Manly Waves Studios & Apartments

Australia , Sydney - NSW
MANLY, 46 Malvern Avenue
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2026

Jordan

An overall rating of “Excellent” accompanied by five little blue stars doesn’t adequately capture my experience at Manly Waves.

I was looking for a room. I found a refuge.

Manly Waves has soul, depth, character, charm; a story to tell…and time to tell it. A rare gem in today’s world.

This space is a testament to the incredible foundation and community that Theo & his team have built with genuine care and intention over the years.

Stop by. Pull up a chair. Stay awhile. You won’t regret it. ✨

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

28 Feb 2026

Tiina

Staff was great, but the room could have been cleaner.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

27 Feb 2026

Wendy

Very basic accommodation with poor quality bedding and dowdy decor. Water pressure and temperature inconsistent.

Self

2/10

Poor

24 Feb 2026

Emily

Pretty sure I’ve been bitten by bed bugs. Itchy rash and I saw the bugs crawling at night

6/10

Pleasant

19 Feb 2026

Hamish

Good position. Clean room. Quite a run down property though.

Self

4/10

Poor

19 Feb 2026

Robert

The room was grotty, bedside lamps were both broken and TV didn't work. Car park under a verandah on the edge of the footpath was an extra $20 per night. Shower was great.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Feb 2026

Gert

Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Feb 2026

Anastasios

The room was small but functional. The small kitchenette was well equipped and the balcony was nice to sit on in the evenings. The place definitely needs a lick of paint and we had some issues with cockroaches coming through gaps in the tiles, but it is Australia after all. The lady at reception was very friendly and helpful, providing us with new towels when asked and allowing us to store our luggage for a few hours when we checked out. Overall it does the job for a short stay at a low cost

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

12 Feb 2026

Morag

Room was outdated and poorly maintained

2/10

Poor

08 Feb 2026

Carolyn

This place should NOT be listed on Expedia. It is damp, dirty, and the staff won’t even get off the phone to check you in. They allow smoking, the courtyard is filthy. I found a few cockroaches and left two days early. The owner did not even ask why I was leaving.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2026

Michael John

Great “comfort” room: Ice cold A/C, Super hot showers and extra soft bed in a room just steps from Manly Beach for a wonderful price!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2026

Tabatha

Great location
Amazing staff
Spacious clean apartment

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

29 Jan 2026

Geoff

The front desk lady at reception was very helpful . Upgraded us as we were very disappointed in the studio apartment. Perhaps they need to review what’s shown on their website
Quite misleading

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

Deanne

Clean room, prompt service, gorgeous character

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Jan 2026

Amanda

Little things of everything could be a bit better

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jan 2026

Teresa

Very clean, convenient , great value for money.

2/10

Poor

01 Jan 2026

wingyi

Kitchen is dirty. No housekeeping service at all. Sand on the bed and no one cleans at alll.
Really small and dark room. The jazzui spa fan door fell out as soon as we entered the bathroom. Poor facility in the room.
Charge point not working.
Location is very close to beach, good location. Friendly staff but low efficiency. Won’t even stay there again! Photos online do not reflect the reality

Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2025

Melinda

Great location and very handy for the purpose of my visit . Check in easy , staff friendly .My room was clean and the little balcony was great with a nice outlook . Parking was good
Unfortunately the air conditioning was extremely noisy which made it unusable at night so the room became quite stuffy .I found some dirty plates and a take away food container in the microwave left from a previous guest .

6/10

Pleasant

07 Dec 2025

Kemara

Easy check-in and space was clean, just wasn't what we were expecting (definitely should've read reviews first), very small and old, stunk like cigarettes. The guy next door must've been the manager or something, because he was chatting with a mate on the phone at 6am (which was super rude at that time knowing guests were staying next door) about seeing us on the camera. Didn't feel comfortable staying the full time, and ended up staying somewhere else the next night.

Business_and_leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

06 Dec 2025

David

Shocking. Everything about it was just D.I.Y. It was dirty. Zero love goes into these rooms.

