A Superb Sunday in Manly, Rain or Shine!

Combat the dreary, winter weather with a trip across the harbour, for a rainy Manly Sunday. This area is known for the beaches and hikes, but there is still plenty to do while staying dry during those wet winter weeks in Sydney.

Manly is a wonderful weekend destination. Between the beaches and Sydney Harbour National Park, you can escape the grueling city grind, without going too far (or relying upon a car). For us, it is just beyond our weekday travel reach, which makes it even more special. Even the trip to Manly can be part of the attraction.

One rainy days, the ferry from Circular Quay lacks it’s normal bustle and you might be able to scout out a top deck seat with panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. When boarding, find a seat facing the bridge and opera house while the boat is docked. These massive ferries are bi-directional so this ensures you will be facing forward the whole way to Manly, which makes a big difference for those of us who get seasick (everyone in our family raises their hand). The ride is sometimes a bit rocky as you approach the mouth of the Harbour near Manly. Even sitting inside, the experience is quite impressive, and still quite a deal for the $2.50 price tag (on Sundays with an Opal card). If you are feeling brave, run outside and snap a quick picture of the opera house and bridge.

Once you arrive in Manly, pull up the hood on your rain coats and open your umbrellas for a brisk walk down the esplanade towards the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary. Side-note: I love the fact that this is a sanctuary instead of an aquarium. Throughout our visit, we heard several stories around the rescue and rehabilitation of their many inhabitants during the tours and talks. Most of the larger animals in the center are undergoing treatment and/or unable to be released back in the wild.

The Manly aquarium is not as large as its Darling Harbour counterpart, but the underwater shark tunnel is awe-inspiring at any age! We spent about 2 hours inside, and would have spent more time if CZ would stay seated long enough to hear some of the talks.

We recommend arriving around 10:30 as most of the talks and interactive aspects of the aquarium start around 11am. Participate in an informative walk through the shark tunnel during feeding time to learn more about the fish, sharks, turtles, and rays that live above. Later, head upstairs for the little penguin talk. And if you are worried about your little ones storing up too much energy, CZ particularly enjoyed the mini playground near the exit. She happily climbed and slid through the small playground after being carried through the sanctuary (many of the tanks are not floor level), and we were happy she burnt some energy before heading to our next indoor adventure.

Now that you have worked up a bit of an appetite, head back towards the wharf down the Fairlight walk. There are two options for lunch:

1.  A loud, family friendly, brewery at Four Pines
2. Exquisite dining with an awesome beach view at Manly Pantry

We recently experienced both options, with a toddler in tow, but personally, feel a little uncomfortable at fancier restaurants with CZ. That said, we really enjoyed our late lunch the Pantry in between the peak lunch and dinner times. We recommend the Pantry when you have an adventurous eater, a quiet (or napping) child, and/or want spectacular beach views with equally great food.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch at Four Pines, and the staff is very accommodating with young children. We can’t speak to the quality of the beer, but many of the reviews speak very highly of it! And they serve tasting flights. From the information center outside the wharf, use the crosswalk to Cross West Esplanade towards the Corso, and immediately turn right. You will see Four Pines Brewing Company’s balcony about half a block down.

JZ loved his huge and juicy double-decker burger, and the beer battered “chunks” were the perfect consistency of crunchy exterior and soft potato inside. I had their Pot Mussels, and while I would order it again on another cold day, I was a little jealous of that burger. JZ’s sister was in town for this trip, and she had no trouble finishing her Fish & Chips. Additionally, the brewery provides high chairs, and the lively pub scene drowned out any noise our excited and hungry toddler made.

If you spent a little extra time at the Sea Life Sanctuary, or perhaps have someone else to watch the wee ones, head down the Corso for lunch at the Pantry. This place is pretty popular, but you should have no trouble securing a table for a late lunch, especially on a rainy day. With views like the on below, you can understand how they might be a little busy on nicer days, especially since the menu matches the views.

By the time we arrived, it was pouring so we rushed inside without taking photos. They have no high chairs and limited pram parking, but the staff was very friendly and accommodating for CZ. We called on our way, and they saved a table for us to park the pram at the end. Once she tired of the containment of the pram, the bench seats worked out well.

The menu includes tapas and tasting, or you have the option of larger meals. We chose charcuterie, tapas and terrine. As we mentioned, this is a great place for adventurous eaters. Our selections included the kangaroo and pork terrine, octopus, and chorizo, and we would happily order any of it again. Again, we cannot comment on the wine selection ourselves, but many other reviews rate it as top-notch.

It was an incredible experience to see the pouring rain and ocean together during our lunch, notably from such a warm and dry location. As an added bonus, there were even a few brave souls surfing, for viewing pleasure.

Now that you are well fed, you can either enjoy many of the shops on the Corso to practically to yourself, or you can head back to the city.

Our normal protocol is to check the timing of the ferry upon leaving our lunch spot and then decide if we have time for browsing. The shops definitely cater to a younger, surfing crowd, but we found nice casual shoes at various times.

What is your favourite winter activity in Sydney? We are hoping to get out for some hikes in the near future!!