Sydney

Sydney is blessed with many surf beaches that cater to all levels of surfing skill, from small waves for beginners to big breaks for the more experienced and adventurous. Sydney beaches featured on the National Surfing Reserves, a list of iconic surfing locations in Australia, are Manly and North Narrabeen in Sydney's north and Maroubra and Cronulla in Sydney's south.

Sydney's coastline features a number of delightful outdoor pools, carved into rock platforms. These saltwater pools are a perfect complement to the surf — ideal for lap swimmers, families or those who just want to relax and float. You'll find many of the ocean pools tucked into the corners of Sydney's surf beaches or down a cliffside, such as the women's baths at Coogee, In Sydney Harbour, outdoor pools include the Andrew Boy Charlton pool at Woolloomooloo, near the Art Gallery of NSW, Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

Palm Beach is Sydney's northernmost stretch of sand, featuring great surf and coastal walks. It's famous as the gorgeous setting in the long-running TV soap Home and Away, which has a huge international following. Known to locals as Palmie, the northern end of the beach is good for surfing and the southern end offers protected swimming, including a 35-metre ocean pool. Enjoy spectacular views of Palm Beach and Pittwater from the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, or fish from Palm Beach Wharf.

A great way to marvel at the beauty of Sydney Harbour and the enchanting bushland on the foreshore is on foot, and one of the best walking trails is the Manly Scenic Walkway. This 10 km path meanders through the bush around the harbour foreshore from Spit Bridge past gorgeous Clontarf Beach to Manly. Stop at the crest of Dobroyd Head and look straight out to sea through the Heads, the entrance of the harbour. There are six entry and exit points for shorter strolls, and the whole walk takes 3-4 hours. Enjoy a post-walk feast at Manly Wharf before taking the iconic Manly ferry across the harbour to Circular Quay.