4/10

Poor

05 Dec 2025

Jim

Staff good but amenities not great.
TV not fuctioning at capacity.
Fridge freezes over.
No chairs in room.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2025

Stuart

There was only a very very small garbage can in the bathroom ... a medium sized on in the main living or kitchen area needs to added

2/10

Poor

03 Dec 2025

Melissa

Felt very unsafe

6/10

Pleasant

29 Nov 2025

Jessica

Room was ok, bedrooms were big enough and living space was sufficient. Disappointed as advertised there was air conditioning but upon arrival none of them worked, called the reception and left a message to have them come check but no response. Overall was a good location and enough space for our family of 6.

Leisure Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

29 Nov 2025

Peter

Great location, very affordable.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2025

Ian

Great room helpful staff great location

4/10

Poor

23 Nov 2025

Anthony

The room itself was ok but the exterior needs a major upgrade. There is zero sound insulation in the rooms. On each of the 3 nights I stayed there I was woken after midnight by guests in other rooms. I didn’t see any staff except for checking in and out and there are no amenities. I checked out early and went somewhere else.

Business_and_leisure Self

4/10

Poor

21 Nov 2025

Carol

The shower door was broken. No window coverings in bedroom. Broken cupboard doors and drawers. Shabby, dirty. No plug for kitchen sink.
Was relatively quiet and beds were old but okay.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

21 Nov 2025

Timothy

Kitchen minimally equipped but fridge worked well.

Room in need of a good coat of paint throughout but clean

Duvet very stained didn’t use and no duvet cover just 2 sheets.

Quiet location although neighbours were smoking cannabis which did get a little into room.

Door needs a proper lock and patio door lock broken but did not feel unsafe.

However despite this we had a great stay and would recommend as long as you are aware of these limitations.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2025

Ryan

A beautifully aesthetic room with great amenities alongside a relaxing common room where we had great late night chats. Location was a major plus being so closed to the beach erased the stress about parking. I got to mee some of the locals and staff members who were nothing but lovely.

Leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

16 Nov 2025

Daniel

We didn’t arrive until 11pm were told there would be directions to our room with our key in the lock box when collecting our key there was no map to find our room which would be ok if it was easy to find but after 1/2hr of walking around in the dark with suitcases up and down stairs crossing the street to another building we finally found our room behind the main building which was not easy to find

10/10

Exceptional

07 Nov 2025

Daniel

The staff were all very nice, the aircon worked well and was quiet, the bed was comfy, and the hotel was in a great location.

Business Self

6/10

Pleasant

03 Nov 2025

Damian

Got upgraded to a room in the smaller, nicer block. Was ok. The bed was clean, towels were decent, and room was spacious and bright. Location is on a quiet and unremarkable street.

The aircon was loud and ineffective, sink plugs didn’t plug. I didn’t fancy the main block, with a big hairy guy wandering around as if there was a mandatory buttcrack dress code. The wifi was fine as long as no-one else was using it. Uber Eats was easy.

But the staff were pleasant, and people hanging around outside seemed to be enjoying themselves.

So - not bad, not great. Cheap, basic, friendly. A hostel with your own room.

Self

4/10

Poor

03 Nov 2025

Elisabeth

Staff were not very helpful and I felt like I was inconveniencing them when I checked it. The amenities it said would be in the room weren't, and seeing cockroaches in the room really put me off.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

02 Nov 2025

Cameron

Fitted sheets lacking
Doona cover lacking
Very friendly and efficient staff.

Room needs a broom to get rid of sand which will make its way back from the beach
Needs more than one fork

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

26 Oct 2025

Cate

Door lock was an issue getting the key out,air conditioner very old and didn't appear to work.unable to leave balcony door open due to security concern. Bar fridge worked very well, bed clean and comfortable and shower good and hot

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

22 Oct 2025

Virginia

Quiet but felt unclean.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

21 Oct 2025

kiu lok

Fair experience. Not worth of the price.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2025

Mandy

Very happy with the services provided to me and loved to position.

