New South Wales · Sydney
Manly & North Harbour
The last little-penguin breeding colony on the NSW mainland — a conservation story, not a show.
The place
Manly & North Harbour
The little penguins of Manly and North Harbour are the last colony breeding on the New South Wales mainland — and this is a conservation story rather than a tourist attraction. There is no parade and no ticketed viewing; a small number of birds nest at secluded, rocky spots around Spring Cove and North Head, watched over by volunteer 'Penguin Wardens'.
The colony is a listed Endangered Population, and the surrounding habitat is protected. Foxes, dogs, boat strike and fishing gear are all real threats to a group of only a few dozen pairs.
Status: A listed endangered population — Sydney's last mainland penguins.
All places to see penguinsRegion
Sydney, NSW
Nearest
Manly · North Head
Species
Little penguin
Onshore
~Jun – Mar
Access
No ticketed viewing
Protected
Sydney Harbour National Park
Good to know
- Please frame any visit as 'protect, don't disturb' — keep dogs well away and view from a distance.
- Boaters should slow to 4 knots or less in North Harbour.
- There is no organised penguin viewing here; enjoy the harbour and let the birds be.