From calm coves within Sydney Harbor to some of the best surf beaches in Australia, Sydney has a diverse range of beautiful beaches where you can relax.
Australia’s oldest national park, the Royal National Park, features stunning secluded beaches, immaculately maintained secluded beaches, and the world-famous Bondi and Manly.
Let’s talk about top 6 must-visit beaches in Sydney for a family outing.
1. Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay
Other Jervis Bay beaches are equally as white and idyllic-looking, striking a marked contrast to the bay’s clear, blue sea. Such an exquisite beach, three hours’ drive south of Sydney, once held the Guinness World Record for having the whitest sand.
Three of these can be viewed on the 2 km White Sands Walk, which goes through woodlands and along the waterline from Greenfield Beach to Hyams (make sure to walk barefoot at least half way).
They are all part of a brand-new 100 Beach Challenge, which encourages you to get to as many beaches within the Shoalhaven region as possible and share them on social media.
2. Bondi Beach
Australia’s iconic beach, Bondi, is more than a shopping destination. Some visitors spend their entire weekend in the “Bondi Bubble,” as locals refer to the area. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, shops, and hotels nearby, so residents nearly never leave.
Stop by a popular brunch spot, like Speedos Café or Bills, before heading over the street and enjoying the beach.
3. Byron Bay
Other than sporting bikini-warm water, the long beach under the cape, running between Main Beach and The Pass—also the best-loved, busiest surf area in the district—is famous amongst surfers and boasts more wahines in the breaks than any venue in all Australia.
The second reason to surf Byron is now at hand: Surf Getaways, launched in February by two of Australia’s most experienced surf coaches, ex-professional surfer Jenny Boggis and Serena Adams, provides six-day women’s surf camps that come with accommodation at the five-star Byron at Byron resort.
They also arrange tailor-made trips that involve surf lessons and coaching sessions for men.
4. Bronte Beach
Take the simple 40-minute coastal path from Bondi Beach to reach its quieter sibling Bronte. The beach can take a lot of swell, so it’s favored by surfers, but swimmers tend to go to the famous rock pool on the south end of the beach.
There’s a large grassy area with excellent barbecue and picnic facilities. If you’d prefer someone else do the cooking, there are plenty of nearby cafés.
5. Manly
In part because it has many beaches, Manly is a beach for the people due of its welcoming atmosphere and ferry access (there are also buses from the city, other Northern Beaches stops, and North Shore rail stations such Chatswood).
Queenscliff (the north third), North Steyne (the middle), and South Steyne (the south end) are the three titles of the principal surf beach, which is lined by a line of giant Norfolk pines.
Coming next is family-oriented Shelly Beach, where EcoTreasures conducts conducted snorkel tours of Cabbage Tree Bay and is a popular 750-meter ocean swim or short coastal promenade around the rocks from South Steyne.
6. Gordons Bay
A 500m (1,640ft) underwater nature walk takes divers along reefs, sand flats, and kelp forests at Gordons Bay, a small haven between Clovelly and Coogee beaches. The best places to chill out are up on the rocks, but you’ll have to get there early because this place gets crowded during the summer.
Then afterwards, call into the world-famous fish burger at Out of the Blue, a takeaway burger shop off Clovelly Road, literally a stone’s throw from Gordons Bay.
Take Note Of These Safety Precautions While Having Fun At Sydney’s Beaches
The most safe location to swim in the water has been identified by surf lifesavers as between the red and yellow flags. Always swimming with a friend is also a good idea.
Notice the lifeguard signs and instructions from lifesavers. There are always ways to get some more safety tips from lifeguards. Be calm and bring attention if you are in danger in the sea. Research the conditions beforehand.
Getting to The Beach
It is easy to travel using public transport to most of Sydney’s most famous beaches.
By train and bus, Bondi Beach is 40 minutes from the city center’s Town Hall. Besides taking approximately 40 minutes, buses run frequently from the city center to Coogee.
From Circular Quay, you can catch a ferry to Manly, which sits across one of the finest natural harbors globally. Plus, it takes an hour from Central Station to Cronulla via train.