Best Beach in New South Wales

"Known locally as a great spot for novice surfers to learn the ropes, Manly Beach is a beautiful, palm-lined sanctuary that is great for recreation, family activities and relaxation. One of the features that makes Manly Beach unique is its netted ocean pool, which offers safe sheltered swimming for visitors. Additionally, Manly Beach features beautiful hotels, a boardwalk, a variety of delicious restaurants that serve fresh seafood, a selection of wonderful ethnic restaurants and several unique shopping boutiques."

"Catch the ferry to Manly – a cheap way to experience beautiful Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the city is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and back. In Manly, walk down the palm tree-lined Corso towards the beach for an ice-cream, walk around to picturesque Shelly Beach, or grab a cold beer at Manly Wharf Hotel. Time your return ferry trip back to the Quay to coincide with the sunset behind the harbour bridge."

"Manly Beach is Sydney’s North Shore equivalent of Bondi Beach. This 1.5 kilometre long stretch of sand sees tens of thousands of people sunbaking on a hot summer day. Manly Beach is renown for its good surf at the far north and south ends, usually quite suitable for beginners too."

"Just a few minutes from the better-known Manly Beach, Shelly Beach is a unique location on the east coast of Australia, since it actually faces west. With a large reef also sheltering the beach from the heavy ocean swells, Shelly Beach is a small and secluded haven – perfect for a quiet picnic on the sands or a gentle swim in the ocean. These calm coastal conditionsmake ShellyBeach an ideal spot for scuba divers and snorkelers to explore an..."

"Head to the southern end of Manly Beach then look east across the water. That short stretch of sand about 500 metres away is Shelley Beach, far more secluded, less crowded, and has calmer water than the popular Manly Beach just next door. Shelley Beach is better suited to sunbaking, swimming and paddleboarding than surfing."

"In Manly, walk down the palm tree-lined Corso, hit the promenade on the beach for an ice-cream, walk around to picturesque Shelly Beach, or grab a cold beer at Manly Wharf Hotel. Time your return ferry trip back to the Quay to coincide with sunset behind the harbour bridge."

"We have pulled together this super amazing Sydney Beaches with kids resource to help you find your perfect beach. But which one to choose?"

"Clovelly is different from typical Sydney beaches, because one of its main appeals is not the light tan sand luring its visitors close, but rather the large promenades on either side of the water that you can sunbathe on. It’s intimate, small and you can easily spend a few hours rotating from the sun to the sea, especially since there is so much sunbathing real estate right by the water. Pack a snorkel too, the cove is known for hosting all types of sea life like gropers, octopodes, rays and more."

"For snorkellers looking to explore a vibrant and lively underwater world, make your way to Clovelly Beach. This tranquil stretch of the bay is home to a host of marine life such as octopus, rays and a Blue Groper that the locals have affectionately nicknamed ‘Bluey’. Back on dry land, large smooth rocks and concrete promenades provide a place for sunbathers to soak up to the sun."

"Clovelly Beach is another amazing snorkelling spot right in Sydney. The long, sheltered bay makes this spot perfect for exploring the underwater life, or just swimming a few laps in the ocean in the morning. Watch out for Bluey, the famous resident Blue Groper…."

"Bondi to Bronte walk – a must do when you visit Australia Catch the ferry to Manly – a cheap way to experience beautiful Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the city is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and back. In Manly, walk down the palm tree-lined Corso towards the beach for an ice-cream, walk around to picturesque Shelly Beach, or grab a cold beer at Manly Wharf Hotel. Time your return ferry trip back to the Quay to coincide with the sunset behind the harbour bridge."

"Known collectively as Sydney Living Museums, families are always welcome to explore the twelve gorgeous heritage properties under the SLM umbrella including Elizabeth Farm,Vaucluse House, Rouse Hill House & Farm and Elizabeth Bay House. Each boasts beautiful grounds and a story from Australia’s past at every turn, and there are always exciting activities on the calendar. The Museum of Sydney has been transformed into Paradise on Earth with an immersive, multi-sensory exhibition and Hyde Park Barracks has a new Kids’ Activity Trail to explore the newly-restored landmark."

"Museum Of Sydney, Hyde Park Barracks, Justice & Police Museum, Vaucluse House, The Mint, Elizabeth Farm, Susannah Place, Rose Seidler House, Rouse Hill Estate, Elizabeth Bay House, Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection,Head Office, The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street Sydney, NSW 2000Ph 02 8239 2288Email info@slm.com.ausydneylivingmuseums.com.auA group of 12 museums, houses and gardens that will take you on a remarkable journey through time and place to experience a whole other life."

"When I was little I was taught that museums are a place to look and wonder – no touching. The Sydney Living Museums are a little different which makes them some of the best of the museums in Sydney to visit with kids. You see, the Sydney Living Museums have been frozen in time."

"Built in 1805, Vaucluse House is quite extravagant and one of the remaining 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds. Purchased in 1827 by William Charles Wentworth (yes, the very man who Wentworth and Wentworth Falls is named), he set about making the original cottage quite a statement with his partner Sarah Cox. However it was never completed and finding the front door is still quite a perplexing issue."

"Vaucluse House was built in 1803 and was once owned by William Charles Wentworth, father of the Australian Constitution. It’s one of Sydney’s few remaining 19th-century mansions that is still surrounded by its ten hectares of original gardens and grounds. Take a tour through the house for a glimpse of what life was life for the families who once lived there, stroll around the beautiful gardens and enjoy a high tea at the tea rooms."

"Construction of this imposing, turreted specimen of Gothic Australiana, set amid 10 hectares of lush gardens, commenced in 1805, but the house was tinkered with into the 1860s. Atmospheric, and decorated with..."

"No matter how far you stroll down the beckoning path of American cuisine, you’ll always end up finding burgers. The Hub House Diner redefines them so beautifully that it’s impossible to ignore them. But the menu is not just about burgers, they even do chicken wings, Mexican corn, and specially designed loaded fries."

"Their plating isn't boring either, order the popcorn chicken and find it in a jar with real bits of popcorn!. Must try:The House Plank platter also has it all. Southern fried chicken wings, pork ribs, corn and zucchini fritters."

"Built in the 1850s, Sydney’s copper-domed, Italianate sandstone observatory squats atop Observatory Hill, overlooking the harbour. Inside is a collection of vintage apparatus, including Australia’s oldest working telescope (1874), as well as background on Australian astronomy and transits of Venus. Also on offer (weekends and school holidays) are child-focused tours (adult/child $10/8), including a solar telescope viewing and planetarium show. Bookings are essential for night-time stargazing sessions, which come in family-oriented (adult/child $22/17) and adult (adult/child $27/20) versions."

"Sydney Observatory was built in 1858 on a hill above The Rocks and was used for decades for research into astronomy and weather conditions. It was also crucial for navigation, meteorology and timekeeping. The observatory is still an important scientific site but is used mainly as a museum these days."

"The Sydney Observatory is an iconic part of the city’s skyline, and one of the most popular attractions close to the city. The Observatory is located within a beautiful sandstone building right in the middle of..."