"Manly - A Fantastic Sydney Holiday... " a Manly Travel Page by Mikebb

Located 11km from the centre of Sydney, Manly is one of the city's best beach suburbs and an ideal location whilst holidaying or living in Sydney. The beach is world famous, the surf very good , plenty of holiday accommodation to suit all budgets, restaurants, cafes, pubs, entertainment and shops are all within walking distance.

The advantage Manly has over other beaches is that less than 10 minutes walk will bring you to the quiet waters of Sydney Harbour with its many beautiful bays, some of which you can easily walk along the waters edge. During our 4 day stay I would enjoy an early morning walk around the nearby bays, watch the sun come up over the water.

The Manly Ferry service will quickly get you to the city, the cat ferry takes 15 minutes, however we prefer the old ferry which takes approximately 30 minutes and gives you a fantastic view of Sydney Harbour, The Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Having lived in Sydney's northern suburbs for my first 27 years I had visited Manly numerous times and now returned for 4 days after 34 years living in Perth, Western Australia. I had been to Sydney many times over the years, mostly on business, sometimes on holidays and always stayed in the city or nearby. This time we chose Manly for its holiday atmosphere and to escape the rush of the city, our choice was well rewarded and I can say we enjoyed all the city could provide but also gained an excellent seaside break.

For those who like the cafe and pub scene you will find it all here. The Manly Wharf Hotel and Restaurant is the hot spot with its outdoor bar over the water, sun, magnificent views and good company. For those who like to travel up the coast a pleasant hour drive to Newport and Palm Beach is a must, and possibly extend it into the Ku-Ringai National Park.