Sea Breeze Retreat, Ground Floor Convenience By One Luxe Stay Serviced Apartment & Vacation Rental Manly BEACH, Northern Beaches, Sydney

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Sea Breeze Retreat? The name actually makes sense – I mean, you’re literally on Victoria Parade in Manly, so close to the beach you can hear the waves from your ground floor window. It’s one of those serviced apartments that feels more like staying at a friend’s place than a hotel, which honestly works in its favor. The whole setup is pretty straightforward – you walk right in from street level (no stairs with heavy luggage, thank god), and the space has that clean, modern Australian apartment vibe without being too sterile.

What I really appreciated was how they’ve nailed the balance between hotel convenience and apartment freedom. The kitchen actually has proper equipment, not those sad little hotel kettles and two cups you usually get. I ended up grabbing fresh seafood from the Manly markets – just a quick stroll down The Corso – and cooking it myself one night, which felt way more authentic than hitting another restaurant. The location is pretty brilliant if you think about it; you’re close enough to the ferry wharf that getting into Circular Quay is dead easy, but far enough from the main Manly strip that you’re not dealing with the weekend party crowds stumbling past at 2am.

The Northern Beaches thing is real here – step outside and you’ve got that proper beachy, laid-back Sydney vibe without the tourist circus of Bondi. I’d walk to the beach most mornings before the day got too hot, and honestly, having a proper apartment to come back to instead of a cramped hotel room made all the difference. The rating sits at 7.5 which feels about right – it’s not luxury, but it’s solid and does exactly what it promises. There were a few minor things (the shower pressure could be better, and the wifi got a bit patchy during busy evening hours), but nothing that really dampened the experience. If you’re planning to explore the Northern Beaches properly – maybe hit up Freshwater or Dee Why – this place makes a great base. Just remember that Manly gets absolutely packed during summer weekends, so if you’re someone who values peace and quiet, maybe time your visit for shoulder season when the locals have the place more to themselves.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $266. Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Superb – Apriyadi from Indonesia – 1 July 2025 (9/10)

  the place is perfect for family trip and beach lover.

• Good – Andrea from Australia – 8 May 2025 (7/10)

  Good location, close to everything, the apartment was comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: Dirty blinds and window frames, the entrance was hard to find in the dark.

• Overall a great wee property in a fantastic location. Would recommend and would stay again. – Kat from New Zealand – 4 September 2024 (9/10)

  Fantastic location
  
  What could be improved: A little bit more care with the cleaning but it was still overall ok

• need to have an eye for detail, behind bed not clean at all. cockroaches in the kitchen area. – Louise from Australia – 4 July 2025 (5/10)

  location is perfect
  
  What could be improved: the bed leaves a lot to be desired, not at all comfortable. especially the pillows, they were dreadful

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities