Sydney/Manly
From World travel guide
Manly is a harbour- and ocean-side suburb and locality of Sydney and the southernmost of Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Contents |
Understand
"Manly - Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care..." (slogan used in 1940 by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company to describe "Australia’s Premier Seaside Resort").
Situated across the Harbour seven miles north-east of Sydney City on the lower Northern Beaches, Manly was named by Captain Arthur Phillip after his encounter with the confident and manly Aboriginal people who lived on the peninsula. Surrounded on three sides by water, Manly is the perfect destination to enjoy the harbour and the eighteen ocean beaches, coves and inlets for swimming, sailing and surfing. Manly is much more than Sydney's premier beach resort however. Manly also has a huge range of shopping, dining and entertainment attractions to keep all ages and interests occupied.
Get in
By ferry
The famous Manly Ferry service, crossing the Harbour frequently between the City and Manly, is by far the most picturesque and relaxing way of getting to and from Manly: great harbour and city views and - in unsettled weather - a rollicking journey past the Heads! The journey is an average 25-30 min duration. Single fares adults $6.00, FerryTen adults $45.10.
The Sydney Ferries Corporation maintains timetables [1] for this service.
Ferries run between Circular Quay and Manly on at least a half-hourly basis from 6am-11.45pm Mo-Fr, from 8am-11.45pm Sa and public holidays and from 8am-11pm Su.
Return Ferries run between Manly and Circular Quay on the same interval basis with a later start/finish from 6.40am-12.20pm Mo-Fr, 8.45am-12.20pm Sa and public holidays, 8.45am-11.45pm Su.
By bike
Bonza Bike Tours offers a full day Manly Beach tour that leaves from the Sydney CBD. The ride is for folks with an intermediate fitness level as it covers 30km and includes a few significant hills around Manly. The tour starts with stunning views from the ferry of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline. After the memorable ferry ride, you'll see the world famous Manly beach and venture out to the scenic North Head. Take in the coastal cliffs with the city skyline in the background, and depending on the time of year, maybe catch a glimpse of the endangered Little Penguins. Afterwards, back to the ferry and a few more sites to complete your day!
The full day tour starts at 9:15am and is $119 Adult/$95 Child. Lunch and beverages at one of the best local pubs in Manly are included, along with morning tea, beverage, bikes, and guide. (info@BonzaBikeTours.com, +61 02 9331 1127, http://www.bonzabiketours.com/tours.aspx)
By car
By bus
See
- Oceanworld Manly [2], West Esplanade, +61 2 8251 7877, fax +61 2 9949 7950, mailto:info@oceanworld.com.au, admission adults $16.50, children $8.50 (3-15 years), concession $12.00, family $39.90 (2A & 2C), Family $28.00 (1A & 2C). Open daily (except Xmas Day) 10am - 5:30pm - daily live shows and guided tours allow you to get up close and personal to dangerous, deadly and often misunderstood Australian creatures. You’ll see huge sharks, stingrays, snakes, spiders, crocodiles and much more. Phone ahead for presentation times. If you're coming from the Sydney ferry, turn left and wlak along the esplanade from the ferry terminal to get to Oceanworld.
- Manly Art Gallery and Museum [[3], West Esplanade (next to Oceanworld), tel +61 2 9949 1776, fax +61 2 9948 6938, mailto:artgallery@manly.nsw.gov.au, open Tu-Su, 10am-5pm, closed Mo, admission adults $3.50, concession / student / resident $1.10, children under 18 free - a public, regional gallery and museum showcasing a dynamic changing exhibitions program as well as featuring Australian art, ceramics and local history collections. The Museum highlights the history of Manly: historical photos, swimming costume and beach memorabilia.
- The Quarantine Station, Sydney Harbour National Park, Scenic Drive, North Head, tel +61 2 9247 5033 (bookings essential), Day Tour: 1:15pm Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun. Adult $11.00, Concession $7.70. (Catch bus 135 from Stand B at 1:08pm - to meet with tour time) 3 hour tour includes supper. Ghost Tour: 7:30pm (8pm during daylight savings) Wed $22, Fri - Sun $27.50. Kids Ghost Walk: 6pm (7pm during daylight savings) Fr $13.20, 2 hour tour - wander through a maze of historic buildings and hear how Sydney was protected from diseases such as smallpox, bubonic plague, cholera and Spanish influenza. For the courageous, join the famous ghost walk conducted at night by kerosene lantern, followed by tea and damper to calm the nerves.
