The Northern Beaches: Sydney's Other World
I've lived on Sydney's Northern Beaches for six years, and I reckon it's the best-kept secret in Sydney. While tourists pack into Bondi and Coogee, the Northern Beaches offer 30+ kilometers of pristine coastline, genuine local culture, and beaches that are just as beautiful but way less crowded.
The Northern Beaches stretch from Manly in the south to Palm Beach in the north – about 26 beaches total, each with its own personality. This is where Sydneysiders come when they want to escape the tourist hordes. The vibe is more relaxed, more family-oriented, and way more Aussie.
For Vietnamese visitors, think of it like this: if the Eastern Suburbs beaches (Bondi, Coogee) are like District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City – touristy, busy, international – then the Northern Beaches are like the quieter districts where locals actually live. Real neighborhoods, real communities, and beaches you can actually enjoy without fighting for towel space.
Getting to the Northern Beaches
Here's the thing about the Northern Beaches: they're a bit of a pain to get to from the city, which is exactly why they're less crowded. There's no train line, so you're looking at buses or driving.
By Ferry + Bus: Take the iconic Manly ferry from Circular Quay (30 mins, $8.05), then catch buses north along the coast. The B1 bus connects most Northern Beaches. This is the scenic route and what I recommend for first-time visitors.
By Bus from City: The B1 and E60 buses run from Wynyard in the CBD direct to various Northern Beaches. Takes 60-90 minutes depending on how far north you're going. Use an Opal card for best pricing.
By Car: Cross the Harbour Bridge, take Military Road to Spit Bridge, then follow Pittwater Road north. Parking is generally easier than Eastern Suburbs beaches (though summer weekends still get busy). Most beaches have free or paid parking nearby.
I drive most of the time because I'm a local, but for tourists, I'd say ferry to Manly, then bus to explore further north. The B1 bus route is genuinely scenic – hugs the coast the whole way.
Manly Beach: Gateway to the North
Manly's technically the start of the Northern Beaches, though it's touristy enough that locals sometimes don't count it. But it's still brilliant – a proper surf beach on the ocean side, calm harbour beaches on the other side, and The Corso pedestrian mall connecting them.
Why Manly's Special
The ferry ride alone is worth it – 30 minutes cruising past the Opera House, under the Harbour Bridge, through the Heads, and into the Pacific. I've done this ferry hundreds of times and it never gets old. Dolphins often surf the ferry's wake in summer.
Manly Beach itself is a beautiful crescent of sand with Norfolk pines lining the shore. Good surf, patrolled year-round, surf schools everywhere. The beach can get packed on summer weekends, but it's still less manic than Bondi.
What to Do in Manly
The Corso: Pedestrian mall from the ferry wharf to the beach. Shops, cafes, restaurants, ice cream. Touristy but functional.
Manly to Spit Bridge Walk: 10km coastal bushland walk with stunning harbour views. Takes 3-4 hours. One of Sydney's best harbour walks.
Shelly Beach: Walk around the headland from Manly (10 mins) to this protected cove. Marine reserve with excellent snorkeling. I've seen blue gropers, octopus, and schools of fish here. Boathouse Shelly Beach cafe is brilliant.
Little Manly Cove: Calm harbour beach on the western side. Perfect for families with young kids. Free BBQs, playground, netted swimming area.
North Head: Historic military site with walking tracks and spectacular views. You can see humpback whales from here during migration season (May-November).
Vietnamese visitors: Manly has a few Asian restaurants (mostly Thai and Japanese), but nothing Vietnamese. For Vietnamese food, you're better off in the western suburbs.
Freshwater Beach: Where Surfing Started in Australia
Just north of Manly, Freshwater is historically significant – this is where Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku first demonstrated surfboard riding in Australia in 1915. There's a statue of him on the beach.
These days, Freshwater is a lovely, relatively quiet surf beach. Better parking than Manly, less crowded, nice local vibe. The rock pool at the southern end is good for safe swimming. Small village with a couple of cafes.
I surf here regularly because it's less intense than Manly but still gets decent waves. The locals are friendly – proper Northern Beaches surf culture without the aggro you sometimes get at other spots.
Dee Why Beach: The Local's Beach
Dee Why is where Northern Beaches locals actually go. Long stretch of sand, good surf, rock pool at the southern end, and a proper neighborhood feel. This is my local beach – I swim here 3-4 times a week.
Why I Love Dee Why
It's unpretentious. No fancy cafes with $28 smashed avo (though the cafes are good). No influencers posing for Instagram. Just families, local surfers, morning swimmers, and people who actually live here. The demographic is diverse – young families, retirees, surfers, Vietnamese families (there's actually a small Vietnamese community in Dee Why).
The rock pool (Dee Why Ocean Baths) is excellent – Olympic-size ocean pool right on the rocks. Free, open 24/7, spectacular at sunrise. I've done hundreds of sunrise swims here.
