Having been to Sydney many times before, I thought it was time I ventured out of the CBD this time and so I visited Manly. I’m not that much of a beachgoer, so it was great there were hiking trails available that I could do on my day trip there. Getting to Manly was incredibly easy; the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay is quite regular with the ride taking about 30min and costs less than $10 one-way on the Opal Card (and you don’t need to touch off at Manly). Note, there is also the Manly Fast Ferry which I believe is a bit more expensive and I don’t think the ride to Manly is that much faster than the normal ferry. There are toilets onboard the ferry, otherwise there is one at Manly Wharf. Head towards the wharf exit and then on your right side look for a sign that says “Carpark Toilets”. You can take the lift down but the stairs are faster. The toilets are cleanish a bit like those I would expect at the beach. If you’re along The Corso shops (the main shopping area in Manly) there is also another set of toilets opposite the Fishmongers Manly restaurant. I started off at The Corso and made my way down to Manly Beach, going clockwise. Many stops were made during my almost 3hr hike including Cabbage Tree Bay, Shelly Beach, then following the Shelly Beach to Barracks Precinct Walk path, visited City Lookouts, Third Quarantine Cemetery, North Fort, Memorial Walk, and unfortunately North Head was closed during my visit early December even though the signage said construction until November. Arriving at Q Station, I followed Scenic Drive which becomes Darley Road and walked all the way back to The Corso. Overall, it was enjoyable hike, got to see a different Sydney but remember to bring sunscreen, hat and water. =TIPS= • There are 2 ferries that go to Manly – one normal, cheaper and the other is the Manly Fast Ferry which is slightly more expensive and I think maybe 5 or 10 minutes faster than the normal ferry. • There are signs throughout the hike but why not drop by the Information Centre just outside the Manly Wharf to have a chat to staff to find out more and also grab a map to see where you’re going? • A short while after Shelly’s Beach, if you keep hiking up, you’ll come across a little gate with a sign that says no dogs. This is the gate you can go through to continue your hike. The guy at the Information Centre told me people are hesitant going through the gate but it’s open.

Following a local recommendation, we took the ferry close to the Opera House, to Manly Beach. Very pleasant 15-20 minutes journey especially to watch Sydney's skyline from the distance. Once in Manly, you discover a small village plenty of shops, restaurants, etc... and a magnificent beach to stay quite longer. Highly recommendable

Manly breach is a beautiful beach. There is plenty of space. You can hire a beach chair or lounge or even a towel if you forgot one. There are plenty of benches and some tables set back from the beach so you can enjoy a sand-free beautiful view if required. The fish and chips across the road was great for this. We took the afternoon ferry direct from Circular Quay (about 30mins) and went back later in the evening all very easy.

We visited here on a Sunday. Very crowded streets and beach. Lots of people to watch and lots of stores. Paid $59 for 3 hours of parking when we took the ferry into Sydney. We had an OK time but we found Bondi beach the next day to be less crowded and less commercial. If you can only visit one, my vote is with Bondi. Oh, and don’t park near the ferry wharf at Manly if you don’t want to get ripped off for $59.