Snorkelling Shelly Beach
1 Marine Parade, Manly NSW 2095, Australia
Open nowToday 09:00 – 18:00 · by the venue's published hoursFull hours
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A celebrated snorkelling spot at Manly's Shelly Beach, with a flawless 5.0 rating.
Practical details
Opening hours
Open now- MondayToday
- 09:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday
- 09:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday
- 09:00 – 18:00
- Thursday
- 09:00 – 18:00
- Friday
- 09:00 – 18:00
- Saturday
- 09:00 – 18:00
- Sunday
- 09:00 – 18:00
Why it's worth checking out
Snorkelling at Shelly Beach takes place at the sheltered cove on Marine Parade in Manly, within the protected Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve on Sydney's northern beaches. One of the city's best and most accessible snorkelling spots, the calm, clear, protected waters teem with marine life — making it a genuinely special, only-here experience for snorkellers and swimmers.
The appeal is that combination of accessible marine life and natural beauty: the sheltered, marine-reserve waters are home to fish, rays, the famous blue gropers and other sea life, making it one of the best easy snorkelling spots near the city, while the pretty cove and the scenic walk around the headland add to the day. It's a wonderful, family-friendly taste of Sydney's underwater world.
With a flawless 5.0 rating from nearly 200 reviews, it's clearly delighting those who visit. The bay is a free, open public spot, but water conditions, visibility and weather vary considerably, so it's worth checking conditions before you go — and snorkelling safely, respecting the protected marine reserve — while enjoying the wonderful underwater life at Shelly Beach.
Spot Score
The Spot Score is our composite of five signals — two about the venue's standing with visitors and three about how complete and current this listing is. It is not a visitor rating and not a verdict on the food or the experience. The 5.0 from 197 reviews is Google's visitor rating, shown separately and never altered by us.
About the venue · from Google
- ReputationGoogle star rating, smoothed for review count
- 95
- PopularityHow many Google reviews it has
- 70
About this listing · our record
- Information qualityWebsite, menu and structured details on file
- 30
- Category fitHow well it matches its listed category
- 70
- FreshnessHow recently we last checked our sources
- 30
Last checked against sources 18 June 2026.
Our independent editorial score — not a user rating.
Nearby venues
The Boathouse Shelly Beach
$$Cafes in Manly, Sydney.
Bluewater Cafe
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Manly Grill
$$Classic steak, fish and oysters in a busy, rustic-chic locale with outdoor tables and ocean views.
Bluebottle Espresso
Cafes in Manly, Sydney.
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