Probably one of my favorite beaches in Sydney. During my semester abroad way back when I'd enjoy…read morestrolling through Manly all the way to lesser known Freshwater beach. Sometimes I head through the lovely cliff side neighborhoods just walk along the cliff. I'd often find my self hanging out here for hours. Sometimes at the beach or sitting on the cliffs studying for school. There's a special connection to this beach to where I currently live in Hawaii. This is where Duke Kahanamoku, Olympian, politician, surfer, spreader of Aloha introduced Surfing to Australia. Inside the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club there is a little memorial for the Duke with pictures, trophies, and his original wooden board he took to Australia. If you head up the stairs above the salt water pool there is an overgrown little park with a statue of the Duke Kahanamoku surfing on a boulder facing Freshwater beach. It's definitely a cool spot for anyone visiting from Hawaii. It's a great beach too with dramatic picturesque landscape. Ideally probably one of my top dream Neighborhoods to reside one day.

Once again, Freshie is one of my favorite beaches. It draws locals and not the chaos of tourist and…read moresurfers.

Beaches. Beaches everywhere!…read more Quite frankly, I tend to go to Dee Why beach the most because of the wide variety of food there (my life is literally revolves around food #sorrynotsorry haha) but if you walk a little further down, this is where you'll find Long Reef Beach. This little beauty is also another popular place amongst families during the weekends. It's particularly nice because it tends to not be as packed as the others. However on hot sunny days parking will be hard to find! If you're game, I'd suggest walking from Dee Why beach down to Long Reef and then back before or after dinner. Not only are you burning calories, but you can also take in the beautiful scenery and that amazing feeling of sand between your toes. Win-win in my books!

I was driving down Pittwater Rd in search of the perfect little cafe to have breaky at (ended up…read morebeing Curly's On The Corner http://frid.co/nYr7vT )but could not find anything that suited. Getting hungry and needing a bit of clarity, I spotted the sign for the beach and went for it. What I found was an awesome little surf club and a brilliant beach. Taking my opportunity to stretch my legs I got rid on my shoes and soaked in a bit of sun while feeling the warm, soft sand. Having been to my share of beaches overseas, when you have a blue sky day in Sydney, and you are on the beach (especially on that is not over crowded), there is not much better. As for this club, they have done a great job in providing the essentials for an awesome weekend. There is a the BBQ, covered benches and a little kiosk. So with plenty of parking available, and a great beach just waiting for you, what are you waiting for....? :-)

Extending from Collaroy beach pool south to Long Reef life saving club, the aquatic reserve is a…read moredesignated protected habitat for sea life, which thrives on the rocky platform that borders the Long Reef headland. Exploring the platform at low tide is a simple and interesting diversion for kids. Park near the golf club, either in the paid foreshore carpark or in the neighbouring streets, and make your way on foot along the beach to reach the rocks. Signage explains the wildlife and plantlife you are likely to see. A path climbs up from the outer point to to top of the headland, where you get a different perspective on the geography of the site, and one of the best views in Sydney stretching from the city skyline all the way north to Barrenjoey Head. The Park is a haven for fish, and whilst it is illegal - and highly penalised - to interfere with shorelife, individuals can fish for fin-fish off shore with lines or spears. An historic fisherman's hut is maintained on the northern side of the headland, dedicated to recreational fisherman. Convenient sinks with running water are provided for the successful to gut and clean their haul, with an enthusiastic bunch of pelicans and seagulls on-hand to enjoy the spoils.

I sure do love the Northern beaches. This one is complete with multiple rock pools, a strip on the…read moremain road with diverse food options, and lots of locals gallivanting around... so you know this beach is solid. Compared to the other Northern beaches, this one is super accessible by public transport (and also a 20 minute walk away from the B line). Palm Beach, Dee Why, and Collaroy are in the top 3 of my favorite Northern beaches.

Got a long-haired surfer mate that lives right on the promenade, a veritable stone's throw from the…read morefoam. Nay, less than a stone's throw. Here, then, is a morning spent in his company courtesy of Dee Why. Up at 5am. De-zombify as much as is practical at that hour. At his place by half fivey. Say good morning to his attractive flattie as she wipes the sleep from her eyes and stretches like a cat. Wettie top on, pick up our sticks, trot over to the south end of the beach. Wait 5 mins while mate hits the crapper (nobody likes an aquabog). Wait 5 mins more. What is he doing in there. Pick our way across the rocks to the end of the point, time our jump between sets and spend an hour surfing classy right-handers with a handful of like-minded souls. Follow the swell and paddle across to the beach. Sun is up now, everything's gold. Half the board riders in the drink disappear to get to work. It's all ours for another precious hour. Finishe with a giant brekkie -- acai with seasonal fruit or full clacker with a side of potato rosti -- at one of the dozen beachfront cafes, take your pick, throw down an Earl Grey, fist bump, chest bump, high five, draw the line at an ass slap, and start the day proper. Perfsies brah. Yay Dee Why.

