Manly ferry day trip: Circular Quay to the beach

A Manly ferry day trip is one of the easiest ways to see Sydney Harbour and a surf beach in the same day. The Sydney Ferries service from Circular Quay takes about 30 minutes each way and has run since 1855. At Manly you can stroll the Corso, walk to Shelly Beach, swim, eat fish and chips, or start a longer coastal hike.

This guide covers the ferry ride, how to pay, what to do in Manly, two walks of different lengths, and a simple plan for the day.

Sources for this section: Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly Ferry; Sydney.com, Circular Quay to Manly Ferry.

The ferry ride from Circular Quay

Manly Ferry services leave from Circular Quay, in the middle of the city. The trip takes about 30 minutes. Visitor sites describe the ferry as running regularly, day and night, and seven days a week.

The crossing is part of the fun. Sydney.com says the ferry cruises past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. It then passes Kirribilli House, Bradleys Head and South Head before it arrives at Manly Wharf. Sit on an outside deck if the weather is good, and you will see most of the harbour on the way.

A second service called the Manly Fast Ferry also runs to Manly. It has its own timetable and fares, so check its details before you pick it.

Sources for this section: Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly Ferry; Sydney.com, Circular Quay to Manly Ferry.

Tickets and timetables

Transport for NSW runs the Opal system for public transport in Sydney. It says Opal and contactless fares are worked out by the distance you travel from tap on to tap off. You can pay with an Opal card, or with a credit card, debit card or linked device.

Transport for NSW also warns that if you forget to tap on or tap off, you could be charged a default fare, which is the highest fare for that service. Remember to tap at both ends of the trip.

Fares and times change, so use the Transport for NSW trip planner or call 131 500 for the current Manly timetable, the number the local visitor guide lists. Look at it before you go, and note the time of the last ferry home. Holiday periods can have different timetables, so check the day you plan to travel.

Sources for this section: Transport for NSW, Opal fares and payments; Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly Ferry.

What to do in Manly

Manly sits between a harbour wharf and an ocean beach, and the two are joined by a short pedestrian street. Sydney.com points visitors to three easy things to do:

• Stroll the Corso. This pedestrian mall links Manly Wharf with Manly Beach. It is paved and flat, and it is easy for wheelchairs. It has cafes, bars, restaurants and surf shops.
• Walk to Shelly Beach. The coastal path to Shelly Beach has some slight hills and views over the sea.
• Eat fish and chips on Manly Beach. Take your lunch to the sand and look out over the Pacific Ocean.

The area has a long history as a seaside outing. The local visitor guide says that in 1855 a businessman named Henry Gilbert Smith built a pier a little east of the Manly Wharf and cleared the Corso to link the harbour with the ocean beach. A daily ferry service was running by 1856.

Sources for this section: Sydney.com, Circular Quay to Manly Ferry; Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly Ferry.

An easy walk: Manly to Shelly Beach

The Cabbage Tree Bay Eco-Sculpture Walk is the short option. The local visitor guide says it takes about 15 minutes and starts at the Manly Surf Club at the south end of Manly Beach. It follows the coast all the way to Shelly Beach.

The path is flat and suits people of all ages and abilities. It has eleven sculptures, with plaques that explain the local marine life, plants, animals and history. The plaques include Braille. You also pass the historic Fairy Bower baths. At Shelly Beach, the guide suggests a stroll up to the lookout on the headland for views of the Northern Beaches.

Sources for this section: Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly to Shelly Beach.

A longer walk: Manly to the Spit

If you want more than a stroll, the Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walkway is one of Sydney's best known tracks. The local visitor guide says it is about 10 km of bushland and harbour views, and takes about three hours one way if you walk all of it.

It is not a short stroll. The guide says some parts are hard going and you need a fairly good level of fitness. If you are short of time, it suggests trying one section only, such as the Dobroyd Track from Forty Baskets Beach, or the Castle Rock Track to Washaway Beach and Grotto Point. These sections are in Sydney Harbour National Park.

Because the full walk ends at the Spit rather than at the ferry, plan how you will get back to Manly or to the city before you start. For most visitors, the Shelly Beach walk plus time on the sand makes a full day.

Sources for this section: Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walkway.

A simple plan for the day

1. Morning: Catch an early ferry from Circular Quay and enjoy the harbour views.
2. Late morning: Walk the Corso to the beach, then follow the Shelly Beach path.
3. Midday: Swim or relax, then buy lunch near the beach.
4. Afternoon: Walk back along the coast, browse the shops, and have a drink near the wharf.
5. Late afternoon: Take the ferry back to Circular Quay in time to see the city in the evening light.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and a towel. Check the weather and the surf before you swim, and swim where the lifeguards are on duty. Check the ferry timetable on the day, because services can change.

Sources for this section: Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly Ferry and Manly to Shelly Beach; Sydney.com, Circular Quay to Manly Ferry.

Sources

1. Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly Ferry: manlyaustralia.com.au
2. Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly to Shelly Beach: manlyaustralia.com.au
3. Manly and Northern Beaches Australia, Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walkway: manlyaustralia.com.au
4. Sydney.com, Circular Quay to Manly Ferry: sydney.com
5. Transport for NSW, Opal fares and payments: transportnsw.info