Manly is a 'suburb' in North Sydney, famous for its surfing beach and relaxed holiday atmosphere. The fastest and most scenic way for you to get to Manly is to take the local ferry.
You have two options, the regular ferry, and the fast ferry.
The regular yellow and green ferry takes 30 minutes while allowing you spectacular views of Sydney Harbour. The standard ferry is considered as part of the public transportation system, and thus you need an Opal Card to board the ferry. You can quickly get one at the vending desks at Circular Quay, where the ferry leaves. You can travel on all public transportation for AU$15 per day. It runs almost every 30 minutes. For more details, you can view the exact timetable of the F1 Manly Ferry.
The fast ferry takes you 18-20 minutes to Manly and costs AU$19.30 round trip.
Personally, I don't see the need for the fast ferry and recommend taking the traditional ferry.
Discover the city center of Manly
Once you reach Manly, you will be welcomed by a pedestrian-only main street, called the Corso. Take the time to check out the surf shops and maybe buy a new swimsuit and also take some time for the many galleries with Aboriginal Art. Continue to the famous Manly Beach and watch the surfers do their thing.
Walk to Shelly Beach for a late breakfast
Follow along the beach walk towards the protected Shelly Beach cove for some more great ocean views. Head for the Boathouse at the end of Shelly Beach and look out for an empty table.
Should you not catch one right away, be patient, believe me, it is worth it. Once you got lucky, be ready to devour a super tasty breakfast/brunch/drink, depending on the time of day. The Boathouse is a stylish beach restaurant giving you the feeling of being miles away from a big city.
Should you bring the time and energy, you can continue your walk from the Boathouse along the Shelly Beach to Barracks Precinct Walk onto the Manly Peninsula.
