Exult in the sense of freedom of a beach holiday without leaving Sydney with these day trips to vibrant coastal communities just a short drive from the very heart of the city. From the urban cool of the world-famous beach at Bondi and the breezy resort feel of Manly to the sublime natural beauty and exclusive retreats of Palm Beach, step onto the sand, take a deep breath of salty air and feel yourself instantly unwind.
Saunter onto Australia’s most famous beach.
Be astounded at how urban culture collides with laidback beach vibes at Bondi Beach, less than a 20-minute drive from the bustling city centre. Be delighted and moved by the colourful, thought-provoking street art on Bondi’s Graffiti Wall stretching along the beachfront promenade, then kick your shoes off, dig your toes into the soft sand of Bondi’s iconic crescent-shaped beach and embrace the waves.
Slip into the local surfer scene with a board-riding lesson with the experienced team at Let’s Go Surfing, enjoy a refreshing swim sheltered from waves at the ocean pool at Bondi Icebergs, or watch the waves crash against the rocks on the 6km clifftop coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee, stopping to refresh with a dip at famous ocean pools and beaches along the way.
Follow the coastal walk back to Bondi to browse designer fashion and accessories at boutiques on Gould Street — check out home-grown labels such as Jac and Jack and Lucy Folk as well as men’s clothing and lifestyle brand Saturdays NYC — and perhaps pick up a new swimsuit. After the morning activities, take a break at Urban Rest Apartments or one of the best accommodations in Sydney. A nap keeps the body energized for late afternoon activities.
Watch the last rays of sunshine light up the headlands while sipping a cocktail on the terrace at Hotel Ravesis or Icebergs above the Bondi Icebergs pool. In summer, soak up the beachfront views from the balcony at North Bondi Fish or the pop-up eateries taking over the space in winter. Then savour the fresh, sustainable sushi at Raw Bar, wood-fired pizzas at Da Orazio, or charcoal-grilled Greek seafood and share plates at Topikós.
Hang on to that chilled Bondi vibe and stay the night at QT Bondi, a quirky designer hotel directly opposite the beach; check in to a boutique beach-front room or suite at Hotel Ravesis, which has luxe serviced apartments for more extended stays, or make yourself at home at Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach Sydney, where you can relax and recharge in studios and larger apartments with kitchens and laundries.
Cross the harbour to a surf beach haven.
Take a spectacular 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay in Sydney’s city centre to discover another beachside idyll at Manly. The first of a long string of golden beaches stretching north along the coast, Manly feels more like a holiday destination than a suburb of a global city. Step off the ferry at Manly Wharf, one of Sydney’s hottest dining destinations, and stop in for a refreshing drink at the Wharf Bar or its sister venue, The Tropic, or fuel up with pizzas and Italian-inspired seafood dishes at Hugos Manly.
Or leave the eateries and bars for later and meet your cycling guide from Joe’s Mountain Bike Tours at the Manly ferry terminal. Jump on a supplied bike for a thrilling personalised tour along some of Sydney’s most scenic trails, such as a ride around Manly Dam with magnificent views of the dam and ocean.
Bring your swimsuit and wade into the big surf for a revitalising swim at Manly Beach, or splash around the quieter waters of Shelly Beach, a sheltered stretch of sand at the southern end of the main beach. Thrill to close encounters with some underwater locals, like big blue groupers and harmless wobbegong sharks, on a guided snorkelling (or a stand-up paddle boarding and snorkelling) tour of the marine reserve off Shelly Beach with EcoTreasures. Trade stories with your travelling companions of what you’ve seen under the waves over a seafood lunch at The Boathouse Shelly Beach.
The Boathouse is among many great places to eat and drink between the beach and the ferry pier. Watch the ocean darken as dusk approaches from the rooftop bar at Manly Greenhouse, or leave the surfers to the last rays of sunlight and seek out the hip laneway bar Banco Manly or the New York-style loft bar Donny’s. Graze on antipasti and handmade pasta at Busta, freshly caught seafood at The Herring Room or Manly icon Garfish, or choose from one of the many restaurants at Manly Wharf.
Ferries depart for Circular Quay after midnight, but you may want to spend more than a day in Manly and get a room for the night. Gaze out to the horizon from a beachfront balcony room at The Sebel Sydney Manly Beach, at the southern end of the beach, or at Manly Pacific, a few blocks further north along the sand.
Bliss out in natural beauty in the north.
Make what may seem like a whole holiday’s worth of memories on a day trip to Palm Beach, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of the city. Make the 45-minute drive from Manly or the 70-minute trip from the city centre to immerse in a world of outstanding natural beauty bounded by Sydney’s northernmost coastal point, Barrenjoey Head, a long ocean beach and a string of sheltered beaches and leafy parks on the Pittwater side of the peninsula.
Get your heart pumping on a hike up Barrenjoey Head to heritage-listed Barrenjoey Lighthouse, take your first steps to mastering surfing with a Manly Surf School lesson at the reassuringly named Kiddies Corner at the southern end of Palm Beach, or take a paddle to the protected waters of beautiful Pittwater with Pittwater Kayak Tours. Stir your spirit with the elevated views of Palm Beach’s sandy shores from the Bible Garden before joining a tour of locations used to film the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away.
At Palm Beach Wharf, on the Pittwater side of the peninsula, jump on a ferry for the short journey across the breathtakingly pretty waterway to Mackerel Beach, where you can challenge yourself with a hike to remote Resolute Beach in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Explore the hidden beaches of the national park on an indulgent luxury yacht cruise with Taylor Made Escapes, or have an unforgettable close encounter with humpback whales during the winter migration season with Fantasea Cruising.
Savour a long lunch or dinner while gazing out at the incredible water views at Dunes Palm Beach, on the ocean side of the peninsula, or The Boathouse on the Pittwater. Linger over a fabulous meal before retiring to rest and recharge at your luxe room at Barrenjoey House, a pretty heritage restaurant and guesthouse, or Jonah’s, an ocean retreat with amazing views a few minutes drive away at neighbouring Whale Beach. Or gather your tribe for a reunion at the gorgeous five-bedroom Crane Lodge, surrounded by wild bushland around five-minute drive south of Jonah’s.
