Outside the antipodes, Sydney’s northern shores tend to take a backseat to beaches like Bondi, and frankly that’s just the way the locals like it. But Australians know that this sun-kissed stretch of coastline is second to none. Early morning surf sessions and the perfect post-wave coffee, local produce markets, ocean-fresh seafood and some of the country’s favourite breweries: all the best beaches in Sydney are on the North Shore.

For travellers craving a laid-back, community atmosphere (with a side of stellar views and premium café culture), here is your guide to all the best bits, from hidden coves to surf hotspots, and where to eat, drink, and play.

Manly Beach, at the top end of Sydney’s harbour, is the northern beaches epicentre. Lined with towering Norfolk Island pines, a long, bustling promenade, and enough surf schools to get even a first-timer standing on a wave.

The name Manly has stuck around since Governor Arthur Phillip first set eyes on the local Gayemaygal men along the cove’s edge in 1788. He found their composure and presence so striking that he wrote, “Their confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place.” These days visitors mostly arrive on the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay, a scenic ride that coasts across Sydney Harbour and drops you in a cosy beach town in the middle of a metropolis.

A stroll beyond the south end of Manly Beach will take you to an ocean-wall walk that leads to the magical mini bay of Shelly Beach. One of the best hidden beaches in Sydney, the calm waters here are made for snorkelling. It’s part of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve and even at standing height in the water you can see big, blue gropers, cuttlefish, turtles, and weedy sea dragons.

Locals love: You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to good coffee in Manly, but Calibrate on Whistler Street is hard to beat. Raise a pint at 4 Pines Brewery on the Esplanade, where you can choose from 13 taps pouring the local favourite. For a lazy breakfast or long lunch The Boathouse, right on Shelly Beach, serves beautiful cocktails and a menu full of fresh caught fare. Watch out for the bush turkeys that roam the beach for unguarded picnics.

Head in the opposite direction to Shelly Beach and you’ll find Freshwater Beach - or ‘Freshie’ in local speak -  a sentimental favourite for surfing purists. It was here, way back in 1915, that Hawaiian surf legend Duke Kahanamoku famously introduced surfing to Australia.

Freshwater Beach itself is framed by headlands, creating a cozy bay with long, rolling surf breaks. Like all of the main Northern Beaches, Freshie is patrolled by lifesavers year round. At the northern end of the beach you’ll find an Olympic sized ocean pool, one of the most beautiful in Sydney, protected from wind and perfect for anyone not too keen on open water.

Locals love: A ten minute walk will get you to the beautifully restored Harbord Hotel, multi-level restaurant and bar that feels like it’s been teleported from the Riviera. Excellent food, live music, family friendly spaces, and a killer view of the sunset.  

If someone told you to close your eyes and picture the quintessential Aussie beach, Dee Why is what you’d see. It still has the serious surfing cred of Curl Curl or Freshwater, but also has a huge, family-friendly ocean pool with an area dedicated to the little ones with plenty of room to splash. When the tide is low a large swathe of rock reveals itself as the perfect spot to lay out a towel and enjoy sun and sea.

Branching off from the beach, Dee Why Parade is a promenade packed with boutiques, cafés and restaurants, and on the weekends a market pops up, selling everything from farm fresh produce to handmade ceramics.

Locals love: The Beach Shed is so close to the coastline it’s basically a swim up cafe, and serves excellent coffee from the Daily Grind roasters. Once the sun starts to sink locals flock to Ullo Dee Why for Neapolitan style pizzas, kingfish carpaccio, or take away cocktails to sip on the beach. 

If you’re after an authentic taste of Sydney’s Northern Beaches the Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah makes a great home base. Minutes from surf breaks at Freshwater Beach and Dee Why Beach, sunny strolls through Warringah Mall, or a ferry that’ll zip you into the heart of the CBD. Each room features a kitchenette, plus smart TVs, and  free Wi-Fi. There’s also a 24 hour reception, on-site parking, and a self-check-in desk, all designed to keep your stay as smooth as possible.

Buses run up and down the coast, swinging by Palm Beach to the north and Manly to the south and stopping off at all the quintessential Northern Beaches in between.

Address: Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah, 4 Victor Road, Brookvale NSW 2100

Less than fifteen minutes' drive from the Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah, Narrabeen has one of Sydney’s best hidden beaches for families. While Narrabeen Beach proper is one of Sydney's iconic surfing beaches, North Narrabeen is a kid-friendly lagoon fringed by swaying casuarinas, with crystal clear water and a gold-sand beach. The long stretch of shallow, warm water makes it super easy to keep an eye on wilding toddlers.

Back on the main beach you’ve got three kilometres of sand unfolding from Long Reef in the south to the lagoon in the north, with four dedicated surf lifesaving clubs keeping an eagle eye on beachgoers. The beach is sheltered by the imposing 36-metre-high Long Reef Point that juts magnificently into the sea for two kilometres.

Locals love: Kayaking up the Narrabeen inlet. Rental outfits dot the waterfront, providing everything you need to glide through tranquil waters. For great coffee and a great post-swim meal Oceans Narrabeen welcomes sandy feet and serves classic Aussie cafe favourites in a big, bright space.  

Palm Beach marks Sydney’s northernmost stretch of coastline and owes much of its fame to the long-running Aussie soap Home and Away, where it stars as the fictional Summer Bay. The reality is even more picturesque, an elegant peninsula framed by three bodies of water - Pittwater, the Pacific Ocean, and Broken Bay - offering prime conditions for swimming, surfing, and relaxed sailing excursions.

For gorgeous panoramas that often include pods of dolphins, follow the short but steep path up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse, a heritage-listed site that overlooks Pittwater on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other. Palm Beach offers much more than on-screen drama: the ambience is laid-back luxe, with fantastic people watching (the ferry running from Ettalong to Palm Beach notorious for celebrity sightings).

Locals love: The Boathouse is a refurbished 1920s beach shack sitting pretty on Beach Road. For breakfast go bold with the crab scramble spiked with sriracha and a punch of peanut. Come lunchtime, the kingfish tostadas and potato scallops with whipped roe demand attention. Trust us, this is one chic shack. 

Whether you’re chasing waves at Freshie, snorkelling at Shelly Beach, or kayaking across Narrabeen lagoon, the Northern Beaches weave together all the best elements of Sydney life. If you’re after an authentic slice of surf culture, a friendly crowd, and an endless stretch of sunlit coast, the Northern Beaches are here waiting.