The penguins at the southern end

The colony, in the source's words

NPWS's story says little penguins, also known as fairy penguins, go by the scientific name Eudyptula minor and stand up to 35 cm tall, weighing around 1 kg when fully grown; the most obvious difference between them and other penguin species is their size. These water-loving birds travel all across the southern coasts of Australia, from Perth to Coffs Harbour, and they are the only species of penguin to breed on the Australian mainland.

The colony sits in a cove at Manly inside Sydney Harbour National Park, and an area of critical habitat for the little penguin lies within the North Harbour Aquatic Reserve, which covers about 260 ha in the north of Sydney Harbour, from North Head across to Dobroyd Head. In 2025 the Great Big Little Penguin Count got under way, with surveys across key NSW breeding sites, Manly among them, as the NSW environment department (DCCEEW) reports.

They are most at home in the sea, the service's story says. Adults travel around 14 to 20 km a day while foraging for food, usually small fish, squid and krill, using their flippers to propel them through the water, and burrows or nests can be found in rocks, sea caves, sand dunes, on headlands and sometimes even under man-made structures, like decks or raised houses.

At around two or three years old, little penguins are ready for their first breeding season. The service's story adds that in NSW, males return to their colony from February to May to rebuild their old burrows, dig new ones and find a suitable mate, and once the female lays her eggs, usually two, both parents take turns incubating them for around 35 days.

North Harbour's sheltered coves hold seagrass, and its nearshore reefs support kelp habitats used by many species including seahorses and sea dragons. More on the five reserves

On the mainland, dogs, cats and foxes pose the greatest threat by attacking the adults and chicks, and vessel strike is another: it has become one of the most common causes of death in recent years.

At the southern end of the coast, Shelly Beach at Manly is the twentieth of Beachwatch's twenty ocean beaches, backed by a picnic area and reserve and with no lifeguard patrols.

What the law and NPWS ask of people near it

NPWS's story notes that little penguins are protected in NSW by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

During the breeding season, in an area where little penguins are known to frequent, and there is usually signage to let people know, the service asks that you keep your distance, minimise noise and not use flash photography, which can disturb their nesting.

The service also asks for responsible pet ownership: keep cats indoors and your dog on a leash, remembering that pets are not allowed in national parks, and it is best to check signage on beaches to see what the rules are around bringing your dog.

There are many places to reach the North Harbour reserve's foreshore: by North Head Scenic Drive to the Quarantine Station inside Sydney Harbour National Park, or walking the Manly scenic walkway, or by boat, the NSW primary industries department (DPIRD) notes.

NPWS notes that Sydney Harbour National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger, and that the gates to North Head are open from 6 am to 8.30 pm during daylight savings, and from 6 am to 6 pm the rest of the year.

Close by, NPWS describes North Head's heath-covered clifftops as a place of unending ocean views and a panorama of the harbour and Sydney skyline, with accessible lookouts and the Fairfax walk, and the Manly scenic walkway, also known as the Spit Bridge to Manly Walk, passes Grotto Point's historic rock art and Grotto Point Lighthouse on its way to Manly.

More of this coast: the five aquatic reserves, and the twenty ocean beaches, one by one.

The whole coast, Palm Beach to Shelly Beach