Located in the Booti Booti National Park New South Wales, Shelly Beach is a beautiful sandy beach accessed via a 650m walk from Boomerang Crescent.
After parking on Boomerang Crescent, we walked 10 minutes to the beach along the well maintained bush track. This takes you through coastal rain forest filled with gum trees and ferns. We even got to see two lace monitor lizards, each around 1.5m long as they crossed the track.
At the beach it’s important to remember that the left hand (south-west) side is a clothes optional beach. A sign at the track’s end reminds you of this.
Although we visited during school holidays, not many people were there and it was very relaxing. The walk to the beach may put people off, but the almost deserted beach makes it worthwhile.
So if you don’t mind the 10-minute 650m walk, it’s a great place to visit.
Trail to the beachLace MonitorBeautiful sandy beach and Booti Booti National ParkLooking over Elizabeth BayRocky end of beach
Visiting Manly in Sydney, is one of the great things to do when visiting this great city. The easiest way to get there is to catch the Manly Ferry. It departs regularly from Circular Quay and takes about 40 minutes. If you are in a hurry, take the fast ferry, it costs more but takes half the time.
The ferry terminal has a selection of eateries, as does the walk down to the beach. We grabbed a coffee and some snacks and ate them next to the beach. There are plenty of places to sit and eat, either on the grass or numerous seats provided.
Manly Beach
 As well as the excellent beach, there is a nice walk along the foreshore to Shelly Beach. Along the way you will pass the Fairy Bower Pool. A nice little pool to swim in away from the waves. It also has some wonderful fairy statues.
Marine Parade
Fairy Bower Sea Pool
Fairy Statues
On our return to the ferry wharf, we passed some great street art. Our favorite was the stack of surfboards set up in someone’s front yard.
The Ferry Trip
On the return trip you will get some great views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the mast of HMAS Sydney at Bradley’s Head.
Surf Board Street Art
Opera House From the Manly Ferry
Manly Wormhole
For something slightly different, there is a small tunnel to the north of Manly Beach. The Wormhole was originally constructed by fishermen for easy access from Manly to Freshwater, but it now makes an interesting destination.
Access is past the Queenscliff Rock Pool followed by a short walk over the rocks towards the point. Here you will see a couple of orange hearts painted on the wall which mark the wormhole’s location. Although not very long the tunnel provides some interesting views of Manly and the beach as well as some great views out to sea and along the coast. It’s an easy walk and was fun to do.
