Nothing says summer like a trip to the beach. Wondering where RDMs like to head with the kids for a day of sun, sea and sand? Here are the top 15 favourite beaches, as voted by RDMs!
1. Balmoral Beach, Mosman
Distance from Ryde – 18km / 35 mins
It’s no wonder Balmoral beach is the clear favourite time and time again for RDMs. It’s one of the closest beaches, has very gentle waves, soft sand and great cafes. It’s also super picturesque. And did we mention it has a playground??
Facilities: toilets, several kiosks, enclosed swimming area, playground, nearby cafes and restaurants, car park.
Top tip: parking can be tricky here (and expensive) so get there early or park on the residential streets up the hill (if walking is possible).
2. Clontarf Beach
Distance from Ryde – 23km / 35 mins
This beach is an ideal place to introduce your children to a paddle in the sea as it’s on the harbour so has very few / very gentle waves. The netted swimming area is shallow which is great if you have more than one child to handle.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk, netted swimming area, car park, playground and reserve.
Top tip: take a picnic blanket and a ball/toys so you can relax in the reserve once you’ve had enough sand and water.
3. North Curl Curl Beach
Distance from Ryde – 32km / 40 mins
North Curl Curl is long beach which extends to join with Narrabeen Beach. It has an awesome playground just on the front.
Facilities – toilets, kiosk, car park, playground, rock pool and lifesaving club. Plenty of café and restaurant options nearby.
Top Tip: you can park in the clearway for free!
4. Collaroy Beach
Distance from Ryde – 32km / 40 mins
Collaroy is another long beach that extends to join with Narrabeen Beach. It has an awesome playground on the road side and lots of places to grab a bite to eat.
Facilities – toilets, kiosk, car park, playground, rock pool and lifesaving club. Plenty of café and restaurant options nearby.
Top Tip: you can park in the clearway for free!
5. Freshwater Beach
Distance from Ryde – 26km / 40 mins
This is the first beach up from Manly. It’s broad and shallow so perfect for paddling, with some gentle waves that can help introduce children to bodyboarding.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk, playground, rock pool, car park and lifesaving club. More café and restaurants a few minutes walk away.
Top tip: when the tide is out the water can be a bit of a trek from the car park over the sand so get your bags organised to avoid having to make several trips.
6. Dee Why Beach
Distance from Ryde – 25km / 40 mins
A long and deep sandy beach which caters for all ages. The surf is decent for surfing so not ideal for very young paddlers but there’s the rock pool as a great alternative.
Facilities: toilets, kiosks, plenty of cafes and restaurants along the front, car park, rock pool, playground and lifesaving club.
Top tip: make a pit stop at the great enclosed playground on the southern end of the beach
7. Terrigal Beach
Distance from Ryde – 76km / 70 mins
Great beach in a lovely town with plenty going on, not too far from Sydney. The beach extends northwards to Wamberal and has relatively calm wave breaks.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk, car park, plenty of cafés and restaurants along the front and a lifesaving club.
Top tip: the lagoon to the north of the beach is a great place for splashing about with younger children.
8. Whale Beach
Distance from Ryde – 40km / 50 mins
Generally quieter beach on the Northern Beaches as it’s a little way off Barrenjoey Road and doesn’t have a great deal of choice of cafes etc. But still a lovely beach for a play with smaller surf than Palm Beach.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk / café, car park, small playground, rock pool and lifesaving club.
Top Tip: avoid the weekend traffic on Barrenjoey Road by getting up to the beach early (before 10am).
9. Avoca Beach
Distance from Ryde – 81km / 75 mins
Lovely surfing beach (more in the north of the beach as the south is slightly protected by a headland).
Facilities: toilets, café, car park, playground, natural rock pool and lifesaving club.
Top Tip: stay closer to the southern end of the beach, nearer the facilities and car park.
10. Newport Beach
Distance from Ryde – 33km / 40 mins
A long, wide beach offering plenty of sandcastle making opportunities. Can be windy with decent surf.
Facilities: toilets, kiosks, car park, playground, rock pool, lifesaving club and plenty of cafes and restaurants on the main road.
Top Tip: stop off at the newly renovated Newport Arms for lunch or tea.
11. Palm Beach
Distance from Ryde – 42km / 50 mins
The famous Summer Bay (you may even get a glimpse of some Home and Away filming if you head there on the right day) beach which wraps around the Barrenjoey Lighthouse for as far as you can see!
Facilities – toilets, rock pool, car parking, cafes and shops on the front and lifesaving club.
Top Tip: avoid the weekend traffic on Barrenjoey Road by getting up to the beach early (before 10am).
12. Umina Beach
Distance from Ryde – 75km / 70 mins
A long sandy beach, perfect for swimming and surfing.
Facilities – toilets, café on the beach, playground and skate park, car park and lifesaving club.
Top Tip: dogs are allowed on the beach which you may consider a positive or negative!
13. Shelly Beach, Manly
Distance from Ryde – 26km / 40 mins
Shelly Beach is located in Manly and forms part of Cabbage Tree Bay, a protected marine reserve which lies adjacent to North Head and Fairy Bower. With a maximum depth of approximately 12 metres, Shelly Beach has become popular with Scuba Divers and Snorkelers alike with a large variety of marine life which can viewed in relatively shallow water.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk, café / restaurant nearby and car park.
Top Tip: take a bush walk around the headland for spectacular views of North Head and the Northern Beaches.
14. Clovelly Beach
Distance from Ryde – 23km / 40 mins
Clovelly Beach more like a large ocean pool than a beach and lies between Bronte Beach to the north and Gordon’s Bay to the south. It is a small and tranquil beach and is a very popular snorkelling site with a diverse range of underwater marine life.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk, playground, on-street parking and lifesaving club.
Top Tip: take your snorkels with you as it’s reputed to be an awesome location to watch sea life!
15. Clifton Gardens Reserve, Mosman
Distance from Ryde – 20km / 35 mins
This lovely, family friend beach is a great spot for a harbour swim and play at the beach. There is a little kiosk, shade on the beach, a playground, shells to collect and lots more.
Facilities: toilets, kiosk, netted swimming area, playground and car park.
Top Tip: consider combining this with a trip to nearby Taronga Zoo!
Despite being inland, Ryde certainly has a wealth of choice where beaches are concerned, particularly around the 45 minute driving time. But wait! There’s more! Other beaches mentioned by RDM’s, but not receiving that many votes, included:
Northern Beaches
- Clareville Beach Reserve, Clareville
- Avalon Beach, Avalon
- Narrabeen Beach, Narrabeen
- Mona Vale Beach, Mona Vale
- South Curl Curl Beach, Curl Curl
- Fairlight Beach, Fairlight
Central Coast
- Toowoon Bay, The Entrance
- Copacabana Beach, Copacabana
- Beach at Pearl Beach
- Blue Bay, The Entrance
Sydney East
- Shark Bay, Vaucluse
- Coogee Beach, Coogee
South Sydney
- La Perouse Beach, La Perouse
- Stanwell Beach, Stanwell Park
- Bundeena Beach, Bundeena
- Brighton Le Sands
Sydney North
- Greenwich Baths, Greenwich
- Chinamans beach
Have fun RDMs! But remember; SLIP, SLOP, SLAP and ALWAYS SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS!
