Manly Beach is probably
Australia's best known beach, after Bondi. There is still debate as
to whether the world's first Surf Life Saving Club was formed here,
but there is no doubt that this is where, in 1902, one man helped
shake the shackles that had for decades kept Australia's growing interest
in the beach and surf at bay.
Within a year of William Gocher defying
the law and bathing in daylight hours on Manly beach, the floodgates
had opened and Australians began flocking to the beach to walk, bathe
and attempt to come to terms with the waves and rips. During the first
official bathing season in 1903, 17 people drowned on Manly Beach.
A year later a Surf Club was formed on the beach to safeguard the
public, perhaps the world's first. The present Manly SLSC formed in
1911, North Steyne 600m to the north in 1907 and Queenscliff in 1924.
Manly - Queenscliff Beach faces the east, is 1.4km long and receives
waves averaging 1.5m at Queenscliff dropping toward 1m at Manly. The
sand is whiter and finer than many northern beaches resulting in a
flatter, wider beach slope and surf zone. Up to 8 rips flow across
the bar, with permanent rips against Queenscliff Head and Manly Point,
the latter called The Escalator. During big seas the finer sand and
waves combine to produce a second bar off Manly with more widely spaced
rips.
MANLY
BEACH
Bathing: Waves tend to be a little
lower toward Manly, sometimes so much so the locals call it Manly
Lagoon. However rips and the efficient Escalator still persists even
during lower waves. The rips and high level of beach usage, particularly
by tourists, results in an average of 218 rescues each year.
Surf: Usually reasonable beach
breaks, with a left running into the Escalator. When the swell is
up Manly Point puts on a reasonable right.
Fishing:
Some good gutters can usually be found along the beach, which are
popular spots when the crowds are low. The rocks round to Freshwater
give good access to deep rocky water.
Summary: One of Australia's most popular beaches, providing
clean white sand, good surf, all amenities and three Surf Clubs.
