“Best” beaches really is a matter of opinion, so here are my personal favourites, built from years of living in and swimming around Sydney.
In a Rush? Quick Answer
- Want a view of the Harbour Bridge? Milk Beach
- Want a big day out with surf, food, and shops? Cronulla
- Want peace and quiet, no crowds? Congwong Beach
- Want a huge grassy spot for a group? Chinamans Beach
- Want to tick the icon off your list? Bondi Beach
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Close to the beach that is along the bondi to coogee walk, perfect location to reach bondi but still be peaceful
Bondi Beach House – Click here for Rates and Availability
In the middle of the popular bondi, giving you access to the most popular beach. Cozy home style accomodation.
lyf Bondi Junction Sydney – Click here for Rates and Availability
Easy access to any eastern suburb beach by bus, and a quick train to the city. Making it easy to get around Sydney
Eastern Suburbs Beaches
The classics here are Bondi, Coogee, Tamarama, Bronte, and Maroubra, so I’ll touch on those, plus a few slept-on favourites.
Milk Beach Calm water and a beautiful view of the city. There’s something special about swimming here while looking out at the Harbour Bridge. It’s only accessible via the Rose Bay coastal walk.
- Good for: stunning harbour views
- Downside: only reachable via a coastal walk
Maroubra My local beach. It has great swimming spots and Mahon Pool, which is incredibly photogenic, plus it’s a solid surf beach. It’s big enough that it never feels overcrowded, even on busy days.
- Good for: surf and free parking
- Downside: can get heavy waves
Bronte One of my favourites in the Eastern Suburbs, thanks to the ocean pool, rock pool, and the beach itself. There’s also a huge grassy area, great if you’re not in the mood for sand, plus shady spots and covered picnic tables if you want to have lunch or even work from the beach.
- Good for: shade, and easy access to a rock pool, ocean pool, and beach all in one spot
- Downside: paid parking
Bronte Rock Pool
Malabar A beach I visit often. It’s perfect for a relaxing swim, never overcrowded, and has both sand and grassy areas. Great for stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling, or an easy swim, and if you’re a beginner surfer, it gets occasional, fun waves. Walk further south and you’ll find a semi-hidden ocean pool, lovely if you’d rather not swim in the open ocean.
- Good for: a quieter beach with free parking
- Downside: limited parking, since it’s a pretty local spot
- Good for: Easy swim
- Downside: Many steps down so accesiblity isn’t great and no phone service
Little Bay Beach
Congwong Beach Beautiful, rarely crowded, and with calm water that’s perfect for swimming. Pack a snack or lunch, as there isn’t much close by. There are options, but they’re a bit of a walk compared to the other Eastern Suburbs beaches.
If you want to go the full “free yourself” route, follow the rocks around to Little Congwong Beach, a nudist beach, perfect if you’re after zero tan lines.
- Good for: a natural setting and calm water
- Downside: not much nearby, so pack what you need
Northern Beaches
Shelly Beach A classic. It’s a nice walk from Manly, passing ocean baths and a few good cafes along the way. The water is relaxing, though it can get busy, and watch your bags, the local turkeys love to investigate.
- Good for: easy access from Manly
- Downside: can get quite busy
Chinamans Beach Small beach, huge grass area. My friends and I have spent whole days here with an umbrella, a BBQ, and enough food to last. The water is calm and it’s a great all-rounder. Parking fills up fast, so go early or on a weekday.
- Good for: plenty of grassy space for big groups
- Downside: parking is tight
Collins Beach A quiet, cove-style beach: calm water, no waves (yes, I have a type). Easy access from Manly.
- Good for: a calm, cove-style swim
- Downside: parking
Northern Beaches in the National Park
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park has some amazing beaches, but be ready for a bit of a trek, and pack a lunch.
West Head Beach The easiest to reach from the car park. Quiet, calm water, and I’ve often had the place entirely to myself.
- Good for: the easiest starting point, minimal trekking
- Downside: pack everything in and out, as you’re in a national park
West Head Beach
Resolute Beach Quiet and peaceful, with a bit more of a trek down, but well worth it for the water alone.
- Good for: an even more peaceful beach day
- Downside: a decent hike in, including the descent to the beach
Great Mackerel Beach Home to a small community right on the water, so you’ll see families around, and it’s a stop on the local water taxi. Calm water, minimal waves. Getting there on foot means crossing some forest trail and scrambling over rocks.
- Good for: a good swim after a solid hike
- Downside: only reachable by water taxi or a proper hike
Southern Beaches
Cronulla is the most popular beach heading south. It has a lovely ocean bath, a good beach, and plenty of shops, restaurants, and pubs nearby for a full day out.
- Good for: a beach day with a town right on your doorstep
- Downside: can get busy
Beach-Hopping: The Coastal Walks
Want to see more than one beach in a day? Try walking between them:
- Maroubra to Malabar
- Bondi to Coogee
- Ku-ring-gai West Head walk
Quick Tips for Beach Days
- Best time to go: weekdays if you can manage it, and an afternoon dip while watching the sunset is hard to beat.
- What to bring: SPF 50 (the Australian sun is no joke) plus a cabana or umbrella for shade.
- Parking vs. public transport: the Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, and Cronulla are all easy by car or public transport, but some spots charge for parking, so plan ahead.
Final Verdict
Sydney has so many great beaches that it really comes down to personal taste. But after years of living here, and as someone who loves a calm, quiet beach, these are my go-to favourites.
