Manly's sandy beach is a perfect spot to learn to surf

When overseas visitors imagine the beaches of Australia, Manly is not the first beach that comes to mind. In the media, Manly is overshadowed by Queensland's Surfers Paradise and Sydney's most famous beach, Bondi. Nevertheless, Australian surfers know that Manly and the other northern beaches of Sydney are a genuine surfer's paradise and Sydney families wanting to enjoy a good day at the beach with room for their umbrellas select the wide expanse of Manly in favor of Bondi on a hot summer day.

Sydney is split down the center by Sydney Harbor. The two sides of Sydney, Sydney and North Sydney are joined by the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. The wide expanse of Manly Beach is the first main beach suburb on the north side of the bridge. It's long, crescent shaped beach is perfect for relaxing in the sun and playing in the sea. Manly locals, like a lot of other Australians, learn to swim nearly before they learn to walk and as soon as they learn to swim, they start learning to surf. The many sand banks that stretch across the main beach in Manly are perfect for learners, but when the waves get large and suitable for experts only, they head for the headlands - Fairy Bower, located on the southern tip of Manly. Onlookers flock to the cliff over Fairy Bower to watch the action as several of Australia's best surfers take on the challenge of this treacherous wave, which crashes against the rocks at the base of the cliff.

Whether you've been surfing 'the Bower' or playing with the kids in the smaller waves on Manly Beach, you are going to work up an appetite. The Corso, a long, broad pedestrian avenue, has enough eateries to satisfy anyone's appetite. Thanks to Sydney's great multi-cultural heritage, you can find any type of cuisine you like on the Corso or if you just would like fast food, a healthy smoothie or a gourmet ice cream cone, you'll find it there, too. For that matter, there's almost nothing you can't find in the Corso. Between the gift shops, the surf shops, the boutiques and the stores that cater towards the locals, the Corso has it all.

What Manly Beach and the Corso do not have is peace and solitude. For that, you have to go further north. The further north you travel, whether by car or by public transportation, the more the shops, houses, factories and other signs of urban Sydney fall away. Finally, the northern beaches come to an end on the tip of a narrow peninsula in the small, exclusive suburb of Palm Beach. Surfers know all of the beaches along this route like the backs of their hands. Narrabeen in particular has a haloed name among Australian surfers, being the training ground for a lot of of Australia's top international stars and the venue for several international surfing competitions.

A great way to get to Manly from downtown Sydney is aboard the Manly Ferry. Once you're in Manly, you can take a bus to the beach and then take your pick of Manly accommodation. Anything you could want is right there for you, from budget accommodations to luxury resorts. Give yourself a while to explore Manly and the other northern beaches. All of them has something special to offer.

Take a few days off, find holiday accommodation manly, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.