# Sydney Beachside

> Sydney Beachside is an independent, locally run guide to where to stay on the beaches of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia — hostels, apartments, hotels and holiday homes — organised beach by beach. We are a guide, not a booking site or a hostel.

Walking distances on this site are measured, never copied from listings: walking time and distance along the real walking route, door to sand. We publish no star ratings or reviews we did not earn, and never use stock photos to represent a property.

## Start here

- [Homepage (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/index.md): every beach we cover, kinds of stay, and how we measure
- [Full guide text for AI agents](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/llms-full.txt): all guide content in one Markdown file
- [Every beach compared (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/index.md): one table of every beach: places to stay, closest bed to the sand, cheapest price band, lifeguards, getting there
- [Where to stay, by kind (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/index.md): every place to stay across the beaches, by kind, with the closest to the sand
- [Beach hostels in Sydney (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/hostels/index.md): all 10 hostels, grouped by beach, with the walk to the sand
- [Beach hotels in Sydney (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/hotels/index.md): all 37 hotels, grouped by beach, with the walk to the sand
- [Beach apartments in Sydney (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/apartments/index.md): all 21 apartment stays, grouped by beach, with the walk to the sand
- [Beach guesthouses and B&Bs in Sydney (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/guesthouses/index.md): all 15 guesthouses and B&Bs, grouped by beach, with the walk to the sand
- [Beachfront stays in Sydney (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/beachfront/index.md): all 17 beachfront places, grouped by beach, with the walk to the sand
- [Beaches compared head to head (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/index.md): Bondi or Manly, Bondi or Coogee and other match-ups, each with a verdict and a side-by-side table
- [Bondi or Manly? (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/bondi-vs-manly/index.md): Stay in Bondi if you want the coastal walk and the eastern suburbs on your doorstep
- [Bondi or Coogee? (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/bondi-vs-coogee/index.md): Stay in Coogee if you want a cheaper bed close to the sand and a calmer, sheltered bay
- [Coogee or Manly? (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/coogee-vs-manly/index.md): Stay in Coogee if you want the cheapest beds by the sand and the eastern suburbs coastal walk
- [Coogee or Bronte? (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/coogee-vs-bronte/index.md): Stay in Coogee and visit Bronte
- [Coogee or Maroubra? (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/coogee-vs-maroubra/index.md): Stay in Coogee if you want a choice of hostels and hotels by the sand
- [Manly or Watsons Bay? (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/compare/manly-vs-watsons-bay/index.md): Stay in Manly if you want an ocean beach and a choice of beds, from hostels to beachfront hotels
- [The best Sydney beaches for... (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/index.md): ranked guides for kids, toddlers, swimming, surfing, snorkelling, winter, a budget, no car, and where to stay
- [The best Sydney beaches to stay at (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/beach-to-stay/index.md): Manly, Coogee and Bondi are the best Sydney beaches to stay at: each has hostels and hotels within five minutes’ walk of the sand
- [The best Sydney beaches for kids (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/kids/index.md): Clovelly is the best Sydney beach for kids: calm water behind a breakwater, lifeguards all year and a playground behind the sand
- [The calmest Sydney beaches for toddlers (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/toddlers/index.md): Gunnamatta Bay’s netted tidal baths at Cronulla are the calmest swim in Sydney for a toddler: no waves at all
- [The best Sydney beaches for swimming (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/swimming/index.md): Clovelly and Coogee are the best Sydney beaches for swimming: both are sheltered and patrolled all year, and both have pools for rough days
- [The best Sydney beaches for surfing (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/surfing/index.md): Manly is the best Sydney beach to learn to surf and stay by the waves: gentle waves at the south end, a surf school and beds on the sand
- [The best Sydney beaches to stay at without a car (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/without-a-car/index.md): Cronulla and Manly are the easiest Sydney beaches without a car
- [The best Sydney beaches for a cheap stay (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/budget/index.md): Coogee is the best Sydney beach on a budget: when we checked, hostel beds two to five minutes from the sand were $65–$83 a night
- [The best Sydney beaches in winter (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/winter/index.md): Bondi, Coogee, Maroubra and Clovelly are patrolled all year, so they are the best Sydney beaches for a winter swim
- [The best Sydney beaches for snorkelling (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/best/snorkelling/index.md): Shelly Beach at Manly is the best snorkelling in Sydney for most people: sheltered, fairly shallow and inside a no-take marine reserve
- [Hostels at Coogee Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/coogee/hostels/index.md): all three Coogee hostels with their walk to the sand, plus hostels at other Sydney beaches
- [Where to stay at Coogee Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/coogee/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Bondi Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bondi/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Manly Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/manly/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Cronulla Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/cronulla/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Maroubra Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/maroubra/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Freshwater Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/freshwater/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Dee Why Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/dee-why/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Palm Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/palm-beach/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Bronte Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bronte/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Tamarama Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/tamarama/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Clovelly Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/clovelly/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Collaroy Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/collaroy/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Narrabeen Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/narrabeen/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Avalon Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/avalon/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Whale Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/whale-beach/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Watsons Bay (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/watsons-bay/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Where to stay at Bundeena (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bundeena/index.md): every stay with its walk to the sand and climb home, which end of the beach, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Shelly Beach, Manly (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/shelly-beach/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Gordons Bay, Coogee (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/gordons-bay/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Curl Curl Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/curl-curl/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Long Reef Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/long-reef/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Wanda Beach, Cronulla (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/wanda/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Elouera Beach, Cronulla (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/elouera/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Gunnamatta Bay, Cronulla (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/gunnamatta-bay/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Bilgola Beach (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bilgola/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Malabar Beach, Long Bay (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/malabar/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ
- [Little Bay Beach, Sydney (Markdown)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/little-bay/index.md): no beds of its own; the walk from the nearest stays, what's there, getting there, safety, FAQ

