'''Manly''' [http://www.ourmanly.com.au/] is a harbour- and ocean-side suburb and locality of Sydney and the southernmost of Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Understand
''"Manly - Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care..."'' (slogan used in 1940 by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company to describe "Australia_fs Premier Seaside Resort").
Situated across the Harbour seven miles north-east of Sydney City on the lower Northern Beaches, Manly was named by Captain Arthur Phillip after his encounter with the confident and manly Aboriginal people who lived on the peninsula.
The main Manly shopping strip, the Corso, links the Harbour Beaches and the ferry wharf with the ocean surf beach. Manly is therefore the perfect destination to enjoy Sydney Harbour and the eighteen ocean beaches, coves and inlets used for swimming, sailing and surfing. Manly also has a huge range of shopping, dining and entertainment attractions to keep all ages and interests occupied.
Get in
By ferry
The famous Manly Ferry service, crossing the Harbour frequently between the City and Manly, is by far the most picturesque and relaxing way of getting to and from Manly: great harbour and city views and - in unsettled weather - a rollicking journey past the Heads! The journey is an average 25-30 min duration. Single fares adults $6.00, FerryTen adults $45.10.
The Sydney Ferries Corporation maintains timetables [http://www.sydneyferries.info/timetables/manly.php] for this service.
Ferries run between Circular Quay and Manly on at least a half-hourly basis from 6am-11.45pm Mo-Fr, from 8am-11.45pm Sa and public holidays and from 8am-11pm Su.
Return ferries run between Manly and Circular Quay on the same interval basis with a later start/finish from 6.40am-12.20am Mo-Fr, 8.45am-12.20am Sa and public holidays, 8.45am-11.45pm Su.
By bike
Bikes are permitted on the Manly ferry from the city at no charge, just wheel them on. There are a few different places to hire bikes from in Manly and plenty of tracks to use once you get here.
There are a few companies that offer Bike Tours in Manly, that depart from the city. These include Sydney By Bike - www.sydneybybike.com.au [http://www.sydneybybike.com.au], www.sydneybiketours.net.au and www.bonzabiketours.com.au. Locally there are bike tours provided by Manly Bike Tours[http://www.manlybiketours.com.au]
By car
From points further north, get on Pittwater Road and stay on it all the way to Manly. At Warringah Mall, Pittwater Road turns to the left which is clearly signposted.
From the City, cross the Harbour Bridge, and take tne Manly exit from the Warringah Expressway, and follow the signs.
By bus
From beach suburbs further north, get on the 155 bus which begins in Mona Vale and goes all the way to Manly.
If you're coming from the city or parts of the lower north shore, jump on any bus headed to the Northern Beaches from Wynyard station (such as any number in between 184-190, including L buses), get off at Warringah Mall and then cross the road and switch to a Manly-bound bus (the 155 or others). However, if you're in the city, the ferry/jetcat is by far the quickest and most scenic option.
From the North Shore, catch the 140 (weekdays, PM peak hour only), 143 or 144 bus from St Leonards station or Crows Nest.
Get around
The Manly CBD is a relatively small area; however many of the attractions, especially those on North Head are over 6km to get to and hence require a concerted effort. There are lots of bike tracks in the area, so a better idea is to hire a bike. You can rent bikes from a number of stores. There is one dedicated bike hire shop near the wharf called Manly Bike Tours, www.manlybiketours.com.au. They offer cheap bike rental as well as guided tours of the area.
Alternatively, there is a "Hop Skip and Jump" Bus that is provided by the council. It runs from Manly to Balgowlah fairly regularly. See the visitors information centre for more information.
See
'''Oceanworld Manly''' [http://www.oceanworld.com.au], ''West Esplanade, ''+61 2'' 8251 7877, fax ''+61 2'' 9949 7950, mailto:info@oceanworld.com.au, admission adults $16.50, children $8.50 (3-15 years), concession $12.00, family $39.90 (2A & 2C), Family $28.00 (1A & 2C). Open daily (except Xmas Day) 10am - 5:30pm'' - Daily live shows and guided tours allow you to get up close and personal to dangerous, deadly and often misunderstood Australian creatures. You_fll see huge sharks, stingrays, snakes, spiders, crocodiles and much more. Phone ahead for presentation times. If you're coming from the Sydney ferry, turn left and walk along the esplanade from the ferry terminal to get to Oceanworld.
