North Manly

The small suburb of North Manly is set behind the shorelines graced by the sand and surf of Manly beach which has been locked in battle for more than 100 years with Bondi for the title of Australia's first ands best -known surfing playground. Manly is believed to owe its name to an observation by Captain Arthur Phillip on the 'manly' stance of the natives lining the shore as HMS Sirius led the First Fleet through the heads that guard Sydney Harbour on January 26, 1788. North Manly fringes the expansive Warringah District Park which, in turn, flanks Manly Lagoon which filters the flow of catchment water into the sea. The reserve also embraces a municipal golf course. Just up the road is the big shopping centre of Warringah Mall, and, of course, it's just up and over the hill to Manly Beach. To the north lie the aquatic playgrounds of the rest of the northern beaches, Narrabeen Lakes and the Pittwater.