Which Are The Most Sheltered Bays On The Northern Beaches?

Sydney has a seemingly endless number of beaches, but that doesn’t mean you can swim anywhere. The biggest danger is not a shark attack (which is rare) or a jellyfish sting (which is not deadly in this part of Australia, only highly unpleasant, as any local would point out), but the rip currents that take you out to sea. Drowning is responsible for more deaths than all the dangerous animals of Australia together.

The Northern Beaches is one of Sydney’s beach neighborhoods and is home to countless long, picturesque sandy beaches, tucked between high headlands. Most of these beaches are quite unsheltered though, more suitable for surfing than for swimming. Hence protected ocean pools are built at most of them so that swimmers (and kids) can also enjoy the beautiful ocean. And there are a few bays which are protected enough so that you can venture into the ocean for a swim.

The best swimming beaches of Sydney’s Northern Beaches neighborhood – which are they? You’re at the right place to find out.

My favorite sheltered bays for swimming on the Northern Beaches

The Northern Beaches are the closest coastline to our home, and I’ve visited every corner of it. This is the collection of my favorite beaches for swimming. They’re calm and naturally protected bays where waves are gentle and conditions are usually safe for a swim.

However, please assess water and weather conditions on the day of your visit. It’s the ocean, so you need to be careful.

Clareville Beach Reserve

This barely known gem is on the Pittwater side. Pittwater is a large bay that flows into Broken Bay at the strait between West Head and Barrenjoey Head. Flocks of anchoring boats take advantage of the natural shelter, but there’s not too many beaches. This might seem surprising at first, but the reason is that the coastline gets quite muddy at low tide.

Those few beaches which exist are very sheltered, have shallow water that gradually gets deep, and gentle waves. My favorite is Clareville Beach Reserve, tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood, backed up by a shady park.

The sandy beach almost disappears at high tide, but you find plenty of space to lie down on the grass, where some huge trees give natural shade. High tide is the best time to swim. As the tide falls, more of the sand appears, and the water gets quite shallow. The electric BBQs and the toilets block is at the northern side of the park, right by the car park.

If you don’t have a parking permit and are looking for free parking, street parking is possible along Hudson Parade. But it takes a few blocks to walk to the beach from there.

Winnererremy Bay

Winnererremy Bay is a beautiful grass reserve on the foreshore of Pittwater, with a small sandy-pebbly beach, picnic tables and barbecues on the grass and a shady, enclosed playground. It’s actually one of the coolest playgrounds on the Northern Beaches for any age. It has a climbing tower, a zipline (which Aussies call a flying fox), a large ship and a smaller boat in addition to the general play equipment.

So you might have guessed that our main reason to visit Winnererremy Bay is usually the playground. The beach has unusually rough sand and even small pebbles, and it gets quite shallow at low tide. But it’s very sheltered, with gentle waves only. If you like natural shade, you can lie down on the grassy area behind the narrow stretch of sand, under the trees.

Freshwater Beach

A small creek running out the north end of the beach gave it the name. Freshwater Beach, tucked between two headlands, is a haven for swimmers, beginner surfers and families. It’s not as calm as the Pittwater side beaches, but the waves are still gentle compared to other beaches facing the open ocean. It’s protected by the long headlands, and also patrolled by lifeguards. 

The south end is particularly suitable for body boarding. There’s also an ocean pool tucked at the side of the northern headland, great for swimming at any time. At the nearby grassy reserve you find barbecue facilities and a playground.

Shelly Beach, Manly

Manly has countless secluded, protected little bays, but my favorite is Shelly Beach. Nestled within Cabbage Tree Bay, the calm, crystal-clear waters of Shelly Beach are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Cabbage Tree Bay is a protected marine reserve and is home to wonderful, vibrant marine life, including colorful fish and rays. With a maximum depth of approximately 12 metres, you can marvel at them in the relatively shallow water, which is great for beginner snorkelers and scuba divers.

A scenic, paved oceanfront walkway leads you to Shelly Beach from Manly Beach, and you can choose to continue on the more rugged headland trail that hugs the North Head, with breathtaking views of Sydney and the Northern Beaches.

What is a rip current, anyway?

While enjoying ocean beaches, you need to be aware of rip currents. But what is a rip current? It’s a narrow channel of fast-moving water that flows from the shore out to sea.

Rip currents often form when waves break unevenly along the beach, creating a buildup of water that funnels out through the weakest point, such as a deeper channel. So take a moment to observe the water before entering.

Rips are not always visible, but these are the signs you need to look for:

• deeper, darker water compared to the surrounding shallows
• fewer breaking waves at a certain section of the beach can indicate a rip
• foamy, debris-filled path heading offshore, because rips can carry sand, foam, and debris back out to sea
• water flowing through narrow gaps, between sandbars or near jetties and piers

The safest option is to swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags. If you get caught in a rip, resist the instinct to swim against it, because this will only tire you. Try to remain calm and float on the water surface to conserve energy, and signal for help. You can also swim parallel to the shore to escape the current’s grip before heading back to the beach.

What else do you need to stay safe on the beach?

• sunscreen
• sunglasses
• sunshade
• protective clothing (rash guards are cool not only for kids, but for adults, as well)

130 ideas to get your family outside, no matter the season or the weather:

Buy the Aussie Outdoor Family Adventure Guide here!