At a little over 300-metres in length and wedged between two headlands, Freshwater is just to the north of Manly and faces southeast. The north headland provides excellent protection from the summer northeaster, and waves are fairly consistent right along the beach thanks to reliable sandbanks.

Freshwater is one of the northern peninsula’s most family-friendly beaches, often populated by young grommets on body-boards. An eight-lane 50-metre saltwater pool at the north end is a favourite with lap swimmers (free entry).

Freshwater’s unique claim to fame is that this is where surfboard riding was introduced to Australia by Hawaiian “Duke” Kahanamoku. Duke famously carved a board from a piece of local timber and demonstrated surfing for an enthralled crowd on 15 January 1915. A life-size statue of Duke Kahanamoku on the northern headland commemorates the historic day.