Little Manly Beach is a relaxed snorkel spot on a calm day, where you can snorkel the underwater kelp forests with diverse marine species such as Swimming Anemone, Sea Horse, Leatherjackets, and Toadfish. in the Golden Sea Kelp forests. The spot is located in the town of Manly, a 10-15 minute walk from the and a chilled out alternative to Shelly Beach.
Pros
Cons
Snorkel Snaps
Where is Little Manly Beach?
The snorkel spot is located in the coastal town of Manly, and North of Sydney city centre, in the Australian state of New South Wales, Australia. The snorkel spot runs from Little Manly Beach along the Rock Pool swimming pool and shoreline to the left of the beach.
Snorkel Spot
Snorkel Review
Snorkel Spot Overview
Little Coral
1-3 Meters Average Depth
OK-Good Visibility
Easy Difficulty
Toilet facilities
Shower facilities
Cafes nearby
Free
Sea Urchins Present
Jellyfish can be Present
When:
Who:
Tour Cost:
Star Rating:
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Little Manly Beach is a hidden snorkeling gem offering calm waters and abundant marine life, nestled in the quieter part of Manly a short walk from the Wharf. This peaceful spot provides a chance to explore the Rock Pool, and kelp forests along the rocky coastline. The waters of Little Manly are protected in the North Harbour Aquatic Reserve and a haven for endangered species such as the White Sea Horse.
Little Manly Beach is located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches in New South Wales, and is accessible from Ferry to Manly and a walk, or by bus/car. The beach has toilet facilities a short walk up to the car park. The sandy beach is a great location away from the busier beaches for a relax and snorkel. The beach is also located at the start of the North Head walk, which is included in the top things to do in Manly!
Snorkel Spot
You can enter the water from the beach, which is a sandy beach. Be very careful at low tide not to tread on the endangered and protected Sea Grass. Towards the end of the Rock Pool you’ll be met with Sea Grass and as you get closer to the shoreline there are Kelp. The waters are sheltered from the open ocean, and hosts a kelp which runs along the rocky shoreline.
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Little Manly Beach Sea Kelp
Top Tip:
The best time to snorkel is at high tide, providing good conditions to safely snorkel above the kelp forests. We snorkeled after a few days of rain and the water was chruned up and there was debris in the water and not the best visibility.
Little Manly Beach Marine Life
The marine life was diverse from the sandy beach meets sea grass and sea kelp along the rocky shoreline behind the Rockpool. There are small fish and Leatherjackets swimming within the netted Rock Pool. We saw small fish and Toadfish behind the Rock Pool. In the Rockpool I spotted what I first thought was a toy ball, only to discover it was a Swimming Anemone! Very cool!
Safety Tip:
A few safety tips include wearing flippers, as there are sea urchins present and it is a relatively large bay to snorkel. There are also other rocks and shells that can cause injury.
GetYourGuide Tours:
GetYourGuide offers snorkel tours all over the world. Book in advance when you can, and even if your plans change, enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, no questions asked, as per GetYourGuide Terms.
This is an affiliate link. As a Getyourguide affiliate, if you make a purchase through this link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Little Manly Beach Sea Plants & Coral
Popular Marine Life
Toadfish
Stingrays
Stripey
Damselfish
Australian Mado
Grey Mullet
Common Stingree
Tarwhine
Rare Marine Life
Common Octopus
Spotted Wobbegong Shark
Dusky Flathead
Fiddler Ray
What We Saw
(Seen on 2025)
| Sand Mullet | Swimming Anemone |
| Rough Leatherjacket | Weeping Toadfish |
| Fan Bellied Leatherjacket | Oyster |
| Parore (Ludrick) | Sergeant Major Damselfish |
Summary
Little Manly Beach is a relaxed snorkel spot and a good option if you’re staying in Manly or Sydney and if the water isn’t suitable at Shelly Beach which is a better snorkel spot. The Golden Kelp runs along the left-hand side of Little Manly Beach. There is a range of very diverse marine life, and generally is a quiet spot in comparison to Shelly Beach.
The bay is home to Leatherjackets, Ludrick, Stripeys, and Mullet.
The bay is generally protected from large waves, but be sure to check the wave weather forecast. Snorkelling in my opinion is best at high tide as there is more space between you and the kelp. There was wash off and debris that had been washed into the bay which did ruin the visibility.
There are other snorkel spots in Sydney, such as Cabbage Tree Bay, Clovelly Beach, and Gordons Bay.
Tour Guide Options
It is free to snorkel at Little Manly Beach. I’m not aware of snorkel tours that go to the spot, but I do believe Dive spots do go here. It is a relaxed spot which is great to combine with a chill on the beach and walk.
Best Snorkel Spot
In my opinion, the best snorkeling spot was on the left hand side as you enter from the beach behind the netted section where there is sea grass and kelp. Here we saw small schools of fish, Toadfish, and Kelp.
The Rock pool also had sea plants and corals growing on the netting and there is the opportunity to see Sea Horses which we didn’t. But we did see a swimming Anemone which was very cool and my first time seeing!
Best Time Of Year
You can snorkel all year round in calm wave conditions, but conditions can be better during Australia’s Summer season which runs from April to October.
Nearby Snorkel Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
By Ferry (Popular Option):
Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes and gives you a great view of the harbor.
From Manly Wharf, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Little Manly Beach. You can either head to the east side of the wharf and follow the path that runs along the water, or take the streets that lead you towards the beach.
By Bus:
You can take a bus from Wynyard Station in the city to Manly. The buses are frequent and the ride takes around 40–50 minutes, depending on traffic.
Once in Manly, it’s about a 15-minute walk to Little Manly Beach.
By Car:
From Sydney CBD, you can drive via the Warringah Freeway (A38) and Manly Road. The trip takes around 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.
There’s parking available near the beach, but it can get busy during weekends and holidays.
Once you’re at Little Manly Beach, you’ll find a quiet, calm spot that’s perfect for a relaxed day by the water. Enjoy the views!
It is free to snorkel from the beach, and I do not believe there are snorkel tours to this spot.
Little Manly Beach, located in Manly, New South Wales, is known for its relatively calm waters and diverse marine life. While it’s not as famous for its large marine creatures as some other spots, you still have a good chance of seeing a variety of underwater life, especially if you’re snorkeling or diving.
Here’s the likelihood of spotting each species:
- Large Fish (e.g., Kingfish, Flathead, Mullet, or Yellowtail):
- Chance: Moderate
- Larger fish can be found around the sandy shores, rocky reefs and drop-offs. While you might not
- Giant Cuttlefish:
- Chance: Low to Moderate
- Giant cuttlefish are generally found in deeper waters, and Little Manly Beach is shallow. However, if you’re visiting during the right season (usually in spring or summer), you might come across smaller species of cuttlefish or the occasional larger one in the deeper parts of the bay or along the edges of the reef.
- Stingrays:
- Chance: Moderate to High
- Stingrays are relatively common in shallow bays and sandy areas, especially around Manly. You can often spot them resting on the seabed or swimming close to the shoreline, particularly at lower tide.
- Turtles:
- Chance: Moderate
- Sea turtles are occasionally seen in this area, particularly in the warmer months. While they are more common in areas like Cabbage Tree Bay, you can sometimes spot them in Little Manly, especially if you’re in the right spot and the water is clear.
I didn’t go on a tour, I snorkelled Little Manly Beach for approximately 40-minutes from the beach.
Nearby Things to Do