Little Bay Beach is a gorgeous little spot, still not very well known. It's the last sand beach…read morebefore Botany Bay. Because it's a sheltered cove, there isn't any surf, but the place is great for paddling and snorkeling. Don't be put off by its proximity to Long Bay Gaol, or by its proximity to Malabar sewage treatment -- they've got that stuff all sorted out now, right? Little Bay Beach has wonderful sandstone outcrops, perfect for having a picnic with friends, and a nice mix of sun and shade. The abundance of little outcrops and cave-like spaces means you often find canoodling couples in various states of undress, spread out on towels and picnic blankets, with grapes, hummus and watermelon strewn about ... it gives the whole place a relaxed, bacchanalian sort of feel. There was an old hospital in Little Bay (long since closed down), which used to make the entrance to the beach quite creepy. In recent times they've built a housing subdivision at the old Prince Henry Hospital site, so the place isn't quite so spooky or derelict, but the development isn't too close to the foreshore, so you can't see buildings when you're sitting at the beach. It was quite a creepy hospital: used during the Bubonic plague in 1900. There are still a few heritage hospital buildings around, otherwise the rest of the structures are very new. There is a golf course nearby, but the risks of getting hit on the head by a golf ball are probably lower than your average Sydney bluebottle sting risks, so I reckon it's worth it. Little Bay achieved art-world fame back in 1969, when Christo wrapped it up in fabric. The whole bay. There are some great photos of it here: http://kaldorartprojects.org.au/project-archive/christo-and-jeanne-claude-1969 Little Bay's remoteness means that you can still find a park, if you drive there. But it is also accessible by bus. Just go down Anzac Parade, almost forever... The best bit? Feels like a holiday retreat, but it's in Sydney. The worst bit? No waves. Flat as a tack.

Gorgeous little beach. Not many people around, especially on a weekday. The water is crystal clear…read more& depending on the weather, some waves. Perfect place to relax. Free, non metered street parking near by & access to toilets.

This little unknown harbour beach sits at the bottom of Taronga Zoo. If there were any animal…read moreenclosures that could give a hint to where it could be it would definitely be the Muir Cats - standing upright pointing the way. Access to Whiting Beach is a beautiful rugged bushwalk from a residential street which clears out to this tiny beach with a spectacular view of the harbour and ferries pulling into Taronga Beach zoo ferry wharf. As its off the beaten track it does not have the manicured maintenance of our most well known beaches and there is a sign that warns of syringes that maybe hidden in the sand. I talk to some locals and they say in all the years they have been using the beach they have never come across syringes and just as much chance of finding them on the popular beaches than Whiting Beach however for the sake of my baby I keep her shoes on and watch her as she excitedly bumbles towards the water. Bring a picnic blanket also as well as beach towels as the walk is steep you may want to spend quality time on this beach. Alot of leisure craft use the beach as a swim stop. There is only 4 other people on the actual beach which gives it a deserted feeling... well as deserted as you would find in the middle of one of the worlds most beauitful cities. This natural gem is just a reminder of how beautiful it can be.

Beautiful surrounding but extremely dirty. I havnt seen so much garbage on the beach and in the…read morewater since phuket. I pulled out 10 bottles from the beach and on finding no bin left them next to the syringe recepticle unit. Many bottles were broken and swimming would mean cut feet. A real black eye for sydney.

The locals will probably hate me for telling you about this one, but only a short stroll around the…read morebay from the ferry terminal, there is a beach which is a hidden little treat. It sits at the bottom of the eerily well-kept lawns of some of Manly's apartment buildings and so is far more serene and untouristy than the more well-known nearby beach on Steyne. It's seemingly very geared towards this clean family vibe as there's even a very pretty outdoor pool craftily built into the rocks around the bay, a massive bonus if you've got the swimming abilities of a toddler without armbands...like me, as well as strict signs and outdoor showers. This is proper and professional beach going if ever I saw it!

Or otherwise known as Fairlight Beach it has to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Sydney…read more The only thing is getting a proper place to swim off from as sometimes being here at low tide it can get a bit rocky on the feet walking into the shore so I try and swim off the rocks. Smart people use the ocean pool. I love how the walkway curves around the beach and around Fairlight to Manly Pavillion this has to be one of the most spectacular walks in the world.Oh and the snorkelling is fantastic as well. If you are a visitor to our shores this beach is a must visit.

What's up summer!…read more Blow past the burning sands of Coogee Beach - with its packs of marauding seagulls and a vast purgatory of tourists - and head up the grassy hill on the north side of the beach. Follow the path past the shrine where a Brazilian saw a vision of the Blessed Virgin (actually a thing) until you hit the ye Olde England-style arch that proudly declares "baths." Then it's a skip down the cliff to a lovely clear rockpool that will be either preternaturally calm or manageably rough-n-tumble depending on the swell. Stretch out on the rocks like a cat. Duck down 'neath the water and caress the mossy bottom. Find the secret cave. Laugh at that girl with the selfie stick doing duckface. Then toddle back along the path to Coogee Pavilion for some well-earned beers.

These baths are much less crowded than Bronte Baths and the nearby Coogee Beach. It's also a more…read morenatural-looking rock pool, but since its mouth opens directly to the ocean, I'd say to be smart and don't linger too close to the edge! Before the stairs going down to the baths are toilets/facilities so that's not lost either. These baths are reminiscent of Makapu'u Tidepools back home in Hawai'i, but much less crowded. Love it.

Beautiful and picturesque. One of those spots that locals…read moreand visitors alike love but not overly busy. Great morning noon or night to explore , chill, or hideaway. There's a cafe on the beach for food or coffee and the area has the local fish'n'chips plus other stores. There are flagged areas to swim but it's a good beach to almost swim anywhere. Rocks are great source of entertainment for the kids as well as photo opportunities. The cliffs provide a majestic backdrop and the open beach gives lovely light for sunset. I don't know why I don't come here more often. :)