The Boathouse Shelly Beach

Overview & Vibe

The Boathouse Shelly Beach sits right on the sand of Manly's sheltered, west-facing Shelly Beach — one of the only Sydney venues where the ocean is literally at the bottom of the steps. Run by the Boathouse Group, famous for their coastal hospitality across the Northern Beaches, it pairs barefoot-luxe styling with knockout sunset light over Cabbage Tree Bay.

Setting & Style

The two-level pavilion offers indoor and covered outdoor areas on both floors, all overlooking the beach. Think banana palms, festoon lights, white timber and linen — the Boathouse signature — with ceremonies and photos on the sand or the rocks of the marine reserve, then receptions that roll from golden hour into the evening.

Ideal For

Couples dreaming of a genuine beach wedding with polished styling — intimate seated dinners from around 60 guests or cocktail celebrations up to 200.

The Need-to-Knows

• Upper level: up to 60 seated or 120 cocktail; lower level: up to 80 seated or 200 cocktail — both with covered outdoor areas over the beach.
• Exclusive beachside venue hire with styling and trusted vendor coordination handled by the Boathouse events team.
• Shelly Beach faces west, giving rare beach-sunset ceremonies on Sydney's east coast.
• AV facilities available; the Boathouse Group also offers accommodation options across its Northern Beaches properties.

Standout Feature

Toes-in-the-sand ceremonies on a protected marine-reserve beach, with the reception literally on the beachfront — Sydney's closest thing to a private island wedding.