Manly surf report
Big, patrolled beach with surf schools and gentle banks on small days.
New region (beta): these break settings are still being checked by locals. Spot something off? Tell us.
Tomorrow at Manly (Sun, 4 Oct) · best 5am–3pm
Fun.
Clean offshore wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Westerly wind at 5 kn. That's offshore here, so the waves will be clean.
- Waves around chest high (0.8m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- East-north-easterly swell at 6 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Mid tide and rising at 10am, which suits this spot.
- Wind swings south-easterly 8 kn around 3pm, so it'll get choppy.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 9:11 pm Gold Coast time.
When is Manly good?
- Best wind
- Westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- North-north-east to south
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Learner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 1m, beginners up to about 1.3m, intermediates up to about 1.8m. Bigger than 1.8m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride. A westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Manly for your level.
Watch out
Very busy. Stay between the flags and out of the swimmers' area.
Surf schools at Manly
Lessons mean more people in the water. The app flags when a school is out, so you know it'll be busy.
- Manly Surf School - Adult Group Lessons. Lessons usually start at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm.
- Manly Surf School - Women's Program. Lessons usually start at 9:30am, 11:30am.
- Manly Surf School - Spring School Holiday Program. Lessons usually start at 9am, 11am, 1pm.
- Manly Surf School - After School Program. Lessons usually start at 4pm.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Manly?
Manly is best with a westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a north-north-east to south swell and mid tide. It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride.
What wind is offshore at Manly?
A westerly wind (W) blows straight offshore at Manly, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Manly good for beginners?
Yes. Manly is one of the better Sydney spots for learners on small days. Check today's call: on bigger days it gets busier and stronger.
What should I watch out for at Manly?
Very busy. Stay between the flags and out of the swimmers' area.
Are there surf lessons at Manly?
Yes: Manly Surf School - Adult Group Lessons, Manly Surf School - Women's Program, Manly Surf School - Spring School Holiday Program, Manly Surf School - After School Program. Lesson times bring more people into the water, and Get Frothin’ shows when lessons are on, so you can plan around the busy times.
Nearby breaks
- Freshwater 1.8 km
- Curl Curl 3.1 km
- Dee Why Point 4.8 km