8/10

Excellent

04 Oct 2025

Ralph

Ideal position for beach and cafes/restaurants

Partner

4/10

Poor

01 Oct 2025

Azadeh

The insect spray odor in my room is overwhelming and suffocating.
There are hairs in the bathroom. It’s unbelievable they could have at least washed it away with water.

Business_and_leisure

2/10

Poor

30 Sep 2025

Azadeh

The staff are vey good.

6/10

Pleasant

30 Sep 2025

Carol

Convenient location. Bed comfortable towels clean

Partner

2/10

Poor

29 Sep 2025

Azadeh

The room is very dirty and there hasn’t been any housekeeping and No one assisted me with my luggage upon arrival. Reception was not available before 9 am and I could not reach anyone by phone.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2025

Maurice

great location

Business Self

4/10

Poor

18 Sep 2025

Catherine

The only thing to like is the location,dont bother staying here as its overpriced and grotty. We booked the standard studio $176 for one night and $20 for a parking spot that was so narrow the car just fit the space.The studio was very 60's and somewhat clean .The sliding door tracks inside had mould and dirt on it and a crack in the glass.The curtains were to small for the door and luckly i had a couple of pegs to close the gap during the night.The bathroom was tiny with some mould and dust on the high ceiling and window.
One wet glass between two.
Missed matched cutlery and crockery.The fridge very noisy.
The bathroom door didnt close.Very flimsy furniture.Bed was surprisingly ok.The old rusty outdoor table needed a good clean or replaced.
The lady that checked us in was polite and friendly
I wouldnt recommend staying here unless its your last resort.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

17 Sep 2025

Steven

I’ve stayed in cheaper hostels that were better and cleaner than this place!

4/10

Poor

15 Sep 2025

Amy

Don’t have anything positive to say except the location was good for walkability. Check in process was atrocious. Was told I would be staying in location across the street staying on 2nd floor no offer to help with my luggage.
Security gate for apartment didn’t work just a gate that didn’t even close. Place was pretty clean, bed wasn’t overly comfortable. My main issue was the noise. Constant construction noise even had the joy of being woken up by angle grinders on Saturday morning 😡

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

04 Sep 2025

Fiona

Not great

Drunks moaning and coughing on street at night and early morning, screen door didn't lock, tv didn't work, shabby condition of property.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2025

LaToya

The staff was very accommodating.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

30 Aug 2025

Scott

Not a good stay here. Old and run down. My curtain rod fell down in the middle of the night. Rust and mold. Bad overall experience and poor communication from staff.

8/10

Excellent

19 Aug 2025

Carolyn

Good choice for price, small but functional. TV had no channels, and air con only blew cold air, but little heater warmed the room well. Would have enjoyed walking to the wormhole if our stay was longer.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2025

Grace

We stayed in the 3 bedroom home, it was cosy and character filled. Decorated tastefully, felt like a second home with little quirks. Check in was easy, resident cat is gorgeous. Super close to the beach, walkable to shopping and ferries. Parking was great and secure. We can’t wait to visit again.

Leisure Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

03 Aug 2025

Beth

Location is good. Room a little run down, taps loose, lights not working over microwave bench or bedside lamp. Balcony door was very hard to lock. There was a leak in the corner of the room which wet our suitcase overnight. Would expect more for over $250 a night.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

29 Jul 2025

Karen

Initial accommodation was not good at all with bare wires broken door windows Hotel.com helped us to immediately solve and we were moved to an alternative Kristi on reception was brilliant can’t say how lovely she was and appreciated her help

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

28 Jul 2025

Rebecca

Close to beach

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2025

Lisa

We had an amazing stay … will hopefully be back one day again soon Xx

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2025

Sky

Thankyou :) it was a good stay while we were in sydney for work :)

