Discover a thrilling new side to Sydney on the city's Northern Beaches. Immerse in awe-inspiring nature along this exquisite coastline stretching some 30km from Manly north to Palm Beach. Take a cleansing dip in one of the many ocean pools, embark on a mountain biking adventure, or choose from myriad other outdoor pursuits. Here are some exciting activities to try.   

Choose your own beach adventure

Relish the variety of options as you take your pick from more than 20 surf beaches alone on the Northern Beaches. Get a buzz riding the waves at Manly, Curl Curl, Narrabeen and beyond, or sign up for a surf lesson with the likes of Manly Surf School to learn the ropes. Introduce your family to a beach you haven't visited before, such as protected Freshwater; it's one of more than a dozen northern beaches with an ocean pool. Or channel your inner celebrity at Palm Beach, the most glamorous stretch of sand of them all.  

Be awed by the underwater world of Manly

Slip under the waves at one of Sydney's best snorkelling and scuba diving spots at Shelly Beach. This picturesque cove at the southern end of Manly forms part of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. Strap on a snorkel and head straight out from the beach to marvel at schools of fish, docile wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish and more, or increase your chances of spotting marine critters on an action-packed guided snorkelling tour with Manly Eco Treasures. For a deeper immersion, sign up for a scuba dive, or seize the opportunity to complete a dive course with Pro Dive Manly or Dive Centre Manly — Shelly Beach is one of the most popular places in Sydney to get certified. 

Get a buzz exploring biking trails

Indulge a passion for mountain biking on the Northern Beaches, home to off-road trails to satisfy all skill levels. Get your adrenalin pumping on the 19km circuit around Manly Dam, which is suitable for all rider levels. Or soak up the native bushland scenery as you discover new trails on a tour with Joe's Mountain Bike Tours, which runs tours at top mountain biking spots across the region. Find your flow in Bare Creek Bike Park in Belrose, or enjoy a leisurely cycle on the 8.6km Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, with bike hire available from Boomerang Bikes, just inside Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park.

Feel restored on a nature walk

Uncover dozens of scenic walking and hiking trails threading the bushland and sandstone clifftops of the Northern Beaches. Be rewarded with spectacular coastal views from historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, perched atop Barrenjoey Head at the northern tip of Palm Beach, after choosing your route to the top: the 1.6km-return Access Trail or the short but steep Smugglers Track (800m return).

Breathe in the fresh, salty air on the Dee Why Headland Walk, which traces the cliffs between Dee Why and North Curl Curl beaches for 1.6km. Spend a glorious day out on the 10km Manly Scenic Walkway (also known as the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk) at the southern end of the Northern Beaches. Or get a buzz spotting whales (May to November) as you explore the freshly upgraded trails and lookout at North Head. Learn more about these exquisite landscapes and enjoy some good company on your hike on a walking excursion with Go Beyond Tours.

Enjoy a peaceful paddle

Discover calm, protected waters perfect for kayaking at Narrabeen Lagoon in Narrabeen and the azure natural harbour of Pittwater on the western side of the Northern Beaches peninsula. Hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) at Narrabeen Boat Hire (which also rents out small boats that don't require a licence to operate) and head out to explore the hidden corners of the serene local lagoon, which flows out to Narrabeen Beach. Or embark on a kayaking adventure in Pittwater with the likes of Paddlecraft Pittwater, which offers SUP and kayak hire as well as a range of tours, or Pittwater Kayak Tours, which specialises in guided excursions of the stunning marine ecosystem, fringed by the wilderness of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Prefer sailing? Feel the wind in your hair as your skippered yacht slices through the water.

Take a thrilling seaplane flight

Admire the Northern Beaches from a stunning new perspective on a scenic seaplane adventure. Take off from Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs and soar above the peninsula on a flight with Sydney Seaplanes before circling back to Sydney Harbour. Or make a day of it with Sydney by Seaplane, which offers the opportunity to fly to Palm Beach to spend your day as you wish before flying back to Sydney. You can also opt to make the ultimate entrance to a local restaurant such as Barrenjoey House at Palm Beach or Bert's in Newport as your seaplane transfer touches down on Pittwater.

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