'''Manly Art Gallery and Museum''' [http://www.manlyweb.com.au/ManlyArtGallery], ''West Esplanade (next to Oceanworld), tel ''+61 2'' 9949 1776, fax ''+61 2'' 9948 6938, mailto:artgallery@manly.nsw.gov.au, open Tu-Su, 10am-5pm, closed Mo, admission adults $3.50, concession / student / resident $1.10, children under 18 fre. The museum highlights the history of Manly with historical photos, swimming costumesand beach memorabilia.
'''The Quarantine Station''', ''Sydney Harbour National Park, Scenic Drive, North Head, tel ''+61 2'' 9247 5033 (bookings essential), Day Tour: 1:15pm Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun. Adult $11.00, Concession $7.70. (Catch bus 135 from Stand B at 1:08pm - to meet with tour time) 3 hour tour includes supper. Ghost Tour: 7:30pm (8pm during daylight savings) Wed $22, Fri - Sun $27.50. Kids Ghost Walk: 6pm (7pm during daylight savings) Fr $13.20, 2 hour tour'' - Wander through a maze of historic buildings and hear how Sydney was protected from diseases such as smallpox, bubonic plague, cholera and Spanish influenza. For the courageous, join the famous '''ghost walk''' conducted at night by kerosene lantern, followed by tea and damper to calm the nerves.
'''The International College of Management''' (formerly St Patrick's seminary) is a beautiful building dominating the skyline of Manly.
Do
'''Swim''' or '''surf''' on Manly Ocean Beach, reached by walking up The Corso from the ferry wharf. Manly Beach is popular with both visitors and locals. Locker hire is available for storing your possessions. You can take surfboard riding lessons from '''Manly Surf School''' (North Steyne Road, tel 02 9977 6977).
'''Sea kayaking'''. Kayaks are available for hire from several places near the ferry wharf.
Cruise through the air '''parasailing''' behind a speed boat. Parasailing available through '''Sydney Harbour Parasailing''' (Unit 203, 11 Wentworth Street, tel 02 9977 6781, [http://www.parasail.net/]) or '''Manly Parasailing''' (Shop 208, Manly Wharf, tel 0414 405 454).
'''Cycle'''. With over 20kms of dedicated cycle paths, the best way to explore Manly is by bicycle. You can rent bicycles from Manly Bike Tours, www.manlybiketours.com.au or call 02 9976 5258
Sydney Ocean Adventures. anly wharf, East Pier, East Esplanade. anly Boat & Kayak Centre. 300374278. ww.sydneyoceanadventures.com.au. days . rom $50. 3 48'01. 51 17'07. Sydney's offshore adventure boat company. Departing from Manly wharf daily. Tours from 30mins to 1.5 hours experiencing the thrill and adventure of offshore powerboating. Go swell riding and jumping,see the rugged 300ft cliffs of North Head, WWII gun emplacements and awesome marine wildlife (including whales during migration).
Manly's Shelly Beach (very gentle surf entry, max depth 12 metres/40 feet) is often used for open water training dives, but is also a good night diving site. In addition, Manly is used as the launch for several boat operators. Scuba diving operators in Manly are:
'''Dive Centre Manly''', 10 Belgrave St. tel ''+61'' 2 9977 4355. fax ''+61'' 2 9977 3664. email info@divesydney.com.au. [http://www.divesydney.com/]. Dive Centre Manly offers boat dives. 1 dive trips are $50 without gear hire, $70 with tank and weights and $90 with full gear hire. 2 dive trips are $90 without gear hire, $120 with tank and weights and $145 with full gear hire. [http://www.padi.com/ PADI] dive certification is available: Open Water is $345 mid-week and $395 weekends. Advanced Open Water is $345.
'''Pro Dive Manly''', 169 Pittwater Road. tel 1800 820 820 (bookings, free call, within Australia only) or ''+61'' 2 9977 5966. fax ''+61'' 2 9976 5133. email manly@prodive.com.au. [http://www.prodive.com.au/] Pro Dive's boat ''Sealife V'' (carries 23 divers, equipped with marine toilet) conducts 2 dive day trips leaving Manly Wharf and Rose Bay wharf on weekends and most weekdays; trips are $119 weekends and $99 weekdays if you only hire tanks and weights, or $189 weekends and $149 weekdays with gear hire. PADI certification is available: Open Water from $295, Advanced Open Water $325, many specialty courses available.