Business Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Jun 2025

Natalie

Great location for the price, only one block back from the beach, and my room had a water view as well as being able to hear the waves. Cheap & cheerful, the bathroom was clean & relatively new. Nice smelling free bathroom products. Bed was REALLY comfortable, good-sized bar fridge & great selection of free teas & coffees. Parking available for a great price ($20/night)
Only a couple of issues…
1/ An old style, relatively flimsy lock on the room door, with no other latch or chain. This, combined with no locked external main door, meant anyone could walk in off the street to access the rooms. As a single woman, I found the lack of security a little concerning.
2/ The water pressure in the shower was weak, despite having the tap at full strength
3/ A few small cockroaches in the kitchen in the mornings

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

31 May 2025

Katie

Very old, smelly and cold. The bed was squeaky, uncomfortable and no blankets. The aircon sounded like a freight train.
Great location, but accommodation very disappointing.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 May 2025

Nicky

Only stayed for two nights. Comfortable apartment. Clean. Walkable distance into Manly. Nice and quiet.

2/10

Poor

06 May 2025

Tom

Not recommended

8/10

Excellent

19 Apr 2025

David

Staff and management are great. Courtyard needed a little extra cleaning. The room was cosy. I would stay here again.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2025

Laszlo

It was a fantastic holiday and the owner of this property is super nice!

Leisure Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

11 Apr 2025

Dani

It was pretty old and in below average condition

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2025

Danielle

5 star

The room wasn’t quite what we were after, a little too small for the 4 of us but they QUICKLY UPGRADED us without us even asking- they JUST KNEW!👍

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

24 Mar 2025

Alex

Very poor

Photos don't tell the truth, very poorly presented. Very old, over all condition very poor.

Self

8/10

Excellent

21 Mar 2025

Christopher

It was pleasant without bei g

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2025

Jeanine

Well located affordable accommodation. Clean and comfortable with very helpful stuff.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2025

pauline

Clean, comfy, great location and lovely helpful staff

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

10 Mar 2025

Louise

Paying a rate of $528 a night ( total 3 nights) and additional $20pn for parking. Completely ripped off. They should feel embarrassed and ashamed charging this rate for this standard of property.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2025

Annelone

Within walking distance from Manly beach, cafes and shops. Easy parking. Great mattress. Would have liked milk to make tea.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Mar 2025

Ekaterina

We ended up staying in a 2-bedroom apartment , owned by the same people. So I’m basing my review on that. Just 2 mins up the road. Roxanne kindly offered it to us. The apartment was very nice, light and airy. A lot of light coming through , with a nice balcony. All the amenities were there and worked great. We didn’t cook, but the kitchen looked great. Washing machine and tumble dryer. Location is fantastic. Overall a very good flat.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2025

Annie

Perfect stay and very kind owners

We are very satisfied with our stay. The room was comfortable with AC, practical with dishes, microwave and fridge. The shower is unique and impressive! It is very well situated, 2 minutes walk from the beach and on a quiet street. You can definitely walk from the ferry. The owners are so kind, would definitely go back!

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

17 Feb 2025

Paul

When we walked into our room there were bugs on the floor and in the shower. We left and did not stay. The room was outdated and we were not refunded our money. Do not stay here!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2025

Julia

Convenient, sweet semi, reasonably priced. Will book again

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

13 Feb 2025

Rachel

Welcoming + Great Location

Very friendly staff who welcomed me and assisted in a room change when the TV in mine didn't work. Comfortable and clean space. Listen to the sound of waves as you sleep.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Feb 2025

Troy

Great place to stay only 2 blocks from the beach. Very cozy and comfortable cottage.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

27 Jan 2025

Kailee

Excellent staff, great location, value for money.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2025

William

Upgraded on a surf club weekend in Sydney .. WOW

Thank you Roxanne for the impromptu upgrade .. beachfront magic . Parking and within walking distance to manly ..

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

11 Jan 2025

Ryan

N/A

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jan 2025

Sally

close to beach , quiet , private .

