Fairy Bower Sea Pool

Between Manly Surf Club and Shelly Beach, you’ll find a small ocean rock pool at tiny Fairy Bower Beach—take the steps at the end of Bower Ln. The area smells of coastal flowers, and the rocks surrounding the triangular pool are a wonderful green hue, though some have faded to white from the surging waves at high tide. I learnt to swim here as a very small boy. After a quick dip in the pool, I usually walk along the rocks to reach Shelly Beach, then go to The Boathouse restaurant, with its water views, for coffee or lunch.