
Walk underwater at Oceanworld (sleepover and holiday programs available)
Immerse yourself in the spectacular theatrical production of ‘Defiance’ at Quarantine Station
Visit Manly Library for preschool story telling sessions Tuesdays/Thursdays at 11am
See Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo

Safe swimming
Shelley Beach
Manly Beach (between the flags)
East & West Esplanade Beach (West Esplanade netted Manly Cove)
Delwood Beach
Fairlight Beach (swimming pool)

Parks & Playgrounds
North Steyne beachfront playgrounds for 4-10 year olds
Lagoon Park on Cameron Avenue for one of Sydney’s best 0-5 year fully fenced playgrounds
Clontarf Reserve waterfront playground & BBQ area with enclosed harbour swimming

School holiday programs
Waterworks (open October to Easter)
Manly Library Children’s Street Party, Market Lane – August/Sept
Halloween Trick-o-treat on the Corso

Shopping and last minute supplies
Manly Beach Babes for clothing
Sandcastles for toys
Coles (2 locations - Corso and Cnr Darley Road, and Wentworth Street)


- WHAT TO DO IN MANLY -


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