All swim distances start on Shelly Beach and finish at South Steyne, which is outside the Manly surf club.

The 1km swim is the shortest distance taking swimmers from Shelly Beach around a buoy 500m from the beach and then into South Steyne.

The 2km swim starts the same as the 1km, but heads further north before returning to the finish outside the surf club.

For those taking on the 5km distance, this course will take you all the way down Manly Beach towards Freshwater Beach. Once arriving in Queenscliff Bay out the front of Freshwater Beach, you’ll turn the buoys and head all the way back towards Shelly Beach, taking a right-hand turn to finish at South Steyne, Manly.

Manly is a popular surfing beach (the birthplace of surfing in Australia) that attracts people from all over the world, from sunbathers to bodyboarders and surfers. There are permanent Volleyball nets/courts located on the beach and a promenade runs along the beachfront for walking, jogging and skating.

There’s a plethora of restaurants, cafés and bars all over Manly to try out!

Shelly Beach, where the race starts from, sits on Cabbage Tree Bay which is a nature reserve perfect scuba divers and snorkelers. There are BBQ facilities and breakfast and lunch at The Boathouse Restaurant.

North Head Sanctuary is a special place for Aboriginal people with rock carvings created many thousands of years ago. North head houses Royal Australian Artillery National Museum, the Bella Vista Café in the heritage-listed North Fort Building, the Australian Bronze Café.

The best way to begin your journey to Manly, the Gateway of the Northern Beaches, is by cruising across Sydney Harbour on one of the most picturesque ferry rides in the world.

Of course, you can also take a bus, take a ride-share or drive in a private car.

Other parts of the Northern Beaches are accessible from Sydney’s CBD and suburbs by land and water too.

Ferries to Manly

Manly Ferries leave approximately every half hour (more frequently in peak times) from Wharf 3 at Circular Quay and return at similar intervals. The trip takes 30 minutes. The Ferry gates close two minutes prior to the departure time, to assist with on-time running.

My Fast Ferry and Captain Cook are private ferry companies that run services to Manly, Circular Quay, Watsons Bay, Taronga Zoo, Chowder Bay and Shark Island. The trip to and from Circular Quay is only 20 minutes.

• Manly Ferry Timetable
• My Fast Ferry
• Captain Cook Ferries

Categories & Start Waves

5km

• Wave 1 – Open Male
• Wave 2 – Open Female

1km

• Elite –  Male and Female Gun start – All participants will start in a mixed Start Wave competing for the overall distance title.
• Age Group Rolling start – Self Seed rolling – Participants will be split into Start Waves depending on their age and gender.
• Back of Pack Rolling start – Self Seed rolling. -Combined gender and age waves for general entry participants. Waves will fill based on the order of registration.

2km

• Elite – Male and Female Gun start – All participants will start in a mixed Start Wave competing for the overall distance title.
• Age Group Rolling Start  – Self Seed rolling – Participants will be split into Start Waves depending on their age and gender.
• Back of Pack Rolling Start – Self Seed rolling. -Combined gender and age waves for general entry participants. Waves will fill based on the order of registration.