Did you know that Manly Beach recently snagged one of the top spots in the Travelers’ Choice Awards for Best Beaches, landing firmly among the elite top 25 destinations?
This unexpected feat has nudged Manly Beach past some other well-known hotspots, making waves in the world of beach rankings.
The annual Travelers’ Choice Awards, hosted by the globally recognized travel platform TripAdvisor, celebrate the most exceptional destinations worldwide based on millions of traveler reviews and ratings. This year’s list of the Best of the Best Beaches showcases Manly Beach’s enduring allure and popularity among beachgoers.
This honour doesn’t come as a surprise to people who live in or love Manly. With its beautiful scenery and wide range of fun things to do, bars, and shops along the pretty promenade, Manly Beach has become a popular spot for both locals and tourists from around the world.
As tourists look for memorable experiences and stunning scenery, Manly Beach stands out as a true gem on Australia’s coast. Catching the perfect wave, eating delicious seafood, or just relaxing in the sun’s warm embrace—Manly Beach continues to capture hearts and make people want to travel.
Now that it is known all over the world, it will get even more attention and praise from tourists looking for the most beautiful and relaxing places to visit. It’s clear that Manly Beach will continue to be a popular spot as summer comes, inviting people to enjoy its classic charm and undeniable appeal.
Manly Sea Eagles CEO Scott Penn has expressed interest in buying a stake in the proposed National Rugby League (NRL) expansion into the United States. He also suggested current Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans could serve as the “face” of the new US-based league.
Penn said he is open to exploring affiliate links between Manly and a potential franchise called the New York Eagles. The Eagles would be part of a 10-team “NRL America” competition starting as early as 2025.
While noting any investment would need to make financial sense, Penn said Manly could use the US team to give opportunities to players later in their careers. He cited Cherry-Evans as someone who could take on an ambassadorial role in the US after retirement from the NRL.
Daly Cherry-Evans as potential star of new league
At 35 years old, Cherry-Evans’ current Manly contract runs out next year. This would time well with the reported 2025 launch of NRL America.
Steve Scanlan, head of the Rugby League America consortium behind the proposed US league, said Cherry-Evans is the prototype of the type of “poster boy” player they want to sign. The idea would be for the veteran NRL star to help mentor younger American athletes new to the sport.
Penn agreed Cherry-Evans could serve as the face of a US rugby league team, similar to David Beckham’s role in growing interest in soccer.
While plans are in early stages, landing investments from figures like Penn would be a major boost to NRL America. The league has already sold three team licences and continues talks with NRL leadership.
Global superstar Pink faced an embarrassing situation at Manly Skiff Club in the Northern Beaches when she was denied entry due to a lack of identification.
Witnesses reported that the singer, accompanied by a group of around eight people, had a reservation but was turned away at the door because she couldn’t provide an ID, as required by the Registered Clubs Act 1976.
Manly Market Manager Mark Eymes observed the awkward encounter as Pink attempted to enter the harbourside venue without proper identification. Despite explaining that she had made a booking and even secured it with a deposit, she was refused entry. Efforts to intervene by informing club directors and managers proved futile, and Pink and her group were ultimately asked to leave.
Although disappointed, Pink reportedly remained composed and did not display any diva behaviour. Mr Eymes mentioned that she handled the situation with grace, despite feeling upset about the denial.
Invitation to Sail: A Silver Lining
The club later expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and pledged to review their ID requirements to avoid similar incidents in the future.
In a statement, Matt Hazell, Secretary Manager of Manly Skiff Club, apologised for the misunderstanding and assured that they would learn from the incident to improve their processes.
Photo Credit: Pink/Instagram
The club also offered to take Pink for a sail on one of their skiffs, expressing regret for the misunderstanding and hoping to rectify the situation by showcasing their hospitality and the beauty of Sydney Harbour.
Pink, who is currently in Sydney for her Summer Carnival stadium tour, is set to continue her performances across Australia and New Zealand, accompanied by her husband Carey Hart and their two children, Willow and James.
Despite the hiccup at Manly Beach, Pink and her family have been making the most of their time in Australia, exploring popular tourist spots such as Bondi Beach and the Opera House.
Photo Credit: Pink/Instagram
The singer has always cherished her connection with Australia, where she has achieved remarkable success throughout her career.
Get ready for the most thrilling and earth-friendly competition ever as Manly Beach proudly announces the hosting of the first-ever Beach Clean-Up Olympics, the SPOGOMI World Cup 2023!
This revolutionary sport is all about picking up rubbish, and it’s set to make history at the iconic site in Sydney on 26 Aug 2023.
Marine litter has become a pressing global issue with approximately 80% of it originating from cities. The SPOGOMI Beach Clean-Up Olympics aims to not only tackle this problem but also raise awareness within communities about the importance of keeping our beaches and oceans clean.
