Sydney Ferry to Manly & Shelly Beach: Your 2026 Travel Guide
Planning a Sydney beach escape? Learn the easiest way to get to Manly Beach and its serene neighbor, Shelly Beach, by ferry from Circular Quay. We cover routes, prices, and insider tips!
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Planning a Sydney beach escape? Learn the easiest way to get to Manly Beach and its serene neighbor, Shelly Beach, by ferry from Circular Quay. We cover routes, prices, and insider tips!
Circular Quay Ferry
Conveniently nestled between Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) and The Rocks, you'll find it's the gateway to various fantastic routes:
F1 Manly, F2 Taronga Zoo,
F3 Parramatta River, F4 Inner Harbour, F5 Neutral Bay, F6 Mosman, F7 Eastern Suburbs, F8 Cockatoo Island, and F9 Watsons Bay.
From the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney,
I made my way to catch the ferry, eager to visit
Manly Beach and Shelly Beach!
It was a pleasant 15-minute walk.
📍 Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney
176 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000 Australia
📍 Circular Quay
Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia
The information and signage here are incredibly clear,
making it super easy to navigate!
I used my Travel Log Card
for payment.
Here's a look at the prices:
One-way Adult: A$8.04 (~$5)
Child: A$4.02 (~$2)
Return Adult: A$16.08 (~$10)
Australian transport cards like Opal Card,
Travel Log,
Travel Wallet,
and other international cards are all accepted here, making payment super convenient!
This is the ferry I hopped on!
The announcements, thankfully in English,
clearly tell you how long the journey will take
and announce the arrival destination.
Manly Beach is just a 23-minute ride away!
Even with plenty of seats inside, the ferry was packed with fellow adventurers!
The views are incredible, and you get incredibly close views
of the Sydney Opera House almost immediately!
Feast your eyes on the beautiful Sydney Opera House!
Before I knew it, we had arrived at Manly Beach Wharf!
Just follow the crowd off the ferry,
and you'll easily find your way to MANLY WHARF.
There's also an Information Center nearby,
complete with maps to help you explore!
📍 Manly Beach
Manly Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Manly Beach itself is a short, pleasant 10-minute walk
from the wharf. It's so close!
To reach Shelly Beach, you'll pass Manly Beach
and continue inwards for about a 20-minute stroll.
The beautifully maintained walking path makes the journey fly by,
so you'll be there in no time!
Manly Beach
This beautiful beach is nestled in the northern part of Sydney.
It's an area where Australian Aboriginal people once lived.
The name 'Manly' is said to mean 'masculine'.
Manly Beach Shopping Street
The Corso Shopping Street
Banh Mi Plenty, a Vietnamese restaurant
Anita Gelato
Yochi (Topped Yogurt)
Starbucks
Manly Seefoods Fish & Chips Restaurant
Benbry Burgers
You'll find a wide variety of restaurants,
cafes, pubs,
and supermarkets here.
You can also explore flea markets,
enjoy busking performances,
UGG boot stores,
and souvenir shops.
I was quite surprised by how close the seagulls flew,
almost right over my head!
It felt like I could almost reach out and touch them.
If you walk along this path for about 10 minutes,
you'll arrive at Shelley Beach.
Along the way, you'll pass by many houses and guesthouses,
and the path is perfectly paved
for a scenic jog.
Shelley Beach Free Pool
Fairy Bower Rockpool
It's like a mini-me version of the famous Icebergs Pool!
It's a saltwater pool,
and it's completely free!
Outdoor showers are available,
which are great for a quick rinse after snorkeling.
I had planned to go for a swim here in September,
but it was just too chilly,
so I couldn't.
Shelley Beach
📍 Shelley Beach
Shelley Beach, Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Compared to Manly Beach, the waves here are much calmer,
and the water is shallow,
making it an ideal spot for even young children
to snorkel.
Right here,
you can easily rinse off
any sand from your feet.
And there's also
an indoor shower room!
Shelly Beach is a marine life
protection zone, so you can
spot a variety of creatures!
You might see stingrays,
and sometimes even
turtles or sharks!
can also be spotted.
Shelly Beach Walking Track
Shelly Beach Walking Track
Distance: 1 km
Estimated Time: 30-50 minutes
Starting Point: Southern end of Manly Beach
End Point: Shelly Beach
We brought a mat,
spread it out, and enjoyed
the calm sea, truly relaxing.
Under the hot sun,
sunglasses were definitely a must!
We had such a leisurely, wonderful time.
It's incredibly photogenic,
so we captured a variety of shots!
Manly Beach and
Shelly Beach are
two distinct beaches
that you won't get tired of,
even if you stay all day!
Enjoy a stroll, shopping, and cafes in Manly,
then head to Shelly Beach for
snorkeling and pure relaxation,
and your perfect
Sydney adventure will be complete!
Make sure to add this
to your itinerary, and you'll
have an absolutely wonderful day!
You can take the F1 ferry route from Circular Quay to Manly Beach. The ferry ride to Manly Beach takes 23 minutes.
A one-way ferry fare is AUD 8.04 for adults (approx. ~$5) and AUD 4.02 for children (approx. ~$2). You can use Australian transport cards such as Opal Card, Travel Log Card, Travel Wallet, and international cards.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk from Manly Beach to Shelly Beach. Shelly Beach is known for its calm waves and shallow waters, making it ideal for young children to snorkel. It also features the free seawater swimming pool, Fairy Bower Rockpool, and outdoor showers.
The Corso features a variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and supermarkets, including the Vietnamese restaurant Banh Mi Plenty, Anita Gelato, Yochi (frozen yogurt with toppings), Starbucks, Manly Seefoods Fish & Chips, and Benbry Burgers. You can also find a flea market, busking performances, UGG boot shops, and souvenir shops.
The Shelly Beach Walking Track is 1 km long and takes approximately 30 to 50 minutes to complete. The starting point is the southern end of Manly Beach, and the ending point is Shelly Beach.
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Shelly Beach Walking Track · 2 Bower St, Manly NSW 2095, Australia