Shelly Beach

Among the Famous Manly beaches, Shelly beach is the Crown jewel. It is a protected marine reserve. The beach is near North head and fairy bower. Due to its marine diversity and shallow depth of 12 meters it is popular with snorkelers and divers. One can also walk around the bush track which had spectacular views of the north head and northern beaches. There is also a restaurant called le kiosk located in proximity to satiate your hunger.

Location: Shelly beach is located in the northern suburbs of Sydney.

Best time to visit: September to November, March to May.

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• Shelly Beach has a fantastic aquatic reserve, the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve which serves as a perfect snorkeling and scuba diving spot. 
• The Beach is a wonderful picnic spot with picnic tables and it even has a free electric barbecue as well which you can use. 
• Shelly Beach is a sheltered beach and the water is perfectly calm and ideal for swimming. 
• The Boathouse Cafe is right at the beach where you can enjoy hot meals and a wide variety of delicious snacks.
• The Marine Parade is perfect for a short leisurely stroll with incredible views of the ocean, the shores and the pretty mini statues that can be seen along the shores. 
• Shelly Beach offers a wide range of watersports options such as kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, fishing and more. 
• There are outdoor showers, changing rooms and toilets just behind the Cafe for visitors at the Beach.
• Shelly Beach is pet friendly but your dogs need to be on a leash at all times.

The best time to visit Shelly Beach Sydney is between September to November and March to May. During this time the weather is very comfortable for outdoor activities. If you visit during this time of the year you will be able to make the best of your trip.

During the week the best time to visit Shelly Beach is on weekdays but make sure it is not a school holiday. 

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Things to do at Shelly Beach 

Go snorkeling in the calm waters - Join a morning or afternoon guided tour of Shelly Beach and visit the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. This is a great place to indulge in a snorkeling excursion as there is a wide variety of marine animals in the shallow and calm waters of the protected reserve. You don't need to have any snorkeling experience for this activity. The expert guides will accompany you on this exciting exploration of the underwater world. 

Get your adrenaline high with watersports - Shelly Beach offers several watersports activities for its visitors. You can go swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing and scuba diving. The water is calm and clear making it ideal for all kinds of water based activities. You can get a good look at beautiful and vibrantly colored fishes, turtles, stingrays and other marine animals while scuba diving. For swimming you can either enjoy it at the beach or visit the pool near Bower Cafe.

Enjoy a picnic or barbecue - Shelly Beach is a wonderful spot for fun picnics or barbecues. There is a park where you can enjoy your picnics as well as a free electric barbecue grill to further enhance your excursion. 

Build sand castles - If you're visiting the Beach with kids then nothing like a sand castle project to make your day. The pristine white sand of Shelly Beach is ideal for all kinds of sand projects. Bring out the artist in you and create away.

Refreshing walks from Manly to Shelly Beach- Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Marine Parade which runs from Manly to Shelly Beach. The views on this route are stunning and excellent for taking some beautiful pictures. On this route you will also see impressive mini statues that line along the shores. On the way stop for a refreshing cuppa or lunch at The Bower Cafe. 

Go Scuba Diving - Shelly Beach is an excellent spot for scuba diving and you can also join a pro diving course to be part of an extraordinary adventure. The aquatic reserve at Cabbage Tree Bay has over 160 different species of flathead, fishes, wobbegongs, rays and Port Jackson sharks. 

Spend a relaxing day at the Beach - Shelly Beach is a wonderful place to just spend the day relaxing. The Boathouse Cafe ensures you don't need to go too far to enjoy a good meal or some delicious snacks like scones, fruit plates, banana bread, salads, burgers and more.

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Tips to visit Shelly Beach 

• Shelly beach Sydney is very crowded during the afternoon hours of 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. It is best to not go to the Shally beach during this time if you want to avoid crowds and have a peaceful time at the beach.
• It is best to set a side 2 hours from your day to visit the Shelly beach so you can make the most out of your trip
• Shelly Beach is quite open and there is relatively very less shade, hence, whenever you visit carry your own beach umbrella or a wide brimmed hat, sunblock and sunglasses.

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By Bus

The nearest Bus stops to Shelly Beach are Pacific Drive opposite Leanda Street and Leanda Street opposite Perks Pde. Bus lines that take you to these stops are 322 and 333.

By Train 

If you wish to travel to Shelly Beach by train then head to Central Station and board a Manly bound Train.

By Ferry

You can also reach Shelly Beach very conveniently by boarding a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf. 

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