Of course, we should never play favourites, neither with beaches nor with our kids.
But can I confess a little love affair with Queenscliff beach and rock pool? Mainly it’s because they are so close to the fantastic Lagoon Park Playground.
But also, I’ve sneaked down here when the kids are all at school, swum some laps in the pool and then gone for a coffee to the Jellyfish Cafe just along the road.
It’s heaven, I tell you. It’s the definition of good living.
Love the building the SLSC is in. Toilets and change rooms are here.
Find Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club website here.
Here’s a view of the beach, rock pool and the cliffs. In the early 1900s little holiday shacks were dotted along this headland… how times have changed.
There’s nothing like swimming in the rock pool when waves are breaking over like this. Exhilerating!
Queenscliff Beach and Rock Pool, Manly
Named Queenscliff in honour of Queen Victoria, this section of beach is at the far northern end of the famous Manly beach. There is an offshore break here, but don’t ask me any more about surfing here, I’m clueless.
There are flags out, usually in front of the SLSC, in summertime and, of course, we always need to swim and splash between the flags.
My kids and I have had great fun in the rock pool, swimming and jumping in, and the kids enjoy scrambling around the rocks there.
Great points about this beach are that it’s so much easier to park here than it is down at the busier main Manly Beach. Also there are good cafes and surf shops very close by. And the fab Lagoon Park playground plus bike tracks and walks are within spitting distance…. well, under the bridge actually.
Queenscliff Beach is very wide, lots of space to play. It’s hard work for little legs though, to walk fromt he prom down to the beach and rock pool. Or tired, older legs.
Parking: Paid parking along North Steyne, some free parking around the playground.
Shade: Not on the beach, some by pool depending on time of day.
Cafes: There are some cafes across North Steyne and down a little. There’s a milk bar opposite the SLCS.
Extra: You can walk all the way to Shelly Beach along the promenade, a really lovely stroller-friendly 5km return walk.
Moody Instagram shot
Walking from Queenscliff to Shelly Beach is gorgeous
This little playground is on the way
Is my teenager out there somewhere?
Do you ever get to Queenscliff Beach?
Or do you never get out of Lagoon park playground?!
Happy splashing,
Hotly Spiced
It’s a very beautiful beach and I love that little rock pool. You were clearly there on a very beautiful day xx
Muza-chan
Beautiful place to visit…
Emily
When I lived there I ALWAYS wanted to swim in the pool that had waves crashing down on it – what a feeling, taste and sound it must be! x
Seana Smith
Lets make a date for whenever you are next in Sydney… even if in years and years… well, for a sunny day anyway!
GourmetGetaways
My husband loves this area of Sydney, I can see why, so beautiful!
Mellisa Turner
I am a big fan of the Queenscliff Beach. My kids also love the Beach. The only thing that irks me about the Beaches around Sydney is that sometimes they feel so overcrowded with tourists.
Seana Smith
Yes, Manly can feel that way and the parking can be bad there but i don’t find in general that the beaches feel too crowded… and there’s always another beach to go to if we can’t find a park. At leats my kids are bigger now so a bit of a walk isn’t the killer it used to be!
Maxabella
We were just there a couple of weeks ago. Dinner at the Harbord Diggers (remember when it was all Harbord) and then we wandered down to the pool in the dark. It was lovely. x