A 25-metre Ferris wheel is coming to Manly Beach as the headline attraction of this year’s Rise Manly winter festival, marking the first time a Ferris wheel has appeared on the suburb’s ocean beachfront.
The wheel will operate from 19 to 28 June opposite the Corso, giving riders panoramic views across the Pacific Ocean. Tickets cost $10 per person or $35 for a family of four, with no booking required.
The Ferris wheel, owned and operated by DM Entertainment, opens daily and runs until 28 June. Sunday to Thursday sessions run from 10am to 9.30pm, while Friday and Saturday sessions extend to 10pm.
Manly has had a Ferris wheel before — just not here
The ocean beachfront distinction matters. Manly’s last Ferris wheel stood on the other side of the peninsula entirely.
The Manly Fun Pier, built at Manly Wharf on the harbour side, operated from around 1931 and became a landmark that defined the cove’s skyline for more than half a century.
Its Ferris wheel, skating rink, carnival rides and amusement attractions drew generations of visitors arriving by ferry, and the pier’s outline became as familiar to Manly residents as the beach itself. The Fun Pier closed and was demolished in 1989 following years of decline.
The beachfront wheel arriving this June is not a replacement in any formal sense. But for a suburb where amusement attractions once defined how visitors experienced arrival, having a Ferris wheel visible from the sand and the Corso connects the present to a chapter of Manly history that has been absent for nearly four decades.
The rest of Rise Manly
The beachfront Ferris wheel headlines this year’s Rise Manly, running for 10 days alongside the festival’s wider winter program. Live street performances, light installations, a silent disco tour and ski-themed parties are scheduled throughout the run.
A projection installation will light up the facade of the historic Manly Town Hall, while the surface of the Corso transforms into a light canvas after dark, with a nod to Vivid’s influence on Sydney’s winter events calendar.
Food and drink experiences include a fondue and wine event at Henry G’s and winter-themed menus across participating restaurants and cafes. The Ice Cold Classic, a one-kilometre ocean swim from Manly to Shelly Beach marking the winter solstice, also runs during the festival as a fundraiser for people in need.
Local shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and fitness and wellness businesses are participating with their own events and specials throughout the festival.
Getting there and tickets
The Ferris wheel is on the Manly Beachfront, opposite the Corso. Manly is accessible by ferry from Circular Quay, by bus, or on foot from Manly Wharf. Tickets are $10 per person or $35 for a family of four. No booking required — purchase onsite. Group and event packages are available on request.
Full Rise Manly program details can be viewed here.
Published 10-June-2026
