Little Manly Beach: The Perfect Family Beach
Little Manly Beach is located at:
Stuart Street, Manly NSW
Area: Northern Beaches
Little Manly Beach is a popular destination for families and young people. The golden sand and sparkling water are perfect for a day by the sea, and there’s plenty of space to relax on the beach or take a dip in the waves.
Little Manly Beach is situated in the Northern Beaches district of Sydney – approximately 17km north of Sydney CBD. The beach offers calm waters and protected pool area. There is also a small cafe near the beach that serves light meals and refreshments such as ice cream, soft drink and coffee. The beach is not ideal for surfing but provides an enjoyable change from Sydney’s busier beaches. The beach itself is popular for swimming, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking.
The beach is located near a number of other beautiful beaches such as Shelly Beach, Freshwater Beach and Manly Beach.
Just above the beach is Little Manly Point, which is a perfect spot for couples and families. Follow the footpath further north and you come across a secluded area, called Collins Beach where you’re guaranteed peace and quiet.
Little Manly Beach at a Glance
| Park / Reserve: | Yes |
| BBQs: | Yes |
| Picnic Tables: | Yes |
| Shade: | Yes – in the reserve above the beach |
| Swimming: | Yes |
| Beach patrolled: | No |
| Playground: | Yes – in the reserve above the beach, swings near the beach |
| Cafes / Restaurants: | Yes – Ripples cafe / kiosk |
| Toilets / Showers: | Yes |
| Parking: | Paid parking in carpark next to the beach and limited parking in side streets |
| Water Sports: | Swimming Snorkelling Kayaking Scuba Diving |
Things to Do at Little Manly Beach
If you have young children, they will enjoy:
- Looking for seashells and sea glass
- Drawing pictures in the sand
- Building a sandcastle or dripcastle
- Dig a hole
- Play with their shadow
More things to do at the beach for kids.
Older kids can:
- Build a sand track for toy cars and trucks
- Build driftwood sculptures
- Have swimming races at the rockpool
- Explore the underwater world with snorkel and mask
- Play musical towels
Teenagers will have a lot of fun:
- Taking photos and posting them on Instagram
- Water gun fights
- Jumping off the rocks near Collins Beach
- Exploring tide pools and rocky ledges
- Fishing
More things to do at the beach for teenagers.
Adults / parents / couples will enjoy:
- Reading a book
- A quiet coffee or iced coffee
- Taking selfies
- Having a picnic lunch or dinner
- Meditation
Photo Gallery
Is Little Manly Beach Safe?
Little Manly Beach is safe for visitors of all ages. Children can play safely in the water or in the netted pool. Families will find the beach has everything they need for a great day out.
Is Little Manly Beach Patrolled?
Little Manly Beach has calm waters and is NOT patrolled by surf lifesavers, so please keep a close eye on your children.
Is Little Manly Beach a Surf Beach?
The beach is not a surf beach. If you are looking for surfing action, head to Freshwater, Manly or Curl Curl Beach.
Can you swim at Little Manly Beach?
Little Manly Beach is an ideal place for swimming, snorkeling a scuba diving. The ocean bed is shallow for about 10 meters so you can see fish and plants without getting any deeper than chest height.
Parents can relax on the sand while their children amuse themselves in the shallow water.
What Is the Water Temperature at Little Manly Beach?
Average water temperature during summer is 24 degrees Celsius and during winter it is around 18 degrees Celsius
Find out more about water temperature on any given day at Sea Temperature website.
Little Manly Beach Cafe
The beach has one café / kiosk named Ripples, located directly above the netted pool area. It has outdoor seating and offers coffee, snacks, ice cream, soft drink and light meals. The prices are reasonable.
BBQs and Tables
If you are looking for BBQs and tables, head over to the Point, which is located just above the beach, near the car park. It offers a grassed area and stunning views of Sydney Harbour.
Playground
Little Manly Beach doesn’t have a playground near the water, however, it does have a couple of swings. If you are looking for a larger playground, head up to the park, which is accessible by stairs from the northern end of the beach.
Toilets and Showers
Yes there are public toilets at the northern end of the beach, just above the swimming pool and also in the Freshwater Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Getting to Little Manly
The best way to get to Little Manly Beach is by car, however you can catch public transport.
If you’re coming by public transport, catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf and walk over the hill which will take approximately 10 minutes. Alternatively if arriving on the bus get off at the last stop in Manly Wharf.
To plan your trip, check out Transport NSW website – https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip
Parking at Little Manly Beach
There is a paid car park available near the beach but during summer peak times finding a spot can be very difficult. If you are lucky you may also find limited parking in one of the side streets.
Little Manly Beach is a great place to visit and enjoy many water sports and activities. The beach is very calm and safe for swimmers and families which makes it a popular destination during the summer months.
The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and is a nice place to relax and enjoy refreshments while watching the kids play in the pool or sea.
Accommodation near Little Manly Beach
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Ivana Katz is a Sydney based website designer and travel blogger. Having her own business has given her the freedom to explore the world. She believes travel is the best teacher and her passion for adventure, writing and photography has taken her and her son to some amazing places, including Hawaii, Canada, Fiji, Greece and Czech Republic. Ivana’s favourite thing about travelling is learning, discovering hidden gems and creating memories. She loves nothing more than inspiring other women to chase their dreams and explore the world with their families and friends.
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