# Curl Curl Beach, Sydney

URL: https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/curl-curl/ · Region: Northern Beaches · Facts checked: 2026-10-09

A 1.2 km surf beach between Freshwater and Dee Why, with a rock pool at each end and a lagoon in the middle. Plenty of houses, no hotels: the nearest beds are a 26-minute walk south at the north end of Manly.

Curl Curl has no hotels, hostels or guesthouses near the beach. The closest beds we found are at Manly Waves Hotel in Queenscliff, the north end of Manly, a 26-minute walk (about 2.1 km) through Freshwater. The beach is about 1.2 km long, split into North and South Curl Curl, with a rock pool at each end. It’s patrolled from September to April.

At a glance: 26 min walk from Manly Waves Hotel · patrolled Sep – Apr · a rock pool at each end · no dogs on the beach.

## Nowhere to sleep at Curl Curl. Manly is 26 minutes away.

Curl Curl is a residential suburb. Behind the beach are the lagoon, playing fields, the two surf clubs and streets of houses; when we checked there was no hotel, hostel or guesthouse within an easy walk of the sand.

The nearest place to stay is Manly Waves Hotel at Queenscliff, the north end of Manly Beach. From there it’s about 2.1 km through Freshwater to the sand at South Curl Curl, 26 minutes on foot. Buses 166 and 167 also run from Manly.

Curl Curl Beach is a 26 min walk (2,070 m) from Manly Waves Hotel at Queenscliff, the north end of Manly Beach, through Freshwater. Walk = walking time along the walking route on OpenStreetMap (not driving), door to sand, at 4.8 km/h. Every place to stay at Manly Beach, with its walk to the sand and climb home: [Where to stay at Manly Beach](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/manly/) ([Markdown](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/manly/index.md)).

## Which end?

- **South Curl Curl.** The busier end, with a café, the South Curl Curl surf club (founded 1918) and a 50 m rock pool with a toddlers’ area, toilets and showers nearby. The council closes the pool on a cleaning roster. The best-known rip on the beach, the Garbage Bowl, runs at this end.
- **The lagoon.** Curl Curl Lagoon runs out to the sea across the northern part of the beach. The shallow water at its mouth is where small children paddle and build sandcastles, but the council doesn’t recommend swimming in the lagoon itself.
- **North Curl Curl.** Good swimming and bodyboarding at the north end, near the North Curl Curl surf club (founded 1922). Round the end of the headland is a 25 m rock pool; at high tide you can only reach it on the coastal walk over the headland, and the council doesn’t clean it because access is difficult.

## How to get to Curl Curl

- **From Manly.** Buses 166 and 167 run from Manly. On foot it’s about 26 minutes from Queenscliff, the north end of Manly Beach, through Freshwater. (Sources: [Wikipedia: Curl Curl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curl_Curl,_New_South_Wales))
- **From the city.** There’s no train. The 165X express runs between South Curl Curl and Wynyard in the city, or take the ferry to Manly and a bus from there. Plan the trip on the Transport NSW trip planner. (Sources: [Wikipedia: Curl Curl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curl_Curl,_New_South_Wales); [Transport NSW trip planner](https://transportnsw.info/trip))
- **By car.** There are car parks at both North and South Curl Curl: free with a Northern Beaches Council parking permit, pay-and-display without one. Both have disabled spaces. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: North Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/north-curl-curl-beach); [Northern Beaches Council: South Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/south-curl-curl-beach))
- **From the airport.** By public transport it’s the train to the city and then the 165X, or the ferry to Manly and a bus. Most people with luggage take a taxi or rideshare.

