About 21 kilometres from Sydney’s central business district, Long Reef is a picture-perfect expanse of white sand on the Northern Beaches. The Long Reef Aquatic Reserve is surrounded by a number of underwater shipwrecks. The Manly ferries Dee Why and Bellubera were among the numerous vessels intentionally sunk off Long Reef Aquatic Reserve in the 1970s and 1980s in order to build artificial reefs. A large south swell can create a stunning wave up to five metres on the offshore reef in the north (the Long Reef Bombora), which begins to break at around one metre. Surfers at all levels will enjoy the beach breaks created by dependable sandbanks. You have a good chance of finding a decent wave to yourself during the workday.

With reefs that break to the left and right, Long Reef offers fairly consistent surfing conditions. When there is a roaring north-easter that blows across the beach in an offshore breeze, making the waves smooth and very rideable, then is the perfect time to go out.