Do
- Swim or surf on Manly Ocean Beach, reached by walking up The Corso from the ferry wharf. Manly Beach is popular with both visitors and locals. Locker hire is available for storing your possessions. You can take surfboard riding lessons from Manly Surf School (North Steyne Road, tel 02 9977 6977).
- Manly International Jazz Festival [4] - held annually in the first week of October and running for three days of fantastic music
- Manly Food and Wine Festival ("A Taste of Manly") - held each year in the first week of June, attracts somer 30,000+ patrons who come to see and taste the exhibits in a great beachside setting
- Sea kayaking. Kayaks are available for hire from several places near the ferry wharf.
- Cruise through the air parasailing behind a speed boat. Parasailing available through Sydney Harbour Parasailing (Unit 203, 11 Wentworth Street, tel 02 9977 6781, [5]) or Manly Parasailing (Shop 208, Manly Wharf, tel 0414 405 454).
- Scuba dive. Manly's Shelly Beach (very gentle surf entry, max depth 12 metres/40 feet) is often used for open water training dives, but is also a good night diving site. In addition, Oceanworld Manly's Shark Dive X-treme program (tel 02 8251 7878, fax 02 9949 7950, email sharkdive@sydneyaquarium.com.au) lets you dive in their aquarium with sharks. The aquarium time is 30 minutes. Shark Dive X-treme runs 3 times a day every day. Certified divers with recent logged dives can dive for $175: other certified divers do a scuba tune-up in addition for a total of $205. The program also accepts non-divers, who will do a pool skills session before diving. The introductory program costs $235.
Eat
- Whitewater Restaurant, 35 South Steyne, tel +61 2 9977 0322 - ultra-trendy décor with fish and fusion fare, panoramic windows look across the road to Manly Beach, widely recommended
- Le Kiosk Restaurant [6], 1 Marina Parade, tel +61 2 9977 4122 - housed in a converted sandstone cottage right on Manly's Shelly Beach, Le Kiosk serves fantastic seafood in incredibly atmospheric surroundings. Park the car in the car park on the hill above (includes one of the best cliff-top views of the area) or, from Manly itself, walk for 10 minutes past the Surf Life Saving Club at the south end of Manly Beach and continue around the cliff-base walkway to Shelly Beach.
- Manly Interpolitan Café, 22 Darley Road, tel 02 9977 8964 - a quiet cafe located a couple of blocks from The Corso. The café is small and the menu limited, but the staff are very friendly, and the menu makes up for its small size in quality. The warm lamb salad particularly recommended. Breakfast menu approx $10 (continues until 6pm on weekends), lunches $15-$20.
Sleep
Budget
- Boardrider Backpacker [7], rear 63 The Corso, tel +61 2 9977 6077, summer rates $28 dorm bed, $75 twin/double
- Manly Backpackers [8], corner of Belgrave and Raglan Streets (walk due north from the ferry terminal), tel +61 2 9977 3411, fax +61 2 9977 4379, mailto:info@manlybackpackers.com.au , summer rates $26.50 dorm bed, $61.50 twin/double - centrally-positioned and well-equipped, free internet access available
- Manly Beach House, 179 Pittwater Road, tel +61 2 9977 7050 -
Splurge
- Manly Pacific [9], 55 North Steyne Road, tel +61 2 9977 7666, fax +61 2 9977 7822, mailto:h5462-re1@manlypacificsydney.com.au - run by Novotel and located literally over the road from Manly Beach itself, the Manly Pacific offers great views and location - a favourite with international sporting teams visiting Sydney
External links
- Manly, Sydney, Australia - official NSW Tourism Government web site for the Manly Visitor and Information Centre
- Manly Council - official site for Manly local government - includes community and visitor information
WikiPedia:Manly, New South Wales
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