SPOGOMI, an abbreviation for “Sport Gomihiroi (picking up trash),” was initially invented in 2008 by Mamitsuka Kenichi from the Social Sports Initiative. Over the years, this innovative sport has grown into a global competition, attracting participants from around the world. Its goal is to create a proactive approach and a global movement that transcends national and generational boundaries, ultimately reducing litter that ends up in our oceans.
During the event, teams will compete against each other to earn points based on the amount and type of rubbish collected within a designated area and a set time limit. The winning team will be granted a prestigious invitation and sponsorship to fly to Japan, where they will represent Australia at the SPOGOMI Olympics in November 2023.
“Our meditation community is regularly engaged in cleaning up our beaches and parks, so we are very excited to be part of this event,” Jason Partington, co-host and the founder of MeditationHQ, expresses his excitement about bringing the world competition to Australian shores.
The event promises to be star-studded, with the presence of well-known personalities like Layne Beachley, the 7-time world surf champion, and Takeshi Mastuda, the Japanese Olympian Swimmer. These inspiring figures will share a few words of encouragement and announce the victorious team, marking a historic moment in the fight against marine pollution.
“It’s amazing to see so much support of this important initiative not only by the local council and community but also by well-known role models who truly care about our ocean,” Franziska Iseli, co-host and the founder of Oceanlovers and Basic Bananas, emphasized the importance of the initiative and the support it has garnered.
Manly Wharf, a historic landmark in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, has been sold to the owners of Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves (HSW) in a deal worth $80 million.
The sale was facilitated by TMG Developments and the negotiations were conducted by Simon Rooney and James Douglas from CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate and investment firm.
Manly Wharf, originally built in 1855 as a passenger terminal for the Sydney to Manly Ferry, has undergone a transformation in recent years and has become a popular hospitality destination. It is home to several well-known venues, including Queen Chow, Hugos, and the Manly Wharf Hotel.
Adam Flaskas and Paul Henry, the founders and directors of HSW, have a track record of revitalising historic sites. They successfully transformed the heritage-listed Howard Smith Wharves into a thriving entertainment and cultural precinct, featuring restaurants, cafes, bars, event spaces, a hotel, and the award-winning Felons Brewery.
Mr Flaskas expressed his excitement about becoming the new custodians of Manly Wharf, emphasizing the site’s rich history and iconic status. He stated that their goal is to breathe new life into the venue and create a place where the harbor meets the beach.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Mr Henry, a Sydney native, shared his fond memories of Manly and expressed his enthusiasm for the HSW team’s plans to respect the site’s history and cater to the local community and visitors.
As part of the deal, HSW also acquired the Manly Wharf Hotel business from Ben May. Mr Flaskas highlighted their commitment to staff retention and sustainability during the transition. They aim to focus on achieving landfill diversion and have already achieved a remarkable 95% landfill diversion at Howard Smith Wharves.
Former owner Robert Magid of TMG Developments reflected on the sale with fondness, describing it as one of their early property purchases. He expressed delight in selling to a group with a focused, imaginative, and competent team, and he is confident that HSW will take Manly Wharf to an international stage.
Michael Jetson, the beloved cat owner familiar to a lot of locals in Manly Beach, has passed away following his bout with diabetes. Now, his friend is finding a forever home for Smudge and Bluey, the cats he left behind.
Peter Cantwell shared on the Manly Community on Facebook that he hopes to “find the best home possible” for the cats. Michael was a devoted cat person and would take his furry pets on walks along The Corso.
“Bluey will sleep on your shoulder; she’s a beautiful cat,” Peter said. “Smudge is a little timid at the moment.”
I have a few people interested but I want the best home possible,” he said, adding he can’t give up on the cats as they were important to his friend.
Michael, who was on a disability pension supported himself as a milkman and worked in supermarkets and restaurants. He was also a volunteer at various food relief organizations.
But most of the locals will remember him as the Cat Man in The Corso. In 2018, the Northern Beaches community rallied for Michael and his beloved black and white cat, Dotti, who was diagnosed with cancer at 12 years old and needed surgery for her mammary glands.
Photo Credit: Dotti Jetson/Facebook
Dotti had been Michael’s pet since she was a tiny seven-month kitten and was also as familiar among locals as his owner. If people saw Michael walking in the streets without Dotti, they would often ask him about her.
After raising $7,031, Dotti had her surgery at a clinic in Balgowlah. According to Peter, the cat passed away in 2021.
Meanwhile, Northern Beaches Deputy Mayor Candy Bingham was also one of the first to publicly announce that Michael has died.
“Michael (and Dotti) were always in the Corso chatting to people and bringing joy to many,” the deputy mayor said. “He will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family and many friends.
Did you know that you can go on a tour of one of the most haunted places in Sydney, which can be found at the Q Station in North Head, near Manly?
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, their famous ghost tours will entertain you as you walk the site and discover intriguing stories about the place’s history.
