Sydney beaches

Must do

Bondi Baths at Bondi Beach, Image Sally Maymanregory

Kayaking at Bundeena near Cronulla. Image James Pipino

Sydney’s best beaches

With hundreds of beaches to choose from, you don’t need to go far to find the perfect wave in Sydney. There are 39 ocean beaches including Bondi, Coogee, Tamarama, Manly, Queenscliff, Harbord, Narrabeen and Palm Beach.

Beaches from Palm Beach to Cronulla

Ocean pool at Palm Beach. Image Andrew Gregory

No other city in the world combines coastal living with urban buzz like Sydney. With around 70 surf beaches and dozens of harbour coves, you can choose from iconic surf breaks to a quiet spot for a paddle or a few laps, with a café or cool bar close by.

With its golden sands and legendary surf, Bondi Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. Just south of Bondi are more fabulous beaches, including Tamarama (known as ‘Glamarama’ to the locals), Bronte and Coogee. You can take them all in on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. Further south again, Cronulla Beach is easy to get to by train.

If you’d prefer to travel by ferry, the Manly Ferry cuts its way across Sydney Harbour to one of Sydney’s favourite laid-back beaches, Manly. And at Sydney’s most northern point, Palm Beach offers great surf, an ocean pool, cafes and bars. Within Sydney Harbour, there’s beautiful Balmoral Beach, with its gentle lapping waves, netted enclosure, playground and cafes, and Neilsen Park on the eastern side of Sydney Harbour.

If you’re swimming in the surf, make sure you swim between the red and yellow flags – and enjoy the best of Sydney’s Summer beach lifestyle in safety.

Best places to surf in Sydney

Learn to surf with 'Let's Go Surfing' at Bondi. Image Mikala Wilbow for Let's Go Surfing

If you’re new to surfing, head to Bondi or Manly Beach for a lesson with the pros. Narrabeen and Dee Why, on Sydney’s northern beaches, are known for their legendary surf breaks, while the narrow inlet of Tamarama offers more of a challenge for board-riders. Cronulla, Coogee and Curl Curl are also popular early morning surf spots.

Learn to surf in Sydney

Sydney is a surfing mecca. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned surfer, Manly Surf School and Let’s Go Surfing in Bondi have classes all year round.

Plan your Palm Beach escape

This beautiful peninsula an hour north of Sydney has the ocean on one side and tranquil Pittwater on the other, it is the perfect destination for surfing, swimming, sailing, fishing, diving or walking.

Barranjoey Headland at Palm Beach. Image Hamilton Lund

Ocean swimming pools

If you prefer to swim laps than take on the surf, Sydney’s saltwater beach pools are the perfect alternative. Most surf beaches have them, but some of the best are at Bronte, Wylie’s Baths at Coogee and Freshwater.

Ocean pool at Bronte Beach. Image Andrew Gregory

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Don't miss these beach experiences in Sydney

Balmoral Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Surrounds
Beautiful houses and expensive yachts, and a beach that is postioned with views over Sydney Harbour National Park and through "the Heads" - the gatewa...

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Freshwater Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Northern Beaches
At a little over 300-metres in length and wedged between two headlands, Freshwater is just to the north of Manly and faces southeast. The north headla...
www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/

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Chinamans Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Mosman
This 250 metre stretch of sand is at the northern perimeter of Mosman, one of Sydney’s most genteel residential enclaves. Chinaman’s Beach...
www.mosman.nsw.gov.au/mos

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Avalon Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Northern Beaches
Over the last decade or so Avalon has become the favoured "sea-change" destination for Sydney-siders looking to adopt the surfer lifestyle. As a resul...
www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/

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Collaroy Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Northern Beaches
Collaroy is partly protected from wind and swell from the south and is thus a great option for beginner surfers when a southerly hits. There’s e...
www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/

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Long Reef Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Northern Beaches
Long Reef is one of the most visually arresting of Sydney’s northern peninsula beaches, with a headland that comes complete with a stunningly-si...
www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/

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Coogee Beach Sydney East, Sydney, Coogee
Coogee Beach is a great beach with calm surf and is family-friendly. The promenade area has restored historic buildings and nurtured parklands.Most of...
randwickcitytourism.com.a

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Manly Beach Sydney North, Sydney, Manly
In company with Bondi, Manly Beach is Sydney’s most iconic strip of sand, named by the State’s first governor Arthur Phillip in 1788 for t...
www.manlyaustralia.com.au

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Bondi Beach Sydney East, Sydney, Bondi
Bondi Beach is Australia's most famous beach. Bondi's mixture of lifestyles would suit most visitors, whether you're drawn to the fashi...
www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/t

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Neilsen Park Sydney East, Sydney, Surrounds
Neilsen Park is part of Sydney Harbour National Park with outstanding views of the harbour. It has the right mix of open space and shady reserves, as ...
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov

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