'''Shark Dive X-treme''', Oceanworld Manly, West Esplanade. tel ''+61'' 2 8251 7878, fax ''+61'' 2 9949 7950, email sharkdive@sydneyaquarium.com.au [http://sharkdive.oceanworld.com.au/]. Shark Dive X-treme lets you dive in Oceanworld's aquarium with sharks. The aquarium time is 30 minutes. Shark Dive X-treme runs 3 times a day every day. Certified divers with recent logged dives can dive for $175: other certified divers do a scuba tune-up in addition for a total of $205. The program also accepts non-divers, who will do a pool skills session before diving. The introductory program costs $235.
Events
'''Manly International Jazz Festival''' [http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/minisites/main.asp?ms=27] - Held annually in the first week of October and running for three days of fantastic music.
'''Manly Food and Wine Festival''' ("A Taste of Manly") - Held each year in the first week of June, attracts some 30,000+ patrons who come to see and taste the exhibits in a great beachside setting.
Eat
'''Whitewater Restaurant''', ''35 South Steyne, tel ''+61 2'' 9977 0322'' - Ultra-trendy decor with fish and fusion fare, panoramic windows look across the road to Manly Beach, widely recommended.
'''Le Kiosk Restaurant''' [http://www.lekiosk.com.au/], ''1 Marina Parade, tel ''+61 2'' 9977 4122'' - Housed in a converted sandstone cottage right on Manly's Shelly Beach, Le Kiosk serves fantastic seafood in incredibly atmospheric surroundings. Park the car in the car park on the hill above (includes one of the best cliff-top views of the area) or, from Manly itself, walk for 10 minutes past the Surf Life Saving Club at the south end of Manly Beach and continue around the cliff-base walkway to Shelly Beach.
'''Manly Interpolitan Cafe''', ''22 Darley Road, tel 02 9977 8964'' - A quiet cafe located a couple of blocks from The Corso. The cafe is small and the menu limited, but the staff are very friendly, and the menu makes up for its small size in quality. The warm lamb salad particularly recommended. Breakfast menu approx $10 (continues until 6pm on weekends), lunches $15-$20.
'''Ribs and Rumps Reataurant'''[http://www.ribsandrumps.com.au/], ''35 South Steyne, Manly, NSW 2095, tel ''+61 2'' 9977 3476'' - A South African-themed steakhouse serving everything that once grazed or swam. Good place to try kangaroo. Beware of ''The Challenge.'' Part of the restaurant overlooks the beach, but fills up quickly in the season. Dinner is on the pricier side, burgers less than AU$20, steaks range from AU$30-40.
Sleep
Budget
'''Boardrider Backpacker'''[http://www.boardrider.com.au/], rear 63 The Corso, tel +61 2 9977 6077. Summer rates $28 dorm bed, $75 twin/double. With dormitory style accommodation or private rooms for the budget conscious traveler.
'''Manly Backpackers'''[http://www.manlybackpackers.com.au/], corner of Belgrave and Raglan Streets (walk due north from the ferry terminal), tel +61 2 9977 3411, fax +61 2 9977 4379, mailto:info@manlybackpackers.com.au, summer rates $26.50 dorm bed, $61.50 twin/double - Centrally-positioned and well-equipped, free internet access available.
Mid-range
'''Steyne Hotel''' [http://www.steynehotel.com.au/], corner of The Corso and N Steyne, Manly, tel ''+61 2'' 9977 4977, mailto:stay@steynehotel.com.au. Private rooms vary in price (from around AU$100pn), views and noise level. Most have a shared bath, some with a closet-type bath. Try to get one facing N Steyne (the beach) as the noise from the hotel bars can be a little rough.
Splurge
'''Manly Pacific'''[http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/nov/5462/fiche_hotel.shtml], 55 North Steyne Road, tel +61 2 9977 7666, fax +61 2 9977 7822, mailto:h5462-re1@manlypacificsydney.com.au - Run by Novotel and located literally over the road from Manly Beach itself, the Manly Pacific offers great views and location. A favourite with international sporting teams visiting Sydney, such as the English rugby team, who stayed there during the lead-up to the semi-final and final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Serviced Apartments
'''Manly Waterside Holidays'''[http://www.manlyholidays.com.au/], Short Street, Manly, tel +61 2'' 9977 4459, mailto:stay@manlyholidays.com.au. From AU$120pn. Offering brilliant views while well priced at AU$200pn. They have huge harbour side apartments (with harbour side views) around AU$200pn.
'''Manly Paradise'''[http://www.manlyparadise.com.au/] 54 North Steyne, Manly, tel +61 2'' 9977 5799, mailto:enquiries@manlyparadise.com.au - Their two bed apartments facing the beach are located and priced comparable to Manly Pacific and Radisson rooms with a view, but bigger and with a huge patio-style balcony.