10 of the best beaches in Sydney

More than 100 beaches dot the Sydney coastline, ranging from wild ocean surf breaks to calm bays perfect for little swimmers. These are 10 of the city’s most famous strips of sand.

Destination NSW

Nov 2025 - 7 min read

What makes it iconic: It’s the most famous beach in Australia and possibly the world.
Location: Eastern Suburbs
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, cafes and restaurants, skate park, outdoor gym equipment.
Lifeguards: Patrolled year-round.
Insider tip: Don’t miss a dip in the Insta-famous Bondi Icebergs Pool at the end of the beach, which opened in 1929.

The name ‘Bondi’ is synonymous with Australian beach culture and instantly recognisable anywhere in the world. This golden arc of sand has something for everyone: family-friendly ocean pools, top surf breaks and endless opportunities for people watching. Look out for the world-famous Bondi Lifeguards at work, though stay safe when swimming so you won’t need their services. It can get very busy in summer, but the crowds are all part of the world-famous Bondi vibe.

Morning sun rising over Bondi Beach

Bronte Beach

What makes it iconic: Behind the sand there is a large grassy reserve leading into a pocket of untouched bushland, creating the perfect mix of beach and nature.
Location: Eastern Suburbs
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, cafes and restaurants.
Lifeguards: Patrolled year-round.
Insider tip: Hungry? The cafe strip beyond the beach goes beyond the usual burgers and chips fare, and is instead home to some of the best eats in the east.

This narrow bay sits to the south of Bondi, with high cliffs and lush greenery flanking the sand. Bronte is beloved by surfers, with its right hand break delivering consistent, powerful waves. Swimmers should head for the Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool at the southern end where the waters are calmer. Or swim a few laps at the pool carved into the rock platform above. It’s also one of the stops on the famed Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.

Bronte Beach

Manly Beach

What makes it iconic: The line of 150-year-old Norfolk pines that run along the beach stand up to 40 metres tall and are instantly recognisable.
Location: Northern Beaches
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, cafes and restaurants.
Lifeguards: Patrolled year-round.
Insider tip: The best way to reach Manly is by a trip across the harbour on a ferry. Hop off at Manly Wharf, walk through The Corso and watch for the waves to reveal themselves at the end.

Another name that’s instantly recognisable around the globe, Manly was site of the world’s first ever surfing competition, held here in 1964. Stretching for three kilometres, you’ll find people swimming, surfing, sunbaking, playing beach volleyball, and eating fish and chips on the steps every day of the year. At the southern end, the gentle waters of Shelly Beach offers exceptional snorkelling in the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve.

Manly Beach, Manly

Palm Beach

What makes it iconic: Even if you’ve never been to Palm Beach, you’ll recognise it – the beach is the real life location for the beloved soap Home & Away.
Location: Northern Beaches
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, picnic tables and barbecues.
Lifeguards: Patrolled from September to April.
Insider tip: Follow the picturesque Barrenjoey Track along the headland to reach Barrenjoey Lighthouse, the northernmost point of Sydney.

A sweeping curve of sand that stretches for more than two kilometres, Palm Beach is the most northerly in the city. It feels a world away, a quiet tropical paradise that offers something for swimmers, surfers and families. The 50-metre rockpool at the southern end is more than 100 years old. Palm Beach Headland has also been recognised as Australia’s first Urban Night Sky Place – come back after dark to marvel at the stars.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk in Palm Beach, Sydney

Freshwater Beach

What makes it iconic: Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku gave a demonstration of the sport here in 1915, making it the birthplace of Australian surfing.
Location: Northern Beaches
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, playground, picnic tables and barbecues.
Lifeguards: Patrolled from September to May.
Insider tip: These famous waves are perfect for beginners. Take a lesson with Manly Surf School and learn how to catch one.

Set between two headlands just north of Manly, Freshwater’s claim to fame is that it’s the place where Aussies’ passion for surfing first began. Locals and visitors alike still love to catch a wave here, with offshore sandbanks creating a consistent swell. It’s also fairly sheltered, making it a popular choice for families, and there’s an ocean pool at the southern end. Look for the lifesize statue of Duke Kahanamoku that stands on the northern headland.

