Manly Dam
Manly Dam
Description
Manly Dam (officially Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park) is Sydney's largest freshwater swimming lake, a sprawling bushland park in Manly Vale on the Northern Beaches. The heritage-listed 1892 dam is now all yours for swimming, paddling, picnics and one of the city's best-loved mountain bike loops.
Why We Love It
A buoyed freshwater swimming spot right beside the playground at Section 1 — calm, shallow at the edge and surf-free, so paddling toddlers and nervous first-timers can wade in without a wave in sight.
Playground, lake and grass in one pocket near the King Street entrance, so the under-5s have a swing-and-splash base while bigger kids range further.
Mountain Bike Trail — a roughly 10km clockwise mix of single track, shared track and fire trail that swings from beginner-friendly to seriously technical, ideal for older kids and teens with a bit of riding under their belt.
Walks sized for every set of legs — the 350m Wildflower Walk and 1.5km Nature Trail for little ones, or the full 7.3km Heritage Walk around the lake past small waterfalls for the keen.
An accessible foreshore thanks to a 400m elevated boardwalk and a new water-access platform, so prams and wheelchairs can actually reach the water's edge.
Boat ramps and a power-boat zone mean kayaks, paddleboards and small boats share the lake — plenty to watch even if you're just there for the picnic.
Good To Know
Tips
Skip the pricey gate parking: on-site bays are Pay & Display and steep for non-residents; free street parking on King Street before the entry gate is the local trick, but it fills early on warm weekends.
Check the water before you swim: Council tests the lake weekly and can close it for swimming after heavy rain when blue-green algae spikes — a quick look at the council page saves a wasted trip.
Dogs on the trails only: they're welcome on-leash on the bushland tracks but banned from the picnic areas, carparks and the lake at all times.
It's a lake, not a beach: no lifeguards or surf, so the usual open-water rules apply — keep little swimmers within arm's reach.
Book a picnic table: the four picnic areas take table bookings through Northern Beaches Council, handy for birthdays or bigger groups.
Locals can ditch the fee: Northern Beaches residents can apply for a parking permit that exempts them from the on-site charges.
Parking Options
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Price (Per Person)
Free (parking charged)
Opening Hours
- Monday
- 7am - 5:30pm
- Tuesday
- 7am - 5:30pm
- Wednesday
- 7am - 5:30pm
- Thursday
- 7am - 5:30pm
- Friday
- 7am - 5:30pm
- Saturday
- 7am - 5:30pm
- Sunday
- 7am - 5:30pm