Best Beaches in Sydney: A Complete Guide to Swimming, Surfing and Sunbathing

Sydney is one of the world's great beach cities, with over 100 beaches within the metropolitan area ranging from the iconic surf beaches of the Eastern Suburbs and Northern Beaches to the protected harbour coves of the inner south and north that offer swimming conditions suitable for children and non-swimmers. No other major world city has Sydney's combination of ocean beach access and proximity to the CBD.

Bondi Beach — Bondi is Sydney's most famous beach and one of the world's most recognised by name, though locals know it is far from the city's best for swimming quality or crowd management. The curve of Bondi's bay, the Campbell Parade strip of cafes and restaurants, the Bondi Icebergs pool on the southern headland, and the coastal walk to Coogee make Bondi much more than just a beach. Worth visiting once for the experience; for repeat beach days, the crowds favour alternatives.

Manly — Manly's ocean beach and the Corso pedestrian strip connecting the ocean to the harbour provide a beach experience that combines ocean surf with harbour access, making it Sydney's most complete beach destination for a full day visit. The ferry ride from Circular Quay adds to the appeal — arriving by ferry at Manly Wharf with the Corso ahead is a Sydney experience in itself.

Coogee — Coogee is many locals' preferred beach: protected bay conditions, the Coogee Beach playground, the beautiful Wylie's Baths ocean pool, and a strip of excellent cafes on the strip above the beach. The coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee is one of Sydney's finest walking experiences.

Cronulla — Cronulla is the only Sydney beach accessible by train (Cronulla line, 45 minutes from the CBD), with a stretch of surf beach and the Cronulla strip of shops and restaurants that give the southern suburbs their own beach town identity distinct from the Eastern Suburbs crowd.

Palm Beach — the Northern Beaches' northernmost suburb provides Sydney's most scenically dramatic beach: the narrow peninsula between ocean and Pittwater, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse headland walk, and the quiet luxury of the village make Palm Beach a genuine escape from the city's busier beaches.

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