Are there sharks at Manly Beach?

Shark attacks at Manly Beach are extremely rare, but great white sharks do pass through the waters around Sydney. Shark nets and shark alarms help protect swimmers and surfers.

Australia is home to some of the greatest beaches on the planet – and Manly in Sydney is one of the world’s most famous beaches.

But before diving into the surf at Manly Beach, you might want to check what’s in the water with you. An average of two to three people per year are killed by sharks in Australia.

So… are there sharks at Manly Beach?

Sharks at Manly Beach

The bad news is that Manly Beach is in shark territory. Great white sharks are regularly spotted along the coast of New South Wales.

If you go swimming or surfing in the ocean off the New South Wales coast, you can never absolutely guarantee there are no sharks nearby.

There have also been shark sightings at Manly Beach in the past. The last serious Manly Beach shark attack incident was in 2019.

The last fatal shark attack in Sydney was in 2022, at Little Bay. However, this incident was the first shark attack fatality in Sydney since 1963.

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1. Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
2. Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
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4. Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
5. Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.

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How to avoid sharks at Manly Beach

The good news is that shark attacks in Australia are relatively uncommon. This is largely because great white sharks aren’t interested in eating humans. We don’t make for tasty snacks, it seems.

The vast majority of shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity – often surfers in wetsuits mistaken for seals. Either that or the shark feels threatened or provoked.

Sharks can come surprisingly close to shore when feeding. Studies have shown that they can be 15 to 30 metres from the shoreline, but they generally stay beyond the breaking waves.

The majority of shark contact incidents in Australia involve swimmers and surfers who are further out than the breaking waves. They’re often swimming out from rocky headlands rather than the beach itself, too.

The vast majority of beach users, splashing in the shallows and playing in the breaking waves, are in no danger at all.

Manly Beach shark netting and shark alarms

Shark nets are installed at Manly Beach. These underwater mesh nets don’t fully stop sharks getting close to shore, but evidence suggests they do deter some sharks.

The waters around Manly Beach are also carefully monitored by surf lifesavers – and sometimes by drones and helicopters, too. If a shark is spotted, a shark alarm is sounded, urging swimmers to get out of the water.

Things to do in Manly include stand-up paddleboarding, kayak hire and North Harbour kayak tours.

Other options include visiting the small harbour beaches – Quarantine Beach, Store Beach, Collins Beach and Little Manly Beach.

You can also take a tour at the old Quarantine Station, swim in the Fairy Bower Ocean Pool and walk through the Worm Tunnel from Queenscliff Beach to Freshwater Beach.

Good places to eat and drink in Manly include 4 Pines, Hugo’s Manly, the Ivanhoe Hotel and the Manly Greenhouse.

More New South Wales travel

Where to stop on the Tamworth to Stanthorpe drive.

Highlights of the Glen Innes to Stanthorpe drive.

What to see on the Newcastle to Kempsey drive.

Are there crocodiles in Ballina?

Plan a Dubbo to Newcastle road trip.