What a Manly Day!
Based on a Manly article by a fellow blogger, I put the Manly Scenic Walkway on my must-do list when in Australia. Manly is not only a state of being, but also a district outside of Sydney. The first thing that struck me when I arrived on June 9th was this:
Aussies are definitely not as “PC-scared” as Americans. I like that! Although it must be said: the 1928 sentiment of this plaque is a bit outdated, when you look at how the Aborigines were treated.
The Manly Scenic Walkway is about 10km, and passes through a great park in the middle. I saw lots of native plants I never even knew existed, along with quite a few local birds, lizards, and other animals. Absolutely a must for nature lovers.
If the tide is low enough, you can walk along the beach in several areas and look into some cool tidal pools. A CPL (circular polarizing filter) helps reduce reflections when taking photos of them.
I’m not sure what this flower is called, but apparently it’s very tasty to the local bees.
I was expecting to see more lizards, but then I realized: it’s winter! Most of them must be hiding below-ground when it’s cold and windy out. This guy braved the elements to catch a few rays in a wind-sheltered spot.
Around Manly there are more sailboats than I’ve ever seen in one place (except perhaps Starnberger See in Germany).
And at Manly Beach you can see lots of surfers, or try it yourself if you want to catch a few waves. Definitely wetsuit weather in June when I was there snapping photos.
As you can see, Manly has a bit of everything. I even had a great fish & chips: grilled salmon instead of the standard fried whitefish! So, the next time you’re in Sydney, put Manly on your list of places to see. Especially if you’re a nature lover like me.
Tags: Australia, Manly, Surfing, Sydney
Wow – Great pictures! Glad you had fun on the walkway. Cheers for the mention!
Thanks Nora! Never would have tried it without your article 😉