Best Coastal Walks in Sydney
Best Coastal Walks in Sydney
Of all the wonderful features and attractions of Sydney, its beautiful and breath-taking coastline often tops the list. Coupled with its world-renowned good weather, this city offers plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy the sun, stretch your legs and immerse yourself in nature’s trail.
So grab your runners, slap on some sunscreen and pick from this list of the best coastal walks in Sydney.
Bondi to Coogee Walk
As this city’s most iconic trail, the Bondi to Coogee walk will give you a glimpse of the magnificent coastal beauty of Sydney. Beginning at Bondi’s Icebergs Swimming Club, this trail winds past Mark’s Park, passing through Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Beach and Gordon’s Bay, before ending up at Coogee. As a bonus, each October, part of the trail turns into the Sculpture by the Sea art gallery. There are plenty of beautiful spots along the way to rest, soak in the scenery and to snap a memory. Surrounded by beautiful views whichever way you look, there is simply no better place to enjoy a day out in the sun.
Distance: 6 km one way
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate. Some steep gradients and staircases.
For more details, see our Spotlight on the Coastal Walk.
Woolloomooloo to Barangaroo Walk (via Circular Quay)
Beginning at the Woolloomooloo wharf, this walk brings you through many of Sydney’s top highlights in just one walk. Just follow the water, through the iconic Sydney Harbour and around some of the most iconic view points in the city; including Royal Botanic Gardens, Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, Mrs Macquarie Chair, Dawes Point and Barangaroo Reserve. Located right in the heart of Sydney, this is a leisurely walk best done with a coffee in one hand, a camera in the other, and great company by your side.
Distance: 5.5km
Duration: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
For more details and stops along the way, see our feature on Woolloomooloo and on What to see and do in Barangaroo
Bondi to Manly Walk
Follow the coastal harbourside walking tracks between two of Australia’s most famous beaches; all along the east coast and harbour shores of Sydney. Completing this multi-day adventure will bring you past all the best highlights of Sydney – including secluded coves, spectacular views, bushland, clifftops, and iconic landmarks such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and significant Indigenous sites (such as Aboriginal engravings at Grotto Point, the ancestral reburial site and rock art at Reef Beach). There is plenty to see, and you can split this walk into four, five and seven-day routes, to give you plenty of time to soak it all in.
Distance: 80km
Duration: 4 – 5 days
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
For more details, see our feature on the Bondi to Manly Walk.
Federation Cliff Walk – Dover Heights to Watsons Bay (part of the Bondi to Manly Walk)
Commencing from the north of Bondi (officially starting at Dover Heights), this coastal trail will lead you along the east coast to Watsons Bay. Walk on through Rodney Reserve (with a plaque commemorating the first radio telescope installed in the 1950s), the iconic Diamond Bay Reserve and Macquarie lighthouse, before ending at The Gap Lookout at Watsons Bay. While The Gap carries a sad history of shipwrecks and misfortune, today it is one of the most photographed locations in Sydney.
Distance: 5km
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
For more details, see our Cliff Walks of Sydney.
Hermitage Foreshore Walk – Sydney Harbour’s Watsons Bay to Rose Bay (part of Bondi to Manly Walk)
This is the one for families and those looking for an easy, breezy stroll, along our spectacular coastlines. Starting at Bayview Hill Road and ending at a gorgeous waterside picnic spot at Nielsen Park, there are plenty of harbour beaches and hidden treasures to be discovered; including Steele Point Lookout, Strickland House and Ralph Newboult Lookout. Whether you are looking to dip your toes into the water, sit by the grassland or simply watch the ferries go by, you will be sure to find a perfect spot for you on this trail.
Distance: 1.8km one way
Duration: 30 mins – 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
For more details, see our feature on the Hermitage Foreshore Walk.
Spit Bridge to Manly (part of Bondi to Manly walk)
Whether you choose to end your walk with the magnificent views of Spit Bridge or the vibrant and eclectic scenes of Manly, this walk will bring you through pockets of subtropical rainforests and native bush habitats. If you are in the mood for a quick dip, then stop by the Fairlight Rock Pool or one of the other secret beaches, tucked away at Fairlight Beach and sheltered from the harbour swell. Sites that are not to be missed include Grotto Point Lighthouse, Clontarf Beach, Reef Beach and Crater Crove as well as the Aboriginal rock carvings at Castle Rock Beach. If this trail is not long enough for you, then from Spit Bridge, you can continue on to the Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay walk. Alternatively, end your day with a picturesque ferry ride from Manly back to Circular Quay.
Distance: 10km one way
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate – some short steep hills
Bradleys Head To Chowder Bay Walk (part of Bondi to Manly walk)
This leafy track weaves around the harbour headlands from the iconic Taronga Zoo to charming Chowder Bay, offering the best trail within the Northerns Sydney suburbs. Dotted with heritage-listed buildings and historic sites against the coastal backdrop, including Bradleys Head Amphitheatre and Clifton Gardens Reserve, this is a quintessential Sydney stroll that is not to be skipped.
Distance: 4km one way
Duration: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
