Latest NewsFairlight and Manly : Sydney's holiday-in-your-home-town 'burbsThursday, 06 February 2025

Arguably the most holiday-like of all Sydney suburbs, Manly and its infamous counterpart FAIRLIGHT are the gateway to Sydney's glorious Northern Beaches.

Located a 15km quick road trip north-east of the CBD, this stunning coastal paradise continues to gentrify, but – happily – has never lost its laid-back, beachside vibe.

“The community of Manly is incredible,” says Jeni Hallam, manager of the long-standing Manly Kayak Centre. “The business community and council put on activities that make Manly (and the more peaceful Fairlight) feel like a place you want to be.”

A magnet for tourists, many of whom arrive by ferry, these pockets play host to hotels, B&Bs, serviced apartments, backpacker lodges and holiday homes... and everyone is welcome.

“The whole vibe of Manly is a hub for travellers and people passing through; it survives and thrives on that,” says Hallam.

But there’s also a sizeable permanent population of around 16,000, the majority living in apartments that date from the 1940s through to sophisticated $15m and $20m apartments of today.

Of course, living and playing waterside is the number one reason people flock to Manly and the magical European-style beaches like Delwood Beach beside Fairlight. Whether you’re a sunrise surfer, an ocean swimmer or you’re happy just to lap up the views across Fairlight's yacht-studded North Harbour, this peninsula is the ultimate  playground in which to live.

“I love being on the water – I’m a water baby now,” says Hallam. “From Manchester in England where’s there no water, now I can’t get enough of it. If I’ve got a free day I’ll definitely be out on a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard out on the water.”

 

Eat & drink
Eating out or catching up with friends over drinks is pure joy in Manly, where you’ll find literally dozens of places to wine and dine. It’s happy hour from 4pm-6pm weekdays at Little Pearl, while The Hold hosts Tequila Tuesdays and Whiskey Wednesdays, and underground speakeasy The Cumberland dishes up prohibition classics. For up-market Italian it’s hard to go past Hugos on the wharf and you’ll find a coffee for your ferry commute at Cove Espresso Co. Rollers Bakehouse does divine pastries and El Camino Cantina is a family favourite.

 

See & do
A wonderful world of watersports awaits, from swimming and surfing to sailing and sea kayaking, with Shelly Beach a hotspot for snorkelling. The Manly Jazz festival offers toe-tapping good fun in September and you’ll find weekly Manly Market 2095 at the beach end of Sydney Road. Take a Ghost Tour through Q Station or explore the Sydney Harbour National Park trails to North Head. You can spy whales on a whale-watching cruise or take a ferry ride into the city for more cultural pursuits.

If you're even the slightest bit interested in securing your very own piece of Paradise by the Seaside, be sure to check out our latest property offerings at  www.maxwalls.com

 

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