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

01 Jan 2025

Amanda

The location of the apartment was ideal - close to the beach, and the balcony was great.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2024

James

Stay Here!

I'm so glad I stayed here. The setting was fantastic, just 1 minute from the beach and a 5 minute walk from the center of everything. The staff were incredibly nice and helpful. When my air conditioner wasn't working they replaced it immediately.

Also, the room was fabulous. A outdoor terrace, room inside to cook, a big bed. It was really, really great. So much so I was sad to leave!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

09 Dec 2024

Maree

The room was clean, bed comfortable, sheets were clean but doona cover needed a wash and could do with replacing as could the cushions. The room itself is somewhat worn out and was not quite like in the photo.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2024

Carson

Very clean and accommodating staff!

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2024

Matthew

Our stay was great, we booked the day we arrived.
The accommodation manager ROXANNE was fantastic.
She upgraded us as a family to a two room apartment and helped us out with parking.
The room was spotless, just a two minute walk to the beach. We will definitely stay there again.
Thanks Roxanne, you were amazing.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 Oct 2024

Jessica

Pros - location in terms of proximity to beach and a few shops/cafe etc. Studio room thoughtfully decorated in a vintage kitsch way. Clean and tidy. Very comfortable bed.

Cons- this place has a motel/hostel feel (and odour) and was not quite what I expected from the way it was advertised. The building is probably circa 1960 and feels old. There was a light from the stairwell shining in to the room all night so it was very bright and the blinds and curtains did little to block out street light. Security is flimsy, the door/s needs a more adequate lock. The pillows need to be replaced as they were old and the bedspread and cushion covers on the bed need proper laundering to remove old odours. The shower head was leaky and kept spraying in my face. Being an old building it was noisy, could hear street activity and neighbours movements, shower etc.
This place would suit young travellers who are in Manly for the beach experience and who are not too concerned about their accom.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Sep 2024

Wayne

The Manager Harry was very accommodating....we would defiantly come back for a stay.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Sep 2024

David

Great rooms. Finishes are a bit tired but this is compensated by the inclusions- microwave, plates, cutlery, kettle, toaster, iron, fridge, balcony with table and chairs, sofa and comfy bed. Not the ritz but has all you need. Only a block of so from the beach. Plenty of good food nearby. Fast efficient check in.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

26 May 2024

Matthew

The staff weren’t helpful at all. I stayed in a room on the beachfront and in the middle of the night find people in my room. Do not stay here, it is dangerous and extremely unsafe.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2024

WENDY

Very quick and helpful staff to fix a minor problem

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

24 Feb 2024

Tim

Expensive for what we got

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2024

Marcus

Very enjoyable break

We really enjoyed our stay at Manly Waves Studios and Apartments. At check in we got a really nice surprise of a free upgrade from a Designer Family Apartment (Courtyard) to a two bedroom apartment. All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Manly Waves Studios and apartments is located a short walk away from Manly beach, Manly shops, Manly restaurants and the Manly Ferry. We will definitely stay at Manly Waves Studios and Apartments again next time we have a break in Manly.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jan 2024

Brian

We had a mixed stay, we didn't get the room we booked online and was supposedly an upgrade due to it being a bigger room. Problem was that it was very run down, bedding was awful, filthy stained couch, no shower curtain, very mouldy. Manager was decent enough to upgrade us to a much better apartment which was very clean and well presented. I know it's not the fault of management but the street we were in was very sketchy. We were terrified on the last night as we were heading out for ice cream and a man was screaming and chasing another man that he was going to kill him and started to beat him. My daughter was very upset. Both mornings there were Police investigating several complaints. Not really a great place for families with young children.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

19 Dec 2023

janella

The image provided was not the same room as I stayed in. I was upgraded but I would have preferred the smaller room I booked, with fresh air and a breeze.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2023

Tye Milson

Great staff with Roxanne and crew, close to beach.

8/10

Excellent

04 Dec 2023

Heidi

great location and close to transport and the beach

Leisure Family_with_children