Shelly Beach
Sydney, New South Wales, 2095
One of around 50 different Shelly Beaches in Australia, Shelly Beach lies in Manly, Sydney. A small sandy cove that’s usually sheltered from Sydney’s notorious swells, it’s one of the city’s top snorkeling and free-diving spots, providing the main access point to the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, which extends to neighboring Manly Beach.
The basics
Spanning 50 acres (20 hectares), Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve is the real draw at Shelly Beach. Seven distinct types of habitat attract more than 160 species of fish, including bizarre and harmless shark species such as wobbegong, beautiful, tiny critters such as sea dragons and nudibranchs, and even schooling mullet and trevally. The maximum depth is around 40 feet (12 meters), making it ideal for free divers and snorkelers, but scuba divers also visit; Shelly Beach diving and snorkeling tours generally include gear, guide, and transportation.
Things to know before you go
Shelly Beach is a great choice for snorkelers, free divers, scuba divers, and underwater photographers.
The beach has showers, restrooms, and a café that also offers cocktails, plus free-to-use barbecues for picnickers.
Shelly Beach is not equipped for travelers with disabilities.
How to get there
Shelly Beach lies in Manly, part of Sydney’s Northern Beaches area, about a 10-mile (15-kilometer) drive north of the Central Business District; there’s paid parking on-site. Other options include taking a tour, or taking the ferry from Sydney Harbour’s Circular Quay to Manly Wharf; it’s about a 15-minute walk to the beach.
When to get there
Visibility for snorkeling and free-diving is generally better during the Australian winter (June through August), but warmer temperatures make summer (December through February) the most popular time to visit Shelly Beach. Note that visibility is usually poor the day after heavy rain. Most mornings at 7am, year-round, swimmers gather at neighboring Manly Beach to paddle round the headland to Shelly Beach and back.
Discovering underwater Sydney
Sydney’s waters may not be as warm as points further north, but the city has a surprising amount to offer fans of the underwater world. Advanced scuba divers love the HMAS Adelaide wreck, deliberately scuttled to provide a habitat for marine life. Captain Cook’s Landing Place in Kamay Botany Bay National Park is a jump-off point for divers and snorkelers in search of stingrays, sea dragons, seahorses, and more. Families love Fairlight Beach for its shallow, sloping shores.
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