Facilities: Good showers, toilets, changing rooms. Free BBQs in the park behind the beach. Plenty of cafes along The Strand. Parking can be tricky on weekends but way easier than Bondi.
Surf conditions: Dee Why gets bigger waves than many other beaches – popular with surfers but can be challenging for weak swimmers. Always swim between the flags.
Curl Curl Beach: Family Heaven
North and South Curl Curl are two beaches separated by a headland, both excellent for families. North Curl Curl has a brilliant rock pool (ocean pool) that's perfect for kids and safe swimming.
The rock pool here is my favorite on the Northern Beaches – 50-meter pool carved into the rocks, filled with seawater, with ocean views. Costs nothing, never crowded on weekdays, and you can see fish swimming through sometimes.
The surf beach itself is patrolled in summer, good sand, nice grassy area behind the beach. More family-oriented than party vibe. Lots of young families live in Curl Curl – it's expensive but worth it for them.
Narrabeen Beach & Lagoon
Narrabeen is a long beach (nearly 4km) that stretches from North Narrabeen to South Narrabeen. It's popular with surfers – the waves here can be massive, and there are regular surf competitions.
What makes Narrabeen special is Narrabeen Lagoon – a huge saltwater lagoon behind the beach. You can kayak, paddleboard, fish, or just walk around it (8km loop track). The lagoon is much calmer than the ocean – good for families, and you'll see pelicans, swans, and other birdlife.
The North Narrabeen surf club area has a good cafe and parking. Collaroy Beach (south end) is more built-up with apartments and restaurants.
I paddleboard on the lagoon regularly. It's one of those spots where you forget you're in a city of 5 million people.
Mona Vale & Warriewood: The Middle Beaches
Mona Vale Beach: Beautiful beach with a rock pool at the northern end. Good surf, patrolled in summer, and a nice relaxed vibe. The rock pool (Mona Vale Ocean Pool) is smaller than Dee Why's but equally beautiful. Basin Beach (south side) is more protected and good for families.
Warriewood Beach: Just north of Mona Vale, Warriewood is quieter and less developed. Popular with surfers, can have strong rips. Not the best for inexperienced swimmers but brilliant for confident ocean swimmers and surfers.
Both beaches have that 'real Northern Beaches' feel – you won't find many tourists, mostly locals who live nearby.
Newport Beach: Rockpool Paradise
Newport is lovely – good surf beach with excellent rock pools at both ends. The southern rock pool is huge and great for families. The beach itself gets good waves but is patrolled and relatively safe.
Newport village has a nice local feel – cafes, restaurants, pub. More expensive suburb (property prices are insane), but the beach is accessible to everyone.
I don't come here as often as other beaches, but when I do, I'm always impressed by how beautiful and uncrowded it is.
Avalon Beach: Affluent & Beautiful
Avalon is where the wealthy Northern Beaches families live. Property prices start at about $2 million for a basic house. But the beach is public and absolutely stunning.
Wide beach, usually good waves, patrolled in summer. The southern end (Avalon Pool) has a rock pool. North Avalon Beach is a separate smaller beach that's more protected.
Avalon village is upmarket – nice cafes, boutique shops, organic grocers. It's the kind of place where everyone drives a late-model SUV and wears $200 activewear to get coffee. But don't let that put you off – the beach is genuinely beautiful and accessible to everyone.
Palm Beach: The End of the Line
Palm Beach is the northernmost beach in Sydney – about 90 minutes from the city, but worth the journey. This is where 'Home and Away' is filmed (if you're into that), but more importantly, it's where Sydney ends and nature begins.
Two Beaches in One
Palm Beach is unique – it's on a narrow peninsula, so you've got ocean beach on one side and calm Pittwater (harbour water) on the other. You can literally walk from surf beach to calm harbour beach in 5 minutes.
Ocean side: Proper surf beach, can get big waves, patrolled in summer. Beautiful golden sand, dramatic headland (Barrenjoey Head) at the north end.
Pittwater side: Calm water, good for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Boat moorings, very protected. Great for families with young kids.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk
The walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse is a must-do. Takes about 30 minutes up a steep track, but the views from the top are absolutely spectacular – 360-degree views of Palm Beach, Pittwater, the ocean, and on clear days you can see all the way to the Central Coast.
I've done this walk dozens of times. Best at sunrise or late afternoon. Bring water and wear proper shoes (it's rocky and steep).
Palm Beach Village
Tiny village with a few expensive restaurants and cafes. The Boathouse Palm Beach is famous for weekend brunch ($$$ but good). There's also a small shopping strip with a bakery and general store.
This is serious wealth territory – $5-20 million homes with water views. But the beach is public and beautiful, so don't be intimidated.
Hidden Gems: Beaches Most Tourists Miss
Bilgola Beach: Between Newport and Avalon, smaller beach with good surf. Less crowded because parking is limited. Lovely spot.