## Is Curl Curl Beach safe?

- **Is Curl Curl patrolled?** In the season. Most Northern Beaches beaches, Curl Curl included, are patrolled by council lifeguards for 32 weeks between September and April, with volunteers from the North and South Curl Curl surf clubs on weekends and holidays. Swim between the red and yellow flags. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council, 5 June 2025](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/single-service-beach-safety-across-northern-beaches); [Wikipedia: Curl Curl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curl_Curl,_New_South_Wales); [Northern Beaches Council: South Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/south-curl-curl-beach))
- **Rips** There are several rips at any one time. The most notable, the Garbage Bowl, is at the southern end of the beach. (Sources: [NSW Government: Curl Curl Beach](https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/curl-curl-beach); [Northern Beaches Council: South Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/south-curl-curl-beach))
- **The lagoon** The council doesn’t recommend swimming in Curl Curl Lagoon. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: North Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/north-curl-curl-beach))
- **Water quality after rain** Check Beachwatch for the daily pollution forecast before you swim after heavy rain. (Sources: [NSW Beachwatch](https://www.beachwatch.nsw.gov.au/))

## Is Curl Curl good for kids?

- The shallow water by the lagoon mouth at North Curl Curl is good for paddling and sandcastles.
- South Curl Curl’s rock pool has a toddlers’ area, with toilets and showers nearby.
- Out of season (May to August) there are no flags: stay in the pools.

## The downsides

- Nowhere to stay near the beach. The nearest beds are a 26-minute walk away in Manly.
- Rips: several at any time, and the Garbage Bowl at the south end.
- Not patrolled from May to August.
- No dogs on the beach (there are off-leash areas nearby).
- The North Curl Curl pool isn’t cleaned by the council and is hard to reach at high tide.

## FAQ

### Where can I stay near Curl Curl Beach?

In Manly. The closest place we found is Manly Waves Hotel in Queenscliff, at the north end of Manly Beach, a 26-minute walk through Freshwater. There’s no hotel or hostel near Curl Curl Beach itself.

### Is Curl Curl Beach patrolled?

Yes, in the season: council lifeguards between September and April, and surf club volunteers on weekends and holidays. Swim between the flags. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council, 5 June 2025](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/single-service-beach-safety-across-northern-beaches))

### Does Curl Curl have a rock pool?

Two. South Curl Curl has a 50 m pool with a toddlers’ area; North Curl Curl has a 25 m pool round the end of the headland, reached at high tide only by the coastal walk. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: South Curl Curl Rockpool](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/south-curl-curl-rockpool); [Northern Beaches Council: North Curl Curl Rockpool](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/north-curl-curl-rockpool))

### Can you swim in Curl Curl Lagoon?

The council doesn’t recommend it. Swim in the sea between the flags, or in the rock pools. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: North Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/north-curl-curl-beach))

### Is Curl Curl dog friendly?

Not the beach: dogs are prohibited. There are two off-leash areas close by, at Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve (with access to the lagoon) and Adams Street Reserve in John Fisher Park. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: North Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/north-curl-curl-beach))

### How long is Curl Curl Beach?

About 1.2 km, divided into North Curl Curl and South Curl Curl. (Sources: [NSW Government: Curl Curl Beach](https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/curl-curl-beach))

### How do you get to Curl Curl from the city?

Take the 165X express bus from Wynyard to South Curl Curl, or the ferry to Manly and bus 166 or 167. There’s no train. (Sources: [Wikipedia: Curl Curl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curl_Curl,_New_South_Wales))

### Is Curl Curl good for surfing?

Yes. It faces east-southeast and the waves average about 1.6 m. The surfing is best in front of and south of the lagoon, in north-easterly winds. (Sources: [NSW Government: Curl Curl Beach](https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/curl-curl-beach); [Northern Beaches Council: North Curl Curl Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/north-curl-curl-beach))

## Nearby beaches

- [Freshwater](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/freshwater/): the next beach south, over the headland
- [Manly](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/manly/): south, past Freshwater: 26 minutes on foot
- [Dee Why](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/dee-why/): the next beach north, over the cliffs
- [Long Reef](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/long-reef/): north, past Dee Why

Ask a local: enquiries@sydneybeachside.com.au