Manly Holiday Lodges & Accommodation

The gentle waves and mile-long beach in Manly makes this area one of the favourites amongst locals and visitors alike. The modern waterfront apartment buildings and beach houses accommodate visitors from all around the world and offer the perfect holiday destination, looking out over the Pacific Ocean.

What to eat on your holiday in Manly

While staying in Manly holiday accommodation, you can explore the diverse restaurants in the area. For a more traditional experience head to one of the famous hotel pubs for fish and chips or a delicious burger. But after so many years of immigration, there is no shortage of authentic food options from Latin America, Asia or Europe.

For a real Australian experience, gather your friends, buy your favourite barbecue food and head to one of the community barbecue areas. Often these are the best opportunities to meet the locals and have a friendly chat during one of their best-loved pastimes.

What to do in Manly when the sun goes down

After a sporty or relaxing day at the beach, what's better than grabbing a local brew or a refreshing cocktail to watch the sunset? Whether you prefer to sit on grass next to the Wharf and bring your own drinks like the locals, or enjoy great cocktails close to the beach, Manly is a great place for enjoying time with friends.

One of the best places to watch the sun go down with a cold drink in your hand is the Manly Wharf Hotel. They also offer good pub food and often have a DJ or special events. Located just opposite the wharf is 4 Pines, where you can enjoy their locally brewed beer with a great view from the balcony.

On the pedestrian path between the wharf and the main beach lies the New Brighton Hotel. Spread over three floors with a beautiful rooftop terrace, this establishment has a backpacker night on Tuesdays with cheap food and drinks. Hotel Steyne, located right next to the main area of Manly Beach, is a popular hangout. It gets quite packed on weekends, and for a quieter night out you can take the lift to the top floor and enjoy drinks at the Moonshine Bar.

Enjoy ocean life with a Manly beach house

With so much sunshine during the year, the inhabitants of Sydney love spending time outside. The main draw is the beaches, with their excellent surfing - Manly is one of the best city beaches in the world for just this. There are plenty of surf lessons for newbies available, as well as board rentals if you just want to get stuck in.

Every year, humpback whales pass by Sydney from April to December, making Manly a prime spot for whale watching. If you don't manage to catch these gentle giants from the lookout points at the shore, North Head is a great place to hop on a boat and spot them from the ocean.

Activities in Manly are not restricted to the water, and some of the best hikes in Sydney are also in the area. One of the most popular trails is the 10km Spit Bridge to Manly Scenic Walkway along beaches and coves. Another great alternative is the 9.5km loop trail around North Head. If you're feeling fit it's possible to combine both trails into a longer walk.

Manly’s events and festivals

Jazz lovers visiting Manly in October will love the annual Manly International Jazz Festival. More than 60 performers entertain a mixed crowd of jazz fans, visitors and families from noon to sunset with further indoor concerts at night.

Every September since 1994 the Manly Arts Festival allows local artists, including painters, musicians, sculptors and art organisations to show off their skills by inviting the public to their studios for a peek behind the scenes.

One of the main culinary events in Sydney – Manly's Food, Wine & Sustainability Festival – attracts approximately 30,000 patrons every year in June. The beautiful beach setting offers the perfect background for the range of international cuisines and exclusive wines from the best wineries in New South Wales.

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