The infamous Gravedigger’s Cottage, one of the key locations on the ghost tour, is a small cottage that has also been known as the Boatman’s Hut and the Cookhouse. It is thought to have been built for staff on the edge of the 3rd Class Precinct at Q Station and was dubbed as one of the earliest surviving structures of the old quarantine station.
Gravedigger’s Cottage (Photo credit: Quarantine Station Ghost Tours/Facebook)
The bathroom at Gravedigger’s Cottage has been argued as ‘Sydney’s most haunted bathroom.’ Ghost hunters, who attempted to communicate with the dead through a device called the spirit box, revealed there was a female presence in that certain room of Q Station. That female entity has been described as ‘weeping and sitting crouched in the bathtub.’
Besides the female ghost allegedly seen in the bathroom, another apparition, which was described as a man in a wide-brimmed hat and black cloak, is also often seen in the kitchen of the Gravedigger’s Cottage.
However, the most haunted part of the complex is not the bathroom or the kitchen, but the shower block. Back in the day, those who were sick reportedly took a shower containing 10 percent of carbonic acid to kill fleas and ticks in seconds. However, it took off a layer of their skin.
Bill Pelican, one of the previous visitors at Q Station, shared that although his group did not experience anything paranormal, there was definitely a very creepy vibe throughout their tour and stay at the Q station.
“There were several times that I wanted to leave certain locations due to the creepiness, but being in a group there is strength in numbers, so you do feel emboldened,” he shared.
Melinda Minns, a guide for the Q Station ghost tour, can attest to how many people experienced the same feeling during their tour. Because the energy in the rooms was so strong, people would just walk in there and know immediately that something bad has happened there.
The complex, also known as the North Head Quarantine Station, operated as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1984. During this period, migrant ships arriving in Sydney with suspected contagious disease stopped inside North Head and offloaded passengers and crew into quarantine to protect local residents. All travelers, even the healthy ones, needed to undergo quarantine for 40 days before being cleared to enter Sydney.
There were over 13,000 individuals, including convicts and free migrants to NSW and many Sydney residents, who were isolated at the complex whilst an estimated 572 have died and are buried there.
Photo credit: Q Station
When the maritime quarantine facility closed in 1984, the ownership of the Quarantine Station was transferred from the Commonwealth to the State Government and it was reserved as part of Sydney Harbour National Park.
Today, the former quarantine station remains part of the Sydney Harbour National Park and home to Q Station, which is made up of a hotel, conference centre, and restaurant complex.
Members of Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) recently conducted safety trials for the use of a popular pink rescue buoy at Manly Beach.
The tests were done to determine whether such a rescue device, which was developed by South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute, would be useful for beachgoers during emergencies when there are no lifeguards patroling the waters.
Thus, lifeguards were not asked to conduct the trials. Instead, regular beachgoers and swimmers from the surf club were enjoined to participate for two days.
A study from James Cook University revealed that about five Australians a year accidentally die when trying to save someone in the water. Authorities at Manly Beaches want to ensure that beachgoers remain safe even as they try to help drowning swimmers.
“The pink rescue buoy programme was rolled out by the NSRI in November 2017,” prevention manager Andrew Ingram told the press.
“Since then 424 buoys have been placed between Port Nolloth and Richards Bay (South Africa),” Mr Ingram added. “These buoys have already assisted 43 people in danger of drowning, 15 of them were people who went in to save others.”
Apart from the pink rescue buoys, SLSNSW members also tested four other safety devices for its viability.
The trial was conducted with the help of NSW’s Water Safety Blackspot and Surf Live Saving Australia (SLSA). After an evaluation, these agencies will be rolling out the safety devices across the beaches in New South Wales.
The biggest foodie event in Sydney is happening once again as Taste of Manly returns this May. This year will be the 33rd annual celebration of great food and beer, as well as good music at the Manly Beaches.
Set for the 25th and the 26th of May 2019, Taste of Manly’s main events will take place at the pedestrian mall strip The Corso and the Manly Beach Front. Surrounding restaurants will also be participating in the festival with their appetizing and flavoursome dishes and invigorating drinks.
The Northern Beaches Council, which hosts this annual festival, estimates that there will be 80,000 people scouring Manly Beaches for the best food and drinks. You can check the full list of participating restaurants, bars and cafes, as provided by the Northern Beaches Council.
Four stages will be set up to showcase live performers and entertainment from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These stages will be at the Beach Front, North Steyne, The Greener Communities and the Back Street Beats. The full list of performers and their schedules are also on the Council’s official site.
As with previous Taste of Manly festivals, pop up stores and takeaways will be serving food and drinks in sustainable utensils. Guests may purchase a re-usable glass at this plastic-free event.
Plan your visit to the Taste of Manly festival carefully as you won’t want to miss out on the specials at the food stalls. Some roads will also be closed to traffic for this two-day foodie festival. Visitors are encouraged to bring their bikes and park at North Steyne, where there will be a bike valet.
