Dee Why & Curl Curl

Things to do

Dee Why Beach is a popular surf beach, with swells at Dee Why Point measuring up to 4m. The waves are lower inside the point, making it a great spot for learners. BYO board or sign up for lessons with Line Up surf schools, which caters to all ages and abilities. The beach also hosts a number of local sporting events such as the Sun Run and Cole Classic.

Dee Why is popular with families thanks to a fenced children's playground as well as an outdoor tennis table, something you don't often find at the beach, at Ted Jackson Reserve. There are also picnic tables, barbecues and accessible toilets. 

Long Reef Beach, Dee Why

 

The southern end of the beach boasts a rock pool and at the northern end of the beach is Dee Why Lagoon, a wildlife sanctuary for birds since 1973. Long Reef Beach curves northeast from the lagoon to a golf course and Long Reef Point, taking in the oldest aquatic reserve in NSW. You can spot whales from the lookout between May and November.

South of Dee Why is Curl Curl Beach. Divided into North Curl Curl and South Curl Curl, there is a surf lifesaving club at both ends. As the beach faces east-southeast, it averages 1.6m waves, making it a popular surfing destination. An ocean pool and cafe are located at the southern end of the beach.

Curl Curl Beach, Sydney North

You can rent bicycles from Manly Bike Tours and Hire if you want to explore this stretch of coastline, casually cruising from one beach to the next. It's also a great way to take in fabulous ocean vistas on a section of the 10km Bicentennial Coastal Walk between Manly Beach and Narrabeen Beach. For a guided day trip of the area (and the surrounding Northern Beaches region), join a tour with Go Beyond Tours or Sydney Incognita.

Go Beyond Tours, Curl Curl

Eat & drink

The majority of restaurants and cafes in Dee Why are located alongside the beach. It's an enticing selection and includes SeaChange Cafe, Girdlers Cafe, Beach Burrito and Coretto. The South Curl Curl Lifesaving Club has a great cafe on the water and plant-based eaters make a beeline for Emelia's Vegetarian Restaurant.

Beach Burrito Co, Dee Why - Credit: Beach Burrito Co

Getting there

It's easy to get to Sydney’s Northern Beaches by public transport. Take a scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly for a connecting bus or hire a bicycle in Manly and pedal north along the spectacular coastline. Boutique places to stay are available for a variety of budgets and suit everything from a short getaway to longer sojourn.