Reef Beach, located near Manly, is a small beach part of Balgowla Heights. It is part of the greater Sydney Harbour National Park. With its clear waters and harbour protection, reef beach snorkeling makes for a great experience. Here you can encounter a diverse range of marine species, from colourful fish to sea turtles. Get ready to dive into a captivating marine adventure and discover the natural beauty that awaits beneath the surface snorkelling in reef bay.
Marine Life
In terms of marine life, you can expect some common visitors such as Rays, Hulafish, and Blue Gropers. You can even come across sea turtles, cuttlefish. With luck, when snorkeling in reef bay you might even spot the elusive octopus camouflaged among the rocky crevices on the south side (left hand side) of the beach.
Want to identify that fish? Gerald R. Allen’s field guide has the largest species coverage of them all, and is very well illustrated.
How to get there?
Reef beach can be accessed via the iconic Spit to Manly walk. The section where the beach is located is called the Reef Beach Track. It is a 45 minute walk from Manly Wharf to the beach (see walking route here). However if you do not feel like walking, there is a bus stop nearby that will take some time off the walk (see bus route here).
If you’re not hiking and and want to use your own car, the best spot to park your car is on Beaty Street, from here it’s only a short stroll (about 400 metres) to the beach. Here you enter the Beaty Street track, and turt left at the first intersection get down to the water, then turn right on the Reef Beach Track. Track names are not indicatedm, but you can find them on Google Maps.
Facilities
While the beach is somewhat off the beaten compared to some of Manly’s other beaches, it still has toilets available, which is a great plus if you feel like spending a few hours here. Note that they are not in the best of conditions, a refurb would be welcome here. There is also no drinking water available, so bring your own. Dogs are not allowed on Reef Beach, as it is part of the national park.
Make snorkeling at reef beach a pit stop while walking the famous Manly Scenic Walkway, or pack a picnic and spend the day. Pause at the bench on the nearby boardwalk and take in the beautiful views. At low tide, you might even be able to spot some Aboriginal carvings in the rocks
More on the northern beaches
Today’s Conditions
24°, Mostly clear
Max Wind: 10.1 km/h E
Swell: 1.7 meters
Ocean Temp: 21.5°
Diving Suitability
Suitability based on current swell, wind and exposure of the site.
Tides
Low tide at 08:57
High tide at 14:54
Accessibility
Several options available.
Facilities
Limited facilities available. Bring your own drinking water, and there are no bins.
Map