Manly
Enjoy the wonderful delights of Manly, from iconic Manly Beach and breathtaking views from North Head to delicious waterside places to eat and fun family activities.
Begin your discovery with a ferry ride from Circular Quay across sparkling Sydney Harbour, one of the world’s great natural harbours.
The ferry is only 30 minutes, even quicker on a fast ferry. At Manly Wharf you’ll find charming bars, cafes and restaurants. Between May and November, whale-watching cruises such as Manly Ocean Adventures and Manly Whale Watching depart for the open ocean to spot humpbacks frolicking.
Connecting the harbourside wharf to the famous ocean beach is the Corso, a pedestrian mall dotted with surf shops, boutiques and classic pubs.
There are also surf shops and an enticing range of bars, cafes and restaurants adjacent to the beach, where the first world surfing contest was held in 1964.
On the tree-lined promenade are picnic tables. The white sandy beach is a popular place to learn to surf, with Manly Surf School and Manly Surf Guide offering lessons.
You can take a scenic walk south to lovely Fairy Bower Pool and pretty Shelly Beach, where you can enjoy a family barbecue in a park.
There are exciting tours too, including snorkelling and diving in Cabbage Tree Bay, an aquatic reserve with more than 160 species of colourful fish. You can hire a bicycle from Manly Bike Tours and Hire and explore hidden harbour coves and beaches, such as Little Manly Cove and Collins Flat Beach.
Other marvellous things to do include exploring ancient Aboriginal rock engravings at Grotto Point and exhilarating harbour walks, including the 10km Manly to Spit Bridge.
You can browse handmade designs at Manly Arts and Craft Market on weekends. Manly is perfect for a short getaway or longer sojourn, with accommodation options to suit various budgets.
Bundeena
Bundeena is a village on the outskirts of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bundeena is located 29 km south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the Sutherland Shire.
Bundeena is adjacent to the village of Maianbar and lies on the southern side of Port Hacking, opposite the suburbs of Cronulla and Burraneer. The village is surrounded by the Royal National Park.
The idyllic waters around Bundeena and the Deeban Spit in nearby Maianbar are perfect for fishing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding – Bundeena Kayaks offers various tours. Lovely sandy beaches in Bundeena and the national park are Hordens, Gunyah, Jibbon, Shelley and secluded Marley.
Bring your bushwalking shoes too, as there are more than 100km of walking trails. Forest path is an easy 4.4km loop through enchanting rainforest, home to a colourful range of birdlife. Another delightful walk is to Jibbon Head for magnificent views of sandstone cliffs and the vast Pacific Ocean.
Some of Sydney’s finest artists and artisans open their studio doors to the public on the Bundeena and Maianbar Art Trail, on the first Sunday of the month. Artworks on show and for sale include paintings, drawings, wood carving, decorative and functional pottery, glassware and jewellery.
Sydney West
Getting to most attractions is easy by public transport. A lovely way to travel to Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta is by ferry. At the famous site of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, watch your favourite sporting and music stars, and swim in the pool where Ian Thorpe won three Olympic gold medals.
You can enjoy wine tasting at vineyards and wineries in the rural Macarthur region, named after agricultural pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur.
There are heritage pubs and farm stays here, too. How about sake? There is a sake brewery in Penrith, the water sports capital of Sydney’s west.