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Residents of Sydney's northern beaches have slammed police and the local council for closing Manly Beach after thousands flocked to the sand in spite of strict social distancing policies.

Up until Sunday swimmers and surfers were able to take advantage of the ocean to exercise, but the beach was closed for sunbathing and socialising to slow the spread of coronavirus in the community.

Police were forced to close a handful of beaches north of the Harbour Bridge on Sunday after beachgoers repeatedly ignored orders to move along after exercising. 

But some locals believe that in doing so, authorities have stripped them of their 'basic human right' to access the water.

'This is ridiculous,' one person complained to the Northern Beaches Council.

Surfers were spotted getting close in the water at Freshwater Beach on Sunday morning, as swimmers were told they weren't able to enter the water because the beach was closed

Manly Beach was closed on Sunday after repeated efforts to encourage beachgoers to practice safe social distancing

Families gathered at Freshwater beach on Sunday for a day in the sun, but were quickly sent packing when the beach was closed due to too many crowds

Crowds making the most of the autumn sunshine in Manly despite strict social distancing rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus

The man said his son was studying for his HSC, or final year exams in New South Wales, and occasionally jogged down to Manly Beach for a surf to 'clear his head'. 

'Now I am truly worried about his mental well-being,' the father said. 'Thanks Northern Beaches Council. I thought you lot were at least using some common sense and acknowledging surfing as a form of exercise.'  

Another local agreed that restricting access to the surf would impact the mental and physical well-being of those who rely on it as a form of exercise.

'Fresh air and nature is a human right,' a Welshman living in the seaside suburb said. 

'I find it ridiculous if we can't even go in the water. I work 40+ hours a week from my home, live 50 yards from Manly beach and surf for my physical and mental well-being, and train on the grass by the beach.'

A spokesman for the Northern Beaches Council responded to dozens of complaints and questions from locals on its Facebook page on Sunday, ensuring the closures would be reassessed on a daily basis.

On Saturday, a cafe in Freshwater drew a large crowd of people despite the government introducing policies encouraging people to stay indoors

Locals complained that closing the beach was a ridiculous step and restricted their basic human right to exercise

The walking track from Curl Curl to Manly has been busy with people milling around despite calls from the government to practice safe social distancing. Authorities were disappointed with the large crowds gathered on Friday (pictured) and Saturday

What virus? The rocky shore fronting  Cabbage Tree Bay was still a popular bathing and tanning spot on Sunday morning

'Council's position is that beaches are closed only to swimming at this stage,' the spokesman told beachgoers.

'Walking and surfing is permitted within the rules of no gathering or hanging around. Manly is the exception for today, where police took the initiative to close the beach to surfers as well.'

By Monday, it is likely surfers and swimmers will be able to return to the water to exercise, but police have the right to ban it again at any point if people continue to ignore social distancing measures.

'It's a shame that people doing the right thing are disadvantaged because others are not following the rules,' a council spokesman told another concerned local. 

'We don't want to close the beaches, but we do when people don't follow appropriate social distancing and sunbathe.' 

Crowds were condemned for flocking to the three-kilometre stretch of sand on both Friday and Saturday.

At about 11am on Sunday, police finally had enough and closed the entire beach down.   

A bikini-clad woman returns from a dip at Manly Beach on Sunday morning - before authorities finally closed the popular tanning spot to the public 

A group of people stand in water off the rocks on the Shelley Beach to Manly coastal footpath on Sunday morning

Manly Beach's entire three-kilometre stretch was finally closed to the public about 11am on Sunday morning

Groups on the promenade in Manly are still failing to adhere to strict social distancing rules - including not gathering in groups of more than two and remaining 1.5m apart

One beachgoer said about 11am they heard the beach was closing via an announcement on a loudspeaker. Pictured revellers in the water and on the beach in the hours before

In the hours before the beach was closed about 11am, hundreds of beachgoers both in the water and on the beach made the most of the pleasant 21C autumn weather.

Families and bikini-clad revellers were out in full force on the beach and the rocky shore fronting neighbouring Cabbage Tree Bay.

Hundreds more were walking their dogs or enjoying their morning coffee as they walked along the footpath connecting Manly Beach to nearby Shelley Beach - which is still open.

By midday though the beach was completely deserted, with one resident sharing a photo of the eerily quiet strip of sand set against an almost cloudless blue sky. 

Northern Beaches Council said in a statement the decision had been made to close the beach because of the number of people gathering there.   

'Our Rangers and Council staff have been posted to a number of hot spots today where large gatherings have occurred,' the council said on its Facebook page.

'We have had to close Warriewood, Manly, North Steyne, Queenscliff, Freshwater and Palm Beach. More beaches will close and reserves too if people don't follow the rules.'

Pictured: The promenade and beach at Manly still busy - with hundreds of people making their way around the beach - at 10.21am

Families and bikini-clad revellers were out in full force on Manly Beach and the rocky outcrops between the popular spot and nearby Shelley Beach

Fun in the sun: Hundreds more could be seen walking their dogs or enjoying their morning coffee as they walked along the footpath joining Manly Beach to nearby Shelley Beach

A still busy Manly Beach is pictured on Sunday before authorities made the decision to finally close the famous spot to the public

The closure comes more than two weeks after a series of beaches were shut to the public in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

From March 22, Waverley Council closed Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beach while Randwick Council shut off Maroubra, Coogee and Clovelly Beach.

The northern beaches are a known hotspot for coronavirus, having the second-highest number of cases in New South Wales. The state is considered the nation's epicentre for the virus.

On Friday, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for all foreign visitors and students to leave the country now amid fury at backpackers for failing to follow social distancing rules. 

He said that while those with essential skills - such as visiting doctors and nurses - will be encouraged to stay, it was past the time for everyone else to 'make their way home'.  

The New South Wales Government has implemented further restrictions that only allow residents to leave their homes for one of 16 essential reasons.

These reasons include exercise, grocery shopping, seeking medical care and attending school or work.   

A group of people congregating along the rocky shoreline between Manly Beach and Shelley Beach. The stretch is a popular walk for locals and tourists

Police, lifeguards and council rangers (pictured) approaches groups of people to enforce social distancing measures

One woman enjoyed the sunshine as she took to Manly Beach dressed in a wetsuit and a bikini with her surfboard

'But let's ignore all that, and blame us solely for the outbreak in Bondi (because apparently it was only backpackers there).'

'You can't have six backpackers in a caravan up out in rural parts of the country,' he added.

'That's not on. Not going to happen.' 

He reiterated the current visa regulations which state that students who come to Australia must prove they have enough money to support themselves for 12 months.  

Mr Morrison commented that given students will have known about this rule before arriving, it is 'not unreasonable' to expect them to look after themselves. 

'That is a requirement for their visa when they come for the first year,' he explained.

'That is not an unreasonable expectation of the government that students would be able to fulfill the commitment that they gave.' 

Manly locals decided to sit and chat alongside the beach despite the laws that asked Australians to remain at home

Two NSW Police officers patrolled Manly Beach on Saturday morning and asked those not exercising to return home

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on Friday (pictured)