Manly - Sydney Suburb Guide

INTRO

Manly is a small but popular suburb that extends from Sydney Harbour’s North Head toward Queenscliff Head. Only 14kms from Sydney’s CBD and accessible via ferry from Circular Quay, Manly is a gateway to the northern beaches and is known not only for its’ famous surf beach but also its shopping, café culture, restaurants, bars and night life. 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Around 16,000 people live in Manly and fifty-one per cent of its’ residents were born in Australia. The median age is 36 years with professional singles and couples without children representing 53.7 per cent of households. The average household income reported in the 2016 Australian Census was $2449 per week. 

SCHOOLS

Manly is served by two state primary schools - Manly Village Public School and  Manly West Public School. Public high school education is provided by the Northern Beaches Secondary College whose Girls’ campus, Mackellar College, is located in Manly while the boys’ campus is located in Balgowlah. 

Private primary and secondary schools include St Mary’s Catholic School, St Kieran’s Catholic Primary School, Farmhouse Montessori Primary School, Stella Maris Collegeand St Paul’s Catholic College. 

Early childhood education centres include Kangaroo Street Pre School, Manly Vale Community Preschool and Leaps and Bounds Preschool. 

TRANSPORT

Regular ferry services connect Manly to Circular Quay, Watson’s Bay, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. From there, buses arrive and depart from West Esplanade transporting passengers north along the beaches and north west to Frenchs Forest and Chatswood. Buses also operate to and from the city, occasionally replacing ferry services in inclement weather. 

HEALTH

Cycling and walking are well accommodated in Manly with plenty of paved pedestrian pathways along the Steyne and through the Corso. Manly and North Steyne Surf Life Saving Clubs both run Nippers Surf Clubs and a number of private operators offer surfing lessons.  Surf boards are often available for hire at Manly’s surf beach, but a calmer swim can be had in the harbourside beaches of Manly Cove and Cabbage Tree Bay which are protected and wave free. Green spaces that accommodate weekend team sports such as football and soccer include Gilbert Park, Manly Oval and LM Graham Reserve and Manly Golf Club offers a full 18-holecourse. There are a multitude of gyms, Pilates and yoga studios in Manly.

Manly Hospital currently serves the local population;however, services will be reduced with the imminent opening of the new Northern Beaches Health Campus at Frenchs Forest. 

REAL ESTATE

Suburb data from realestate.com reports that the median 3-4 bedroom house price in Manly is $3.375million with a 1-2 bedroom unit fetching around $1.33million. Renters can expect to pay around $1350 per week for a 3-4 bedroom house or $750 per week for a 1-2 bedroom unit. 

SHOPPING

Manly itself, especially the Corso, the Steyne and the Esplanade, is well known for its’ cafes, restaurants, clothing and accessories boutiques and speciality stores. If you can’t find what you need in Manly, Warringah Mall is only 13minutes away and has 338 different specialty stores and grocers to meet your needs.

THINGS TO DO

Aside from the obvious activities – surfing, swimming, cycling, shopping and eating out, Manly has some fantastic offerings to keep you busy. Take a ghost tour of the old Quarantine Station at North Head, spend a day bushwalking at Manly Dam, explore Shelly Beach or take a Snorkelling Tour within Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. 

RESTAURANTS

Manly is all about its restaurants! Those looking to experience modern Australian cuisine can’t go past Garfish but there is a plethora of international cuisines catered for, and done very well (try Maestro and Co if you’re after something Middle Eastern). Those keen to try a cultural mish-mash of tastes should definitely check out Sunset Sabi and if you’re looking for something consistently good, filling and not too hard on the hip pocket, go where the locals go and try either The Old Manly Boatshed or Daniel San.