When it comes to the best beaches in Sydney, it's hard to know where to begin.
Around 100 beaches are scattered across the harbour and along the coastline, both north and south of the Harbour Bridge. The only trouble for travellers and locals alike is picking the best spot.
To make things easier, this list of the 15 best beaches in Sydney showcases our pick of the very best.
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Manly Beach
After a 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, a sign at Manly Wharf reads: "Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care." That's the "God's country" way of life in a nutshell.
The cosmopolitan shopping strip and promenade round out the scene of young, stylish, beautiful and tanned bodies. A single day trip here is enough to get you thinking about relocating to the northern beaches. Whether from the sand itself or one of the nearby cafes, Manly is a lovely place to catch a wave or simply watch the world go by.
Manly Beach, South Steyne, Manly.
Tamarama Beach
Nicknamed "Glamarama" for the good-looking locals soaking up the sun, it has traditionally been a haven for the gay community and models.
Parking anywhere near the beach is next to impossible, but it's well worth the struggle, because the beach is every bit as gorgeous as the locals who grace it. Small and cosy, it feels like an exclusive stretch of sand reserved for the lucky few.
A word of warning, though: it's also one of Sydney's most dangerous beaches, with two rips pulling in from either side of the bay. While this makes it a paradise for surfers riding the waves off the northern edge next to neighbouring Mackenzies Beach, it can be tricky if you're not a strong swimmer.
Tamarama Beach, Tamarama Marine Drive, Tamarama.
Bondi Beach
Australia's most famous beach is more than 100 metres wide and stretches over a kilometre. That leaves room for a huge crowd of tourists and locals spread out across the sand. On a good day every grain is covered with bodies, the crowds spilling into Bondi Park and the nearby bars and cafes.
It sometimes gets knocked for being too big, too crowded and too touristy, but it's also a hotspot for fashionable Sydneysiders and travellers, and it's a whole lot of fun.
Bondi Beach, Campbell Parade, Bondi.
Bronte Beach
The Bronte sea baths offer sheltered ocean swimming and rank among the best in Sydney, and, like the beach culture itself, they're free.
The adjoining park has plenty of space for barbecues and is the most family-friendly beach in the eastern suburbs. On public holidays the park turns into a sea of madness as the parties roll in.
East-facing Bronte catches plenty of swell, and swimming can sometimes be tricky thanks to the massive headlands and submerged rocks. Waves can dump close to the shore.
But the atmosphere and the views it offers make it perfect for anyone who wants to sprawl out on a popular beach.
Bronte Beach, Bronte Marine Drive, Bronte.
Nielsen Park Beach
It still calls itself the city's "hidden secret", despite near-impossible parking and a crowded beach, but Nielsen Park is a little gem. The more adventurous can walk along the harbour foreshore through the national park to reach it.
It feels secluded even when it's packed, and it has a charming appeal precisely because it isn't touristy, you won't spot a single backpacker here.
The views across the bays to the city are stunning. A net that makes it a perfect spot for a family picnic or a bit of snorkelling encloses the swimming area.
Nielsen Park, Greycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse.
Balmoral
Balmoral, set on the northern shore of Middle Harbour near Taronga Zoo, has an air of peaceful calm. Life moves at a slower pace here. If you're after something loud and flashy, this isn't the place.
What Balmoral has in spades are striking views. And its tranquillity makes it a great spot for families to swim.
Balmoral Beach, The Esplanade, Balmoral.
Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach is just around the corner from Manly on the northern edge. When Manly gets too crowded, as it often does, this is your closest bolthole.
Because it's sheltered from the ocean swell, you'll see plenty of scuba divers below the surface and surfers gliding across the top.
And they won't be the only ones making the most of the perfect visibility and calm water, as swimmers flock to the beach too.
Shelly Beach, Bower Street, Manly.
Milk Beach
Tucked behind the historic Strickland House on Vaucluse Road, this cosy, hidden beach is fairly lively in the summer months but practically deserted the rest of the year.
A great place to impress, Milk Beach is a little-known spot that still packs a real punch when it comes to jaw-dropping views of Sydney. And you'll often see plenty of kayakers moored up for a snack.
It has also hosted some big summer parties, so you might just find yourself on a beachside dance floor.
Milk Beach, Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse.
Bilgola Beach
As you wind down the roads leading to Bilgola Beach from the surrounding heights, you instantly feel like you're travelling off the beaten track.
The rips breaking off the northern end of the beach whip up excellent waves for the "wax heads" who live on the "insular peninsula".
Bilgola rarely gets a mention, and the locals keep it relatively under wraps. Quiet and unspoilt, the beach is a genuine spot for those in the know.
Bilgola Beach, The Serpentine, Avalon
Camp Cove
Set close to the mouth of the harbour, Camp Cove boasts some of the most breathtaking views of Sydney. It also faces west, giving those on the east side a chance to watch the sun set over the water.
It sits next to a big park, a playground, a pub and the iconic fish and chips, what more could you want for a day at a harbour beach?
The views also open up in the opposite direction across the expanse of the Tasman Sea, a contrast to the city skyline. Quiet, secluded and scenic, Camp Cove is a stunning place for a swim, and the raised promenade lets visitors take it all in at a leisurely pace.
Camp Cove, Victoria Street, Watsons Bay.
Clovelly
Arguably one of the best options for snorkelling and exploring what lurks beneath the surface, Clovelly is a small, calm beach known for its unique narrow inlet between two rocky ridges.
Instead of a long sweeping shoreline, Clovelly is sheltered and so offers peaceful swimming far from the hustle and noise of the busy beaches nearby.
It's a good starting point for a trip to Gordons Bay, where you can check out the snorkelling trails through the water, or take a coastal walk to Bondi or Bronte.
Clovelly Beach, Donnellan Circuit, Clovelly.
North Narrabeen Beach
With some of the best and most consistent waves, this beach draws board riders from all over Sydney. Surfers don't think twice about making the 25-kilometre trek north of the city centre to reach the three-kilometre stretch of sand.
The northern end of the vast sandy strip is sheltered from north-easterly winds and is a magnet for surfers, while the rest of the sprawling beach is perfect for swimming.
North Narrabeen Beach, Ocean Street, North Narrabeen.
Freshwater Beach
Framed by headlands on both sides, "Freshie" often serves up excellent surf.
Perhaps not by chance, Freshwater is also where Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku first introduced surfing to Australia back in 1915. At just 350 metres long, the beach is a popular spot for surfers. It's also an ideal place for a swim at sunset.
There's an eight-lane rock pool at the northern end too.
Freshwater Beach, Moore Road, Freshwater.
Garie Beach
Set within the Royal National Park, 54 kilometres south of Sydney, Garie Beach isn't for carless beachgoers. The large beach is stunning, though.
It's well preserved and makes an ideal spot for a relaxing day on the sand far from the city and the "usual" places. The facilities here are excellent, and there's a great fishing spot on the east-facing rocks.
Garie Beach, Garie Beach Road, Royal National Park.
Palm Beach
Part of Sydney's "insular peninsula" at the far north, it's the setting for the long-running TV series "Home and Away" and endless celebrity sightings.
The gorgeous views take in a salt lagoon, typical of the beaches on the northern side of the harbour.
On a sunny day, Palm Beach is the perfect postcard-worthy stretch of sand, despite sitting 45 kilometres north of the city centre. As with many beach trips in Sydney, it's well worth the drive, since you'll take in breathtaking views along the way.
Palm Beach, Ocean Road, Palm Beach.