Turimetta Beach: Between Narrabeen and Warriewood. No facilities, no parking (you have to walk in), but pristine and often empty. Nudist-friendly at one end.
Bungan Beach: Between Mona Vale and Newport. Access via steep stairs. Beautiful, usually quiet, good surf. Worth the walk down.
Whale Beach: Just south of Palm Beach. Smaller, quieter, excellent surf. Rock pool at southern end. Residential area so parking is limited but the beach is gorgeous.
Northern Beaches vs Eastern Suburbs Beaches
Having lived in both areas, here's the honest comparison:
Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Coogee, Bronte):
• More tourist-friendly (closer to city, better public transport)
• More multicultural and diverse
• Better cafe and restaurant scene
• More crowded, especially in summer
• Better nightlife and bars
• Easier to visit without a car
Northern Beaches (Manly to Palm Beach):
• More Australian/Anglo culture (less multicultural)
• More family-oriented, less party vibe
• Cleaner beaches, less crowded
• Need a car or be prepared for long bus rides
• More expensive property (but beaches are free)
• More genuine local communities
For Vietnamese visitors specifically: Eastern Suburbs beaches are easier to visit and more multicultural. Northern Beaches are worth the trip for the scenery and space, but you'll need more time and planning.
Practical Tips for Visiting Northern Beaches
Transport: If you're doing multiple beaches in one day, a car is easiest. Otherwise, Manly ferry + B1 bus works but is slower.
Parking: Generally easier than Bondi/Coogee. Most beaches have street parking or small car parks. Arrive before 10am on summer weekends.
Facilities: All major beaches have toilets, showers, and surf clubs. Most have cafes nearby. Less commercial than Eastern Suburbs.
Food: Lots of cafes but fewer restaurants than Eastern Suburbs. Vietnamese food is rare – there's some in Dee Why area but not much elsewhere.
Crowds: Even the busiest Northern Beaches (Manly, Dee Why) are less crowded than Bondi on equivalent days.
Surf conditions: Northern Beaches generally get bigger surf than Eastern Suburbs. Check conditions before swimming. Always swim between the flags.
Safety: All major beaches patrolled in summer (Sept-April). Rips are common – read the beach safety guide.
Best Northern Beaches For Different Needs
Best for families with young kids: Little Manly Cove, Curl Curl rock pool, Palm Beach Pittwater side
Best for surfing: Narrabeen, Dee Why, Manly, Freshwater
Best for snorkeling: Shelly Beach (Manly) – marine reserve
Best rock pools: Dee Why, North Curl Curl, Mona Vale, Newport
Best for escaping crowds: Whale Beach, Bilgola, Bungan, Turimetta
Best for day trip from city: Manly (ferry + beach + cafes + walks)
Most beautiful: Palm Beach, Avalon, Whale Beach (in my opinion)
Best local vibe: Dee Why, Narrabeen, Newport
A Perfect Northern Beaches Day Trip
If you've only got one day for the Northern Beaches, here's what I'd do:
Morning: Catch the 8am Manly ferry from Circular Quay. Arrive Manly 8:30am. Swim at Manly Beach or walk to Shelly Beach for snorkeling (9am-10:30am).
Late Morning: Coffee and breakfast at The Pantry or Barefoot Coffee Traders in Manly (10:30am-11:30am).
Midday: Catch B1 bus from Manly to Dee Why or Curl Curl. Swim in the rock pool, enjoy the beach (12pm-2pm).
Afternoon: If you've got time and energy, continue on B1 to Palm Beach. Walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse (takes 1 hour return). Or just stay at Dee Why/Curl Curl and relax.
Late Afternoon: Head back to Manly (B1 bus), grab fish and chips at the wharf, catch the ferry back to Circular Quay at sunset.
That'll give you a genuine Northern Beaches experience without needing a car.
Connecting to Other Sydney Experiences
The Northern Beaches are a different vibe from the Eastern Suburbs beaches, and both are worth experiencing. After beaches, consider the Blue Mountains for a completely different landscape, or explore Sydney Harbour from the water.
For more beach options, check out the secret beaches guide or the rock pools guide for safer swimming options.
Final Thoughts: The Real Sydney
The Northern Beaches represent a different side of Sydney – less international, more local, more family-oriented, more 'Australian' in the traditional sense. It's where Sydneysiders who can afford it actually want to live.
For Vietnamese visitors, it might feel less familiar than the multicultural Eastern Suburbs. But if you want to see how Aussie beach culture really works – the surf clubs, the rock pools, the weekend family beach trips – this is where to experience it.
I moved here six years ago and I'm never leaving. The beaches are cleaner, the vibe is calmer, and every morning swim at Dee Why reminds me why Sydney's beaches are among the world's best.
Make the effort to get here. You won't regret it.
