Fairlight
Fairlight is tucked away between Balgowlah and Manly and is one of the Northern Beaches’ hidden gems. Straddling Sydney Road, which leads down from Manly Road to Manly Beach, Fairlight is an ideal Northern Beaches location, with its own Fairlight Beach and rockpools as an attraction, as well as the Fairlight Walk connecting to the North Harbour Walk on one side and Manly Cove on the other.
The Beaches Home Buyers
Fairlight Suburb Highlights
Fairlight is known for its strong community, centred around The Fairlight Village. With a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere than the popular nearby Manly, a great choice for professionals and families looking for a more relaxed, less touristy location with all the benefits of the Beaches lifestyle on your doorstep.
Natural Surrounds
The natural surroundings are one of the biggest draws for people looking to live in Fairlight, with many waterfront properties and apartments offering stunning views over the harbour or overlooking Manly Beach to the East. The Manly Scenic walkway from Manly to The Spit winds its way along the harbourfront through Fairlight, a popular harbour-side track for a relaxed way to take in the oceanfront.
Beaches
Fairlight has three Beaches along this walkway: “Delwood Beach” just 200m west of Manly Cove, “Fairlight Beach”, and a smaller lesser lesser-known “Esplanade Beach” located on Fairlight Point. You’ll also find the very popular Fairlight Beach Rockpool perfect for laps or cooling off on a hot summer’s day. It’s adjacent to Fairlight Beach with a small paddling pool next to the main pool, perfect for toddlers to splash about.
The world-class Manly Golf Club covers the northern limits of the suburb with greenery. Whilst Graham’s reserve is technically in Manly, it borders Fairlight and is more than just a sport field, it’s a popular dog walking haven for Fairlight residents.
Known for its diverse fish species, Fairlight is a popular spot for anglers. Fishermen and women line the rock platforms along the harbour foreshore or drop a line from a kayak on the water. Fairlight Point to the old Aquarium site, is a good place to catch Flathead.
Explore the underwater kelp forests and the diverse marine life that live within the protection of this natural ecosystem with a casual snorkel off Fairlight Beach to Fairlight Point. Protected from the open seas with average depths of 1-3 metres, you won’t encounter coral, but the visibility is generally good and the council-run amenities are well-kept.
Amenities
Fairlight is an easy commute into the city centre on a 144 bus, or ferry from Manly Wharf, connecting through to Wynyard and Circular Quay respectively. It’s also just a 13km drive to the CBD, so professionals heading in for work have a number of convenient options.
The Butchers Cafe, Honeybee Boulangerie and The Two Siisters Pantry are the most popular cafes. Foodworks and Fairlight Cellars are located in Fairlight Village for those last minute entertaining items with the Balgowlah Village Shopping Centre just minutes away.
There are lots of lifestyle amenities in Fairlight as well, including the well-known Crockd Studio where residents can learn pottery and Selah Music School, for those music lovers wishing to learn an instrument.
For families looking to move to Fairlight, there are a number of great schools and childcare facilities in and around the suburb, from the well-regarded Only About Children Daycare centre to Stella Maris College. North Harbour Pre-school is just a short walk from Fairlight Beach; Manly West Public School is just north of Sydney Road, with St. Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School to the west. Further afield, there are even more options available for families looking for quality education and childcare.
Healthcare
There are several healthcare practitioners in and around Fairlight, with GPs, physiotherapists and specialist medical services located on Sydney Road. Manly Waters and Northern Beaches Private Hospitals are nearby options, with the closest public hospital being Royal North Shore Hospital, located a short distance from Fairlight at St. Leonards, our personal specialist at Prestige Chiropractic.
Real Estate Market
Rental
Fairlight has a rental population of around 30% with a high portion of single professionals in the area. Its proximity to the city centre makes it an attractive location for young professionals, with a high demand for rental apartments.
Moving In
Young families make up around half the population of Fairlight, and it’s a popular choice for first-home buyers in the Northern Beaches and families looking to establish a family home in the city. The proximity to schools and childcare, with the more relaxed community environment are a big draw for families looking to move into the Northern Beaches. Many of our Northern Beaches buyers’ agents report Fairlight as a popular suburb for families and first-time buyers.
Investing
Fairlight presents a mix of opportunities for investors, with both elegant homes and units with unique characteristics. Units provide a more affordable entry point into the Fairlight market, with potentially higher rental yields than houses; however, with the desirable location and other factors in favour of Fairlight, the potential for long-term capital growth looks good. Experienced buyers' agents in the Northern Beaches often suggest Fairlight as a good location for investors, with lower prices compared to nearby suburbs, and a high rental yield.
