DK Travel : Sydney

Sydney is blessed with stunning ocean beaches, magnificent national parks and a wonderful subtropical climate that makes the great outdoors irresistible to its four million inhabitants. The Eora people, the Aborigines who settled around Sydney Harbour, arrived approximately 50,000 years ago, while the white settlers arrived just over 200 years ago. Free settlers soon followed in the wake of the First Fleet of transported convicts, and after them several waves of migrants seeking a new life. Now, two centuries later, the once far-flung penal colony has matured into a culturally diverse, tolerant and mesmerizing city. Ideally located on the world’s most beautiful harbour, Sydney is as exciting and bustling as it is laid back and relaxing.

Manly Beach

Backed by a reserve lined with Norfolk Island pines and a busy esplanade, this ocean beach (see Manly) is a Sydney favourite. There are rock baths at the northern end.
Manly Beach

Newspaper editor William Gocher challenged the laws in 1902 by enjoying a midday swim at Manly. His crime? It was illegal to swim in public between 6am and 8pm. Thanks to Gocher’s bold action, daylight bathing was legalized within a year, provided that one always wore a conservative neck-to-knee swimsuit.
Manly beach walk

Taking the ferry over to Manly beach and walking the coast line back to Sydney Harbour Bridge
Manly Bungalow

A classic Manly house has been converted into an eight-room guesthouse, surrounded by tropical plants and an outdoor entertaining area. It’s close to the ocean beach and to the ferry wharf. Each room has a kitchenette, there’s a shared laundry, and week-long rates are available.
Manly Cove

The ferry wharf houses boutiques and cafés, the Visitor Information Centre (see Manly), Manly Boat and Kayak Hire, Oceanworld and the Manly Art Gallery and Museum.
Manly International Jazz Festival

Australia’s largest community-based celebration of jazz in all its forms, from trad to bebop, has been running for 27 years. Manlygives itself over to jazz for the Labour Day long weekend. In addition to travelling bands, there are performances held at outdoor venues such as the ocean beachfront, and indoor venues such as St. Mathews Church on The Corso.
Manly Scenic Walk

A 10-km (6-mile) walk, one of Sydney’s best, traces North Harbour’s shoreline from Manly to the Spit Bridge. The walk passes by coastal heathlands, flat sandy beaches and sub-tropical rainforest. Highlights on the way include pretty Forty Baskets Beach, rugged Dobroyd Head, the 1911 Grotto Point Lighthouse, Clontarf Beach, and Aboriginal shell middens east of the Spit Bridge. The NPWS (see The Islands) offers a useful map of the route, available at the NPWS and Manly Visitor Information Centres.

Walking along Manly Beach
Manly Seaside Holiday Apartments

This agency rents 134 fully self-contained apartments in a range of buildings around Manly. Perfect for longer stays, this is a great way to feel at home. Various types of accommodation are available, many with views, from budget to deluxe in all sizes.
Manly Wharf Hotel

If the large public bar with its massive communal tables and lively atmosphere is too hectic for you, head outdoors to the Jetty Bar to watch the sun set over the harbour, or hide away in the cocktail lounge tucked behind a stylish bamboo wall. Fireplaces provide cosy winter warmth.
Manta Ray

Stylish setting; fish straight from the tank.

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Hotel price categories

For a standard double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under $80
- $80–150
- $150–250
- $250–350
- over $350