Shelly Beach

Shelly Beach

Shelly Beach
4.5
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The area
Neighborhood: Manly
A 40-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay will take you to the famous northern beach of Manly. The beaches here are perfect for learning to surf or spending the day sun-tanning. The walk from Spit Bridge to Manly is a great way to experience Sydney Harbour Bay and the Australian bush land. Along the foreshore, there are plenty of watering holes and wine bars with excellent cuisine. There are plenty of kid-friendly restaurants as well, especially along the family-oriented areas like Shelly Beach. An excellent way to experience Manly is to rent a bike and explore the dedicated bike paths and off road trails. The North Head National Park is another must-see. Located on the southern tip of Manly, North Head National Park offers great bushwalks and panoramic views of the city.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,506 reviews
Excellent
1,024
Very good
420
Average
56
Poor
4
Terrible
2

roy v
Traralgon, Australia6,024 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
We walked to Shelly Beach many times while in Manly.
It is a lovely little Bay Area with lovely sand and calm waters.
It seems to be a favourite place for diving groups to enter the water as the always seemed to be there each time we were.
It is relaxing to sit on the beach or at the sitting areas on the grass and just enjoy the moment.
There is a nice cafe there and excellent new toilet and shower facilities.
Great spot for a picnic or eat at the cafe .
There are a lot of very friendly bush turkeys there, we were told by a local that’s what they are as we had no idea what they were .
A lovely little beach to visit just a few minutes walk from Manly beach on the South side.
Written May 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi royv647 Thanks for your review. Shelly Beach is a beautiful little spot and a lovely walking destination from Manly. You're right, it is a very popular spot for diving and snorkelling, being a marine reserve with more than 150 species of marine animals visible beneath the waves, including beautiful blue gropers and giant cuttlefish. Kind regards Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written May 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

gaurav s
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India192 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
This is a little quiet beach tucked in adjacent to north head in manly. It is not just a fantastic site for swimming in quiet waters but also a site for scuba diving as there is a conserved reef and marine zone close to beach. On a sunny day it can be pretty crowded being very small in size.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi gaurav s, Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. While Shelly can feel crowded at times, the amazing clear water makes up for it. Thanks to the Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay, snorkelers and scuba divers know all about the water conditions and wild life they'll see that day. See you soon!
Written February 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TrishG34
Geelong, Australia44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
When in Sydney, take the time to walk the short distance from Manly to Shelly Beach. The scenery is a pleasure, no matter what time of year. Keep a watch for the collection of small sculptures on the rock wall as you near the beach. There is a lovely cafe at the end of the walk with good coffee and lots of snacks/meals to choose from.
Written April 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi TrishG34, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed this very special walk and spotted the collection of sculptures along the way. Thank you again for your review Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written April 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

summerof39
Sydney, Australia12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
A 10min stroll from the south end of Manly beach is this quaint little sanctuary. Along the path before reaching Shelley beach, there are a couple of coffee shops but there's also a fabulous cafe right on Shelley Beach. Also on offer is council parking at the top, a small children's play gym, palm trees, public toilets, some picnic tables and has small waves - you can even go snorkeling/diving (a protected dive area).
Written December 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Summerof39, Thank you for leaving a review! We are glad you enjoyed your visit to Manly. We hope to see you in Manly soon! Best wishes, Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written December 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Eyekaytoo
Leverkusen, Germany3,203 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
On a recent, warm & sunny Saturday afternoon I took a long leisurely stroll over to Shelly Beach. I was intrigued to see the number of beached human beings taking in the sun with a number of wild turkeys pecking to their hearts content in the sand. Quite a few people were also swimming in the relatively safe and quiet water here with more than a number snorkeling around the submerged rocks. I liked the fact that the walk was on good quality paths and there were more than enough places to sit on the numerous park benches to take in the sights and sounds. People watchers would find this a paradise.

For those who wanted shade there were plenty of trees to sit under both at the fringe of the beach and overhanging the path to get there from nearby Manly. And, of course, more than enough places to get a drink and/or a bite to eat. Lovely.
Written November 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Eyekaytoo, Thank you for sharing your Shelly Beach experience with us! Shelly is a highlight for those visiting Manly, we are glad you also enjoyed your time here. Thanks again, Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written December 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SuzcNewcastle
Newcastle, Australia503 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Scenery was beautiful however the park and picnic area looked a little unkept. It would be a great place to swim as it is in a protected bay. Unfortunately it was raining the day we visited but there was still people enjoying the water.
Written February 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey SuzcNewcastle, We're sorry about the park and picnic area - sometimes it's hard to be 100% on top of maintaining it in harsh weather conditions. You're very right that Shelly Beach is a great swim because of the shelter from all the large waves. We hope you come back soon when the rain clears up! Manly Information Centre
Written February 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tommo
Melbourne, Australia57,053 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020
Shelly Beach is hidden from the main beaches in Manly.

Its a 10-15 minute pleasant walk along the manly walking trail.

Shelly Beach is calm and safe for children and families and a great spot for Skorkelers and divers in the Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve.
Written December 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi tommomelbourne Thank you for your 5* review describing one of our favourite little beaches of Manly on the ocean side. It is a great place to swim for all age groups and snorkelers may see a blue grouper, cuttlefish or maybe a port jackson shark! Perfectly harmless of course! Next time you visit Manly, make sure you pop into the Manly Visitor Information Centre located at Manly Wharf, to receive a free map and some local tips. Best regards
Written December 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Stuweb
Sydney, Australia39 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022 • Family
Oh dear Shelley Beach where have you gone. My wife and I tried to enjoy a swim at Shelley when all the other beaches were closed. There was a mountain of sea weed on the sand and the amenities were terrible. At $10 an hour parking put some money towards cleaning the bathroom. It was disgusting and I won’t describe what was on the seat and it’s surrounds. Surely the council worker on his phone could have done his job and kept it clean
Written January 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi stuwebster, Sorry to hear you got Shelly Beach on a bad day. Northern Beaches Council works hard to keep everything clean, but may not have been aware of the mess in the bathroom. We hope your next visit is a pleasant one. Cheers, Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written January 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

April S
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Family
This beach is a jewel! You can snorkel right from the beach and see amazing sea life. There were turkeys roaming around ( be careful, they tried to take a towel!). This beach is just a 20 min walk from Manky Beach and is a must see!
Written December 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi C5257WQaprils, Thank you very much for your lovely review. We are so glad to hear you saw some of the amazing sea life we have at beautiful Shelley Beach Aquatic Reserve. Kind regards Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written December 28, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jennifer E
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Family
What's not to love about Manly? Beautiful beaches, lots of restaurants and shops. We stayed in an Airbnb for a week and it was so nice to be able to go and walk the Corso, take the ferry to Sydney or just enjoy one of the many beaches. Would definitely stay in this area again. Felt safe the entire time and was easy to walk everywhere. No car needed.
Written March 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jennifer E, We are so happy you enjoyed your time in Manly, sounds like you had a fantastic week away from home. We are very lucky here in Manly to be so close to Sydney CBD but also be spoilt with lots of beautiful nature. Thank you for sharing your experience Manly Visitor Information Centre
Written March 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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SHELLY BEACH (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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