Top 7 Toddler Friendly Sydney Beaches

Searching for a safe, calm beach for your toddler – with maybe a playground or two? Check out our list of Top 7 Toddler Friendly Sydney beaches. We share our favorites as well as all the important info: public transport access, bathrooms, and kiosk.

Toddler Friendly Sydney Beaches – Northern Beaches

Shelley Beach

Beautiful, calm water laps at the shore surrounded by smooth, rocky areas teeming with marine life. A 15 minute walk from Manly beach, Shelley beach offers protection from the waves with a wide beach. The rustic, chic Boathouse kiosk offers more than just takeaway ice cream! The lovely cafe provides the option of quick bites for takeaway and full menu for dine-in. This beach does get crowded with backpackers and families on the weekends, but you can usually find a spot to lay a towel.

Getting there: Catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. Walk across East Esplanade and down the Manly Curso. When you reach Manly beach, turn right, towards the Lifesaving club, and follow the path past Cabbage Bay reserve and to the beach.

Bathrooms: yes

Kiosk: yes, plus a restaurant

Shade: yes, if you are willing to lay your towel towards the park area, there is plenty of tree shaded spots

Little Manly Cove

CZ and I frequent the cool, calm water this summer. The beach is a very short walk from Manly Wharf, which is perfect with a toddler and towels in tow. Since the beach faces the harbour, it features gentle “waves” (no more than a few cm) and clear water. A small playground is available on the far side of the beach away from the wharf; however, CZ is always too enthralled with the sand and water to have a play. Laying your blanket against the wall, may get rewarded with some morning shade. However, the Aquarium side of the wharf provides more opportunities for shade.

Getting there: Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. Exit the wharf and turn left, towards the aquarium, walk down the steps and stop whenever you find a place to lay a towel.

Bathrooms: yes, in the wharf

Kiosk: no, but food abounds at the wharf

Shade: in the morning, areas of the beach are shaded by the wall and trees. Choose a spot along the wall for maximum shade

40 Baskets Beach

A favourite find from the Spit to Manly walk, the little sheltered beach is about 3km from Manly wharf in Baglowah. A wonderful, lush grass area borders the small, dog-friendly beach. While a bit out of the way, the beach still provides basic amenities such as water, toilets and picnic tables. Forty beans cafe provides the closest refreshments, located on the North Harbour Reserve (towards Manly) for a cuppa and snacks.

Getting there: Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, turn left out of the wharf and walk along the path towards the aquarium. Continue following the coast for about 3km.

Bathrooms: yes

Kiosk: no, Forty Beans is your nearest cafe

Shade: no

Clontarf Beach

A small, neighborhood beach, we love Clontarf for the park/beach combination. CZ runs back and forth between the large, shaded playground and the beach. The Clontarf Marina provides a swimming spot, but the beach provides crystal blue water and fine sand. JZ and I appreciate the cafe for fresh, wholesome food options instead of the standard dry burgers.

Getting there: Take a bus across the Spit Bridge and exit at the first stop (Battle Blvd near Manly Rd) – there are numerous options depending on your desired day/time. Walk down the stairs, under the bridge, and down a natural path by the water. Continue for about 1.5km and you will reach the beach. We usually incorporate a short stop at the beach into our Spit to Manly walks.

Bathrooms: yes

Kiosk: yes, and it’s awesome!

Shade: trees shade portions of the beach, shade sails over the playground

Toddler Friendly Sydney Beaches – Inner Harbour

Camp Cove

An early favourite of ours, Camp Cove beach continues to provide a serene beach day with incredible Sydney skyline views. CZ and I would come here more often if the walk from the wharf wasn’t quite so long. Even though it’s less than 750m from the wharf, it’s a bit too far for our excited toddler. The water at Camp Cove seems to sparkle a little more than elsewhere and the gently lapping waves just makes me want to take a dip. I love this beach for swimming, because the water quickly becomes deep enough to do some laps within the net.

Getting there: Catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay. Walk straight out of the wharf along Military road, past the Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel. Turn left at Cliff St (turning opposite from the super fun playground in Robertson’s Park). Walk along Cliff St and admire the range of houses from quaint beach shacks to colossal concrete behemoths. After about 500m, you will reach the kiosk and beach.

Bathrooms: yes, walk up the steps near the kiosk

Kiosk: yes, basic

Shade: limited, but available along the edge near the kiosk below some trees

Toddler Friendly Sydney Beaches – Eastern Suburbs

Bronte

While surfers and backpackers flock to Eastern suburbs for the surf, a few toddler friendly options exist. Bronte tops the list in terms of a toddler friendly with a naturally enclosed wading pool on the south side of the beach. It is adjacent to the pool, so you have quick access to bathrooms and showers. Bronte also features an elaborate and awesome playground tucked behind the beach kiosk. Plus, a small kid’s train runs on the weekends – all in all, our top pick of the Bondi to Coogee options!

Getting There:

Bathrooms: yes

Kiosk: yes

Shade: not on the beach, but yes on the playground

Congwong, La Perouse

If you continue south from Bronte, and then go south a bit more, you will run into La Perouse and Bare Island. We love this calm beach because it is off the beaten track, and definitely a locals-only place. On the weekends, the small beach can be overwhelmed with families – which is that’s how you know it’s a great spot! The water entices the little ones for lots of splashing and jumping.

Getting There: from central catch a train to Circular Quay and then hop on the L94 bus for an express route

Bathrooms: yes

Kiosk: no, but Bare Grill and Cafe is a nearby food option (and they have a kids menu)

Shade: no