Adults enjoying a learn to surf experience with Manly Surf School at Freshwater Beach

Manly Surf School lesson on Freshwater Beach

Balmoral Beach

What makes it iconic: The grand 1920s Balmoral Bathers’ Pavilion is a local landmark and one of the few remaining pieces of Spanish Mission-style architecture in the city.
Location: Sydney Harbour
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, cafes and restaurants.
Lifeguards: Unpatrolled.
Insider tip: Stay for lunch at one of the restaurants inside the Bathers’ Pavilion, with options ranging from beach snacks to fine dining.

You’ll never see a wave at Balmoral Beach, one of Sydney’s most tranquil stretches of coast. Set inside Sydney Harbour and protected by Middle Head, it’s ideal for snorkelling, stand up paddleboarding and sea kayaking. There’s also a large, netted swimming enclosure at one end, though it is safe to swim along the whole beach. Balmoral is known for its stunning harbour views, and you can cross the bridge out to the tiny Rocky Point Island to admire North and South Head.

Aerial overlooking Balmoral Baths at Balmoral, Sydney North

Balmoral Baths, Balmoral

Coogee Beach

What makes it iconic: Its four historic ocean pools, including the 1907 Wylie’s Bath and the 1886 McIvers Bath, the city’s only ocean pool reserved for women and children.
Location: Eastern Suburbs
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, cafes and restaurants.
Lifeguards: Patrolled year-round.
Insider tip: The beach marks one end of Sydney’s most famous coastal track, the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Follow the six-kilometre trail north from the headland.

A little more laid-back than neighbouring Bondi, Coogee has long been popular with backpackers and travellers looking for that quintessential Australian beach moment. Protected by Wedding Cake Island (so named because the waves hitting the rocks look like icing on a cake), it offers calm water and gentle waves, especially at the southern end. Relax on the sand or find a shady spot on the large grassy reserve beyond.

Wylies Baths, Coogee

Gordons Bay

What makes it iconic: With calm, clear water it’s one of the best snorkelling spots in Sydney with a 600-metre underwater trail to follow.
Location: Eastern Suburbs
Facilities: None – closest facilities are at Coogee or Clovelly.
Lifeguards: Unpatrolled.
Insider tip: Look out for the giant blue groupers that are known to frequent the bay.

There’s only a tiny strip of sand at Gordons Bay. You’ll find most of the locals sprawled out on the rocks like sunbathing seals. With racks of fishing boats lined up along the rocks, it is reminiscent of an Italian fishing village. The technicolour turquoise water is almost too perfect to be real, with rocks and reef easily visible beneath the surface. Tucked away between Coogee and Clovelly, you’ll need to walk along the coastal path and down some wooden steps to reach it.

Gordons Bay, Coogee

Cronulla Beach

What makes it iconic: It’s one of the best surf beaches in Australia and an officially recognised National Surfing Reserve.
Location: Sutherland Shire
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, changing rooms, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, cafes and restaurants.
Lifeguards: Patrolled year-round.
Insider tip: To the north of Cronulla is Greenhills Beach, the only ocean-facing dog-friendly beach in Sydney. Take your pup to try out some waves.

The locals call the Sutherland Shire ‘God’s Country’ and after a visit to Cronulla Beach, you’ll see why. Glorious waves, beautiful scenery and a relaxed vibe make for seaside perfection. It’s Sydney’s longest continuous stretch of sand at almost five kilometres, comprising four beaches and five rock pools. It’s also the only city beach you can reach by train – the station is just five minutes’ walk.

Cronulla Ocean Pool, Cronulla

Camp Cove

What makes it iconic: Sitting on the inner shore of South Head, the beach faces west – making for spectacular sunsets over the city skyline.
Location: Sydney Harbour
Facilities: Public toilets, showers, picnic tables and kiosk.
Lifeguards: Patrolled from October to April.
Insider tip: Bring your snorkel. The water is calm and crystal clear, with plenty of marine life to spot.

Tucked into the edge of Sydney Harbour, Camp Cove is a small, sheltered beach inside the Sydney Harbour National Park. It’s popular with families, who love the gentle waves and relaxed atmosphere. The beach also holds an important place in Australian history as the spot where European settlers from the First Fleet first landed in Sydney Harbour. Parking can be tricky, so the best way to get there is by ferry to the Watsons Bay Wharf, which is just a 10-minute walk.