Shelly Beach

Shelly Beach sits just around the headland from Manly, in one of Sydney's most iconic and beloved beachside areas. A genuinely beautiful and beloved beach, it's a gorgeous, sheltered cove — combining calm, clear water with a lovely setting reached via the scenic walk from Manly, and it's renowned as one of Sydney's best spots for snorkelling and swimming, the kind of idyllic beach that's a genuine favourite.

The appeal is that combination of a beautiful, sheltered beach and a wonderful all-round setting: the calm, clear water for swimming and snorkelling (it's part of a protected aquatic reserve teeming with marine life), the lovely walk around from Manly and the relaxed atmosphere all make it a brilliant spot for a swim, a snorkel or a relaxed beach day. Its gorgeous, protected setting makes it a real treasure.

With a 4.7 rating from more than 3,000 reviews, it's clearly a much-loved beach. It's free and open year-round, but conditions, parking and facilities vary, and it gets busy on warm weekends and over summer, so it's worth checking conditions before you go, taking sun protection and swimming and snorkelling with care — while enjoying the beautiful, sheltered waters at Shelly Beach near Manly.