Earning the crown as Sydney's very best beach is this well-known surf shore in Sydney’s Northern Beaches adjacent to Manly. It’s a popular hangout for locals and out-of-towners alike, found just a short walk from Manly Wharf and with regular connections to the CBD. It’s got all the elements of a truly great beach: exciting waves, accessible by public transport, solid family-friendly vibes, and little nooks and crannies to explore.

With refreshingly cool water and picture-perfect suspended bridge overlooking its secluded shore, Parsley Bay is a gem of a beach hidden in Sydney’s east. It's definitely one of the prettiest numbers on this list, and it's got a bounty of native fauna and flora for you to explore.

Tucked between Bronte Beach to the north and Gordon's Bay to the south, Clovelly is a small beach lying at the mouth of a narrow bay between two rocky ridges. If sand is not your favourite, you’ll be pleased by the large patches of concrete where you can roll out your towel.

This secluded beach is a lot more chilled than the nearby sandy stretch of Manly Beach. The whole area is a nature reserve, so look out for protected water dragons on the walk from Cabbage Tree Bay and blue gropers in the waters, which are popular for snorkeling and diving.

Impressively, this deep cove boasts not one but two ocean baths – the rockpool at the north end and a dual basin lap pool at the southern point that allows cold water wusses to enter gradually before submerging completely.

While Bondi claims the fame, this 1.1 kilometre bay with a world-famous wave culture is the OG home of Surfing NSW. Beyond the thundering waves favoured by the likes of Kelly Slater, the Bra is hemmed by windswept dunes, wild bushland and a rocky headland – yet is close to many eating and drinking options.

This beautiful cove north of Manly is the birthplace of modern surfing in Australia thanks to a 1914 demonstration by Duke Kahanamoku, a visiting Hawaiian Olympian. It has some of the most reliable breaks in the city and being away from a big shopping hub means it’s one of the Northern Beaches' more relaxed and scenic beaches.

Garie is surrounded by densely forested hills, but thanks to the Surf Life Saving clubhouse, you’ll still have access to toilets, changing facilities and even (cold) showers. Surf conditions are bodacious here, although these waves are best left to the more experienced tube-chasers as there are only lifeguard patrols 9am-5pm in December and January.

Murray Rose Pool (formerly Redleaf Pool) can be found in Double Bay's Blackburn Cove and provides swimmers with a safe harbourside tidal enclosure. There’s a wrap-around deck, which makes for a lovely walk and begs for a dive into the cool water, where you can swim to a floating pontoon that's perfect for sunbathing.

Manly’s beach is such a luxuriously long stretch of golden sand that it’s divided into three sections: Queenscliif at the northern tip, North Steyne and South Steyne. It’s a popular surf break (home to the Manly Surf School), and very well guarded (year-round) so there’s always a safe stretch for swimming.

Whatever your pleasure, Bronte is a reliably all-purpose beach. It has waves every bit as exciting as Bondi’s, but also quiet rock pools and the beautiful ocean baths at its southern end for those who prefer a gentler dip.

The quieter, more chilled-out sister of Bronte and Bondi Beaches, ‘Tama’ is an inlet with great surf and grassy areas for picnicking. Watch out for that current, though – it’s well-regarded as one of the country’s most dangerous patrolled beaches.

This beauty of a beach is an overachiever for sure: it’s got a waterfall and a lagoon, and it’s nestled in the Royal National Park, but don’t think that its faraway location saves it from crowds at peak times.

Coogee is one of Sydney’s most popular beaches, and a great one for swimmers – its more sheltered conditions mean it’s not as regular a surfing haunt. It’s central, easy to access, surrounded by facilities and shops, and the sand backs onto a grassy stretch of park popular for picnics.

Picturesque Chowder Bay is situated in Sydney’s North near Mosman and makes for a great family day out. If you’ve got kiddies willing to trek, take the walk from Bradley’s Head near Taronga Zoo all the way to Chowder Bay for a stroll with a huge pay-off in views.

Also referred to as Nielsen Park for the grassy reserve nearby, this calm, shark-netted beach in Vaucluse is a social hub, with a great atmosphere and filled with sun-bathers and family parties on a beautiful day.