## Beaches

### Eastern Suburbs

- [Bondi](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bondi/): The famous one. Busy, buzzing, and you pay for the postcode.
- [Coogee](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/coogee/): Ocean baths, a proper pub and the best-value beds in the east.
- [Tamarama](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/tamarama/): Tiny, steep and beautiful. Almost nowhere to stay — we'll tell you where.
- [Maroubra](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/maroubra/): Big surf, a locals' beach, quieter and cheaper than its neighbours.
- [Bronte](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bronte/)
- [Clovelly](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/clovelly/)
- [Gordons Bay](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/gordons-bay/)
- [Watsons Bay](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/watsons-bay/)
- [Malabar](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/malabar/)
- [Little Bay](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/little-bay/)

### Northern Beaches

- [Manly](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/manly/): The ferry ride is half the point. Easiest northern beach to reach without a car.
- [Freshwater](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/freshwater/): Manly's quieter neighbour, a short walk over the headland.
- [Dee Why](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/dee-why/): Rock pool, a strip of cafés and more apartments than holiday homes.
- [Palm Beach](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/palm-beach/): The far end of the peninsula. Holiday houses, and a long way from anywhere.
- [Shelly Beach](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/shelly-beach/)
- [Curl Curl](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/curl-curl/)
- [Collaroy](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/collaroy/)
- [Long Reef](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/long-reef/)
- [Narrabeen](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/narrabeen/)
- [Avalon](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/avalon/)
- [Bilgola](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bilgola/)

### Sutherland Shire

- [Cronulla](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/cronulla/): The only Sydney surf beach at the end of a train line. Busy, local, unfussy.
- [Wanda](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/wanda/): Dunes and a long open stretch north of Cronulla. You sleep in Cronulla and walk.
- [Bundeena](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/bundeena/): A village across the bay on the edge of the Royal National Park.
- [Gunnamatta Bay](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/gunnamatta-bay/): Flat water on the bay side of Cronulla. The calm-swim option for kids.
- [Elouera](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/elouera/)

## Where to stay, by kind

- [Hostels](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/hostels/): Dorms and privates, kitchens, people to surf with.
- [Hotels](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/hotels/): Made beds, a desk, someone to ask. From pub rooms to the big beachfront hotels.
- [Apartments](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/apartments/): Your own kitchen and balcony. Families, groups, longer stays.
- [Guesthouses & B&Bs](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/guesthouses/): A handful of rooms and a host. Quieter than a hotel.
- [Beachfront](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/stay/beachfront/): 200 m or less from the sand, measured. Every budget.

## About

- [About this guide](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/about/): who runs it, how the walks and prices are measured, what we won't do
- [Every walk to the sand (open data)](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/data/walks/): every measured door-to-sand walk; [CSV](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/data/walks/walks.csv), [JSON](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/data/walks/walks.json), [Markdown](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/data/walks/index.md)
- [Contact](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/contact/)

## Contact

- Email: enquiries@sydneybeachside.com.au
- Photo credits and licences: https://sydneybeachside.com.au/credits/