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The best beach for…

Ranked guides, each pick with its reason, the catch and the nearest bed.

Manly Beach on a sunny day, the Norfolk pines along the promenade

To stay at

Manly, Coogee and Bondi are the best Sydney beaches to stay at.

Clovelly Beach and its sheltered inlet

For kids

Clovelly is the best Sydney beach for kids.

The netted Gunnamatta Bay baths from above, with yachts moored in the bay and Cronulla behind

For toddlers

Gunnamatta Bay’s netted tidal baths at Cronulla are the calmest swim in Sydney for a toddler.

The clear saltwater pool on the platform at Clovelly on a sunny day

For swimming

Clovelly and Coogee are the best Sydney beaches for swimming.

Maroubra Beach on a clear day, the wide sand running towards the headland

For surfing

Manly is the best Sydney beach to learn to surf and stay by the waves.

The small Cronulla to Bundeena ferry crossing Port Hacking

Without a car

Cronulla and Manly are the easiest Sydney beaches without a car.

Coogee Beach from above on a clear day

On a budget

Coogee is the best Sydney beach on a budget.

Coogee Beach in late-afternoon light, swimmers in the surf and the surf club on the southern headland

In winter

Bondi, Coogee, Maroubra and Clovelly are patrolled all year, so they are the best Sydney beaches for a winter swim.

Shelly Beach and the green water of Cabbage Tree Bay, seen through the trees

For snorkelling

Shelly Beach at Manly is the best snorkelling in Sydney for most people.

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