Travel Sydney: Bondi or Manly Beach?

Travel Sydney: Bondi or Manly Beach?

13/05/2016 Off By Emma Gray

Travel Australia

Before I left to travel Australia, I spoke to loads of people who’d been before. I asked for advice on where to go and what to see on my travels in Sydney, and was recommended to travel to both Bondi beach and Manly beach by numerous people. I had time to visit both, but if you’re on a quick visit to the area and only have time to check out one beach location, which one should you go for?

Manly

Stunning Sydney Skyline

I took the ferry there from Darling Harbour and it was one of the prettiest ferry rides I’ve been on. I got a perfect view of the city skyline as we left the harbour. I enjoyed watching sea planes fly overhead (I’ve always wanted to go on a sea plane!) and different suburbs of the city on the way.

Strolling through the streets, I came across a great outdoor market, selling everything from fresh food to handmade jewellery, art, clothes and everything in between. I love rummaging through markets when I’m travelling different countries, so I was in my element.

There’s also some nice cafés and restaurants with beautiful views over the beach. I chose to stop for lunch and watch the world go by – it was delightfully peaceful.

The actual beach itself in Manly is lovely. Clean, golden sands and turquoise waters with plenty of surfers waiting for that all important wave. It was the beginning of winter when I visited Australia so the beach was pretty quiet, just the way I like my beaches!

Bondi

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach

Bondi is surely one of the most well-known beaches in Australia – the scene of many different TV programmes and popular with surfers. Arriving in Bondi I was immediately struck by the gorgeous white sand that stretches for a kilometre.

The town itself was full of surfers who were either heading towards the water to catch some waves, or walking away looking refreshed and energised after a surf session. There was no market in Bondi like there had been in Manly, and the shops, cafés and restaurants didn’t appeal to me as much. Manly had the perfect mix of surfer shops and hang-outs, and unique little cafés and shops for the non-surfers. I’m just not cool enough to hang out with surfers!

 

Manly Beach

Manly Beach

Overall, Manly was definitely my favourite of the two. Bondi has a stunning beach and would be perfect for all you Talk Holiday readers who do surf, but as I don’t, the beach at Manly and the quirky shops and open air market appealed to me far more.

Have you been to Bondi or Manly? Been to both? Which is your favourite?