02 Feb The Best Beaches To Visit On A Day Trip In Sydney, Australia
We know that there’s many reasons to visit Sydney, but chances are, it’s the beaches that are calling your name…as they should be – there’s over 100 of them! Scattered around the harbour and along the coast, you will certainly be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect spot to dip your toes into the sand.
But what if you only have a day dedicated to beach hopping? Well then you’ve come to the right place, because after visiting Sydney (now for our third time), we’ve decided to create four one-day beach-hopping itineraries for you, so that you can decide what sort of Sydney beach experience you’d want from your trip. Sound good? Let’s get stuck into it then, shall we?!
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA – THE BEST BEACHES TO VISIT ON A DAY TRIP
An Urban Coastal Cliffside Beach Walk – Sydney Australia
Visiting Bondi Beach will undoubtedly be on your bucket list if you’re heading to Sydney (we don’t blame you – it is, arguably, Australia’s most famous beach), but what you may not know is that there is a gorgeous coastal walk that extends for 6km, known as the “Bondi to Coogee Walk”. All the information you may need about the walk can be found here, and below is a list of our top three beaches to visit along the walk.
Bondi Beach
Obviously, the main reason you’ll be heading east in Sydney is for Bondi. The kilometer-long and 100-meter wide curve of golden sand offers the perfect location for surfers, swimmers, sunbathers, and – thanks to the strip of bars and cafes nearby – the best place for some city buzz too. One thing to keep in mind, is that it will be very, very, very busy, no matter what time of day (or year) you intend on visiting, as tourists and locals flock to this iconic beach 24-7-365.
Tamarama Beach
Leaving Bondi north of you, you’ll start your walk south towards Coogee, and the first amazing beach you’ll want to stop at is Tamarama. Also affectionately known as “Glamarama” (for the good looking gay and modeling community basking in the sun), this small and intimate beach is epic for surfing too – although be warned: it is also known to be one of the most dangerous beaches in Sydney due to the dual riptide coming in from either side of the bay.
Bronte Beach
Unlike the crazy waters of Tamarama, Bronte offers a protected ocean swim either in the sheltered natural rock pool (ideal for kids) or in the man-made sea pool beside it (regarded as one of the best in Sydney). The nearby park also makes it a hot-spot for families looking to have a picnic, so if you’re thinking of stopping for a breather during your walk, this might be the best spot.
The Beach Route with Big Bus Tours – Sydney Australia
If you’re pressed for time, and want to get the full Sydney experience (including beach stops and the famous city sites), then booking with Big Bus Tours might be the best way to go. A classic ticket will give you access to both the city tour (red route) and the beach tour (blue route), allowing you to hop-on and hop-off as many times as you wish, whilst staying at each location for as long as you wish. Since we’re focusing on the beaches here, we’ll list our favourite sandy stops on the bus route, but you can see the full list of landmarks available on the tour here.
Bondi Beach
Once again, the main reason you’ll be booking the bus tour is to see the famous curve of Bondi. What we really liked, was that the bus had two stops at Bondi – on the southern side, near Icebergs (where you could get off first and go explore), and then another stop at North Bondi (the mostly residential area bordering Bondi Beach). This way, you could get off at the first stop, walk along the entire beach (or mix it up and walk along the promenade for a section too – make sure to pick up a vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream), and then catch the next bus at the North Bondi stop.
Rose Bay Beach
If you’re looking for some quality toes-in-the-sand time but without the crowds (which you would’ve gotten plenty of during your time on Bondi), then the dog-friendly harbour beach known as Rose Bay might be the best stop for you. You can hang out with locals, catch a glimpse of the Sydney Opera House in the distance (and the beautiful St. Michael’s Anglican Church closeby) and for a real treat, you’ll also get to see the Sydney Seaplanes taking off.
Double Bay Beach
A brisk ten minute walk from the bus stop is the final beach on the blue route, known as Double Bay. Trendy coffee shops and cocktail bars attract a younger crowd, and the upscale boutiques and fancy restaurants ensure there’s something for everyone along the way to the beach. If you wanted to partner your bus tour with a scenic ferry ride too, this would also be a great stop, as the ferry to Circular Quay would offer you unbeatable views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Beach Charm, A Ferry Ride Away – Sydney Australia
Just north of the busy Sydney CBD, is a neighbourhood called Manly. We’ve spent a lot of time in Manly (as Stevo’s brother lives there with his family) so we consider ourselves knowledgeable Manly-rists (tourists of Manly), ha. What we can tell you straight off the bat, is that the 30-min ferry ride from Circular Quay is reason enough to visit this northern ‘hood, and the beaches there will definitely not disappoint. So without further ado, here are our top three beaches to visit when catching the ferry to Manly.
Manly Beach
The first thing that you’ll see at Manly Wharf after getting off your ferry, is a sign that says “Five miles from the city; A million miles from care”. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, and the family-friendly harbour beach that hugs the wharf will introduce you to this carefree life, but it’s not until you walk along The Corso (a short pedestrian street across the peninsula) to oceanfront Manly Beach, where you’ll truly understand the meaning of carefree, one sunkissed hot bod at a time. Nice to know: Manly beach is actually three beaches in one – South Steyne, North Steyne, and surfer-friendly Queenscliff – stretching almost two kilometres, so if you don’t go any further, this might give you all the Sydney beach you might need. If you’re feeling adventurous though, the Manly to Spit Bridge walk is also a famous one with locals (and tourists…we’ve done it twice) so don’t miss that if you have the time!
Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach is very close to Manly on the north head, so if you’re looking for a (slightly) less-crowded spot, where you can scuba dive, snorkel, or paddle board, this is the best spot. The beach is well protected from the ocean swell, so it’s quite family-friendly for swimming too, but a lack of shade means you’ll either need to pack your umbrella, or spend your time under the water with the marine life (hey, that’s certainly a great idea for sun protection).
Balmoral Beach
If you’re planning a visit to Taronga Zoo (and you should – it’s the best zoo in the world, according to yours truly), then this is the closest beach to it. It’s a serene and calm environment, offering amazing views and the perfect spot for family-friendly swimming. The kilometer-long stretch of golden sand would be the best escape from tourist crowds, and whilst there you can check out the genteel neighbourhood of Mosman, to see how some of Sydney’s elite live.
Beach-hopping Road Trip – Sydney Australia
If you were planning on renting a car and venturing north to see some of the most impressive views in New South Wales, then we’ve got you covered here. Of course you could stop at any of the beaches mentioned above, but we’ve highlighted three additional beaches in the northern parts of Sydney, which could be some of the most impressive postcard-perfect sand destinations for your journey.
Narrabeen Beach
25km north of the city center, is Narrabeen. It’s said to offer some of the most consistent surf, especially at the northern end of the sandy strip, as it’s protected from the northeasterly winds. Expect over three kilometers of sand from Long Reef in the south, to the Narrabeen Lagoon in the north, and speaking of the Lagoon…you could easily partner up a visit to the Narrabeen Lagoon State Park just across the peninsula for some bushwalks and watersports (if you have the time).
Bilgola Beach
45-min from the CBD, is one of Sydney’s best kept secrets – a quiet and unspoilt beach, which you’ll reach whilst descending down several windy roads. Bilgola is only 500m long, bordered by Bilgola Head to the north and Newport Head to the south. There’s a cute cafe closeby, so stopping there for an ice cream or drink might be a fun to-do on your road-trip, and if you time it right, the sunrise and sunsets will take your breath away.
Palm Beach
Probably the most famous of all the northern beaches (as it’s been the location for the long-running “Home and Away” TV series), Palm Beach will be well worth the hour-long drive from the city center. Backed by bush and topped by a rugged headland and lighthouse, it offers the perfect balance of ocean surf beach on the one side, and calm sunbathe beach on the other. Due to it’s distance from the Sydney CBD, it offers the same beauty as Bondi, but without the crowds, so if you can, really make a mission out to see one of the most beautiful places Sydney has on offer.
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