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The Best Walks in the Northern Beaches to Explore
Pop on your activewear and prepare to tackle one of the best walks in the Northern Beaches.
From the mangrove boardwalks of Brooklyn to the clifftop lookout at Palm Beach’s Barrenjoey Lighthouse, the Northern Beaches offers some of Sydney’s most rewarding walking trails. Highlights include the flat, accessible Kangaroo Point Boardwalk, the beach-hopping Queenscliff to Shelly Beach stroll past Manly, and the rugged Bangalley Headland loop between Avalon and Whale Beach.
Whether you’re a hiking fanatic, nature novice, or weekend wanderer, these are the best walks in the Northern Beaches ready to be explored. And don’t worry if you’re not an outdoorsy type, the beauty of many of these routes is that they’re flat and gentle (with fabulous local cafes dotted along the way — a must in our books).
In This Guide:
Best Short and Easy Walks in the Northern Beaches
Queenscliff to Shelly Beach
Considered one of the best walks in the Northern Beaches thanks to its beautiful beach views and gentle terrain, the Queenscliff to Shelly Beach walk may be a short relaxing stroll, but the views are spectacular, and the Eco-Sculpture Walk is a nod to the Cabbage Tree Bay’s unique marine life.
Starting at Queenscliff Beach, make your way along the beachside promenade past Manly Beach and Manly Surf Club and onto Shelly Beach at Cabbage Tree Bay. There are plenty of places to take a dip along the way, but we strongly recommend enjoying a post-stroll brekky and coffee at Boathouse Shelly Beach.
30 minutes
Where: Queenscliff to Shelly Beach, Manly
Cost: Free
Best For: Free, Outdoor, Weekend plans
Curl Curl to Freshwater
This two-kilometre track hugs the beach and rugged coastline between North Curl Curl Beach and Freshwater Beach, traversing nature reserves, beach boardwalks and rock pools.
Starting at North Curl Curl Beach, navigate the dog-friendly nature reserve adjacent to Carrington Street and past the South Curl Curl Lifesaving Club. From here, you can enjoy the views out to sea as you make your way across the elevated boardwalk and onto the breathtaking McKillop Park lookout. Gusto on the Beach at South Curl Curl is the perfect rest stop.
1-hour loop
Where: North Curl Curl Beach to Freshwater Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Dog-friendly, Free, Outdoor
Need To Know: Passes through a dog-friendly nature reserve adjacent to Carrington Street.
Dee Why Beach to Long Reef Headland
This picture-perfect walk up to Long Reef Headland is well worth the uphill effort. Start on Dee Why cliff and walk down past the ocean pool before taking the walkway to the sand. Take in the ocean breeze and sandy walk from Dee Why Beach to Long Reef Beach.
At the end of the beach, you will join the Long Reef Headland Walk. A 3km loop around Long Reef Golf Club, at the cliff’s peak, you can take in ocean views that span from Manly to Palm Beach. What makes it one of the best Northern Beaches walking trails is that it is an awesome whale-watching vantage point, best enjoyed over the winter months.
1 hour
Where: Dee Why Beach to Long Reef Headland
Cost: Free
Best For: Free, Outdoor, Nature lovers
Need To Know: Best enjoyed over the winter months for whale watching.
Best Walks for Nature and Waterfalls in the Northern Beaches
Bangalley Headland
The highest point on Sydney’s northern coastline, Bangalley Headland, is a gathering spot for native birds and plant life. Nestled between Avalon Beach and Whale Beach, the Bangalley Head lookout is the eventual destination of the rugged climb, which takes around 1.5 hours and is a three-kilometre loop.
Your ascent starts on Marine Parade in Avalon; you’ll come across a profusion of birds and sweet florals as you go up the trail. Spectacular views north to Broken Bay and the Central Coast await you at the top of the track.
1.5 hour loop
Where: Bangalley Headland, Avalon Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Outdoor, Nature lovers, Adventure
Need To Know: Ascent starts on Marine Parade, Avalon.
Best Walks for Iconic Views in the Northern Beaches
Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk
The iconic lighthouse track is located in Palm Beach and rewards walkers with some of the most spectacular views the coastline has to offer.
Starting at the Boathouse Palm Beach, don your most comfortable walking shoes and get ready to climb 1.5 kilometres up to the historic lighthouse on either the Smugglers Track or Access Path. Both trails lead to sweeping views across Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Broken Bay, the Hawkesbury River, and Pittwater.
1-hour loop
Where: Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk, Palm Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Free, Outdoor, Unique experiences
Need To Know: Two route options from the Boathouse Palm Beach: the Smugglers Track or the Access Path.
Best Long-Distance Walks in the Northern Beaches
Narrabeen Lagoon Trail
A scenic 8.6-kilometre looped track, the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail winds around stunning Narrabeen Lagoon and is the perfect outdoor jaunt for all fitness levels. Elevated walkways take you past wildlife, running waterfalls, and under bushland canopies, allowing you to soak up the magnificence of one of Pittwater’s most striking ecosystems.
Jamieson Park and Berry Reserve are the preferred starting points with ample parking available. In need of refreshments? Stop off for a coffee at one of several cafes scattered along the eastern side of the lake.
2 to 3 hours
Where: Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, Narrabeen
Cost: Free
Best For: Free, Outdoor, Nature lovers
Need To Know: Jamieson Park and Berry Reserve are the preferred starting points, with ample parking available.
Narrabeen Lakes to Manly Lagoon
Combining all of the best walking tracks along the Northern Beaches, the 25-kilometre Bicentennial Coastal Walk is more than just a mid-morning stroll. The Narrabeen Lakes to Manly Lagoon 10-kilometre walk is one section of the three-day trail and is a visual feast for the eyes and a workout for the legs.
Starting at Narrabeen Lakes, the scenic trail takes you across beaches, headlands, lookouts, lagoons, rock pools and boardwalks as you make your way through Collaroy, Long Reef, Dee Why, Curl Curl, Freshwater, Queenscliff and Manly.
8-hour loop
Where: Narrabeen Lakes to Manly Lagoon
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Outdoor, Adventure
Need To Know: One 10km section of the broader three-day, 25km Bicentennial Coastal Walk.
Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walk
The Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walk is a must for a more advanced trek. Take in a bit of Sydney Harbour and Northern Beaches in one hit, the Manly to Spit Bridge track can be walked either way, beginning with a ferry ride to Manly or bus to the Spit Bridge.
This 10km track will take you through beautiful Sydney Harbour National Park with breathtaking views of Manly, Watson’s Bay, and the heads. Whether you end up at Manly or the Spit Bridge, you will easily find a cold drink and a warm patch of sand to stretch out on while you enjoy a well-deserved rest.
3-4 hours
Where: Manly to Spit Bridge, Seaforth to Manly (via Balgowlah)
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Outdoor, Adventure
Need