Next stop, Australia: Soak up the sun, sea and scenery in Manly
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The 3km-long Manly Beach is studded with Norfolk Island pine trees.
PHOTO: DESTINATION NSW
Follow topic:
Ask a tourist to name a popular beach town in Sydney and the likely answer is Bondi. Ask a local? Perhaps Manly will come up instead.
Australian musician Damian Patti considers Sydney Harbour one of the city’s nicest spots.
“A great way to see it is to get on a ferry to Manly or visit BridgeClimb Sydney,” says the associate principal trombone with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). He was in Sydney on Feb 12 to kick off the SSO’s Australian tour.
The tour was a historic milestone for the orchestra, marking its debut Down Under 60 years after Singapore and Australia established diplomatic relations.
Like many cities in Australia, Sydney has a thriving beach culture. Bondi Beach – located about a 20-minute drive from its Central Business District (CBD) – is Australia’s busiest beach, with around 2.7 million visitors a year.
Particularly during its summer months from December to February, sunseekers swarm its 1km-long stretch of golden sand, while surfers head straight for the ocean to catch the long rolling waves.
Manly – a beach suburb situated about 20 minutes from the CBD by ferry – is not so different. One-way ferry rides there from Sydney’s Circular Quay cost from A$8 (S$6.80) a person.
Manly’s smaller beaches, like Shelly Beach, are popular for snorkelling.
PHOTO: DESTINATION NSW
The coastal town’s main draw is its 3km-long Manly Beach. It offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and is lined with lofty Norfolk Island pine trees, creating the peculiar portrait of a forest-side beach.
Due to its distance from the city, it tends to be less crowded than Bondi Beach.
Its many scenic walkways also lead to smaller beaches like Shelly Beach – which is popular for snorkelling – and uniquely shaped rockpools like the triangular Fairy Bower Rockpool.
But Manly is more than its balmy beaches. Its main shopping street, called The Corso, is lined with trendy bars, cafes and retail shops like Australian surfwear brand Rip Curl and clothing brand Cotton On.
Restaurants along the street have al fresco seating – fantastic for a lazy afternoon of people-watching – and buskers add to the vibrant atmosphere with live music and entertainment.
Travellers can also get their fix of local goods and souvenirs at the weekend flea market Manly Markets 2095, located on the street adjacent to The Corso.
Its tented stalls sell everything from beef jerky to handmade crafts to vintage clothing.
South Brisbane’s Streets Beach is Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach.
PHOTO: TOURISM AND EVENTS QUEENSLAND
Those who want to explore a more unusual type of beach can head to South Brisbane, where Streets Beach – Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach – overlooks Brisbane River and its CBD.
South Bank, a lively riverfront hub in South Brisbane, is dotted with art galleries and museums like the Queensland Museum Kurilpa, which pays homage to Australia’s rich cultures and histories in artwork and artefacts.
Entry to the museum is free and an exhibition on Australia’s South Sea islanders, Say Our Name, is on until July 13. A ticketed Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition is available until August and costs A$29.90 an adult.
Brought to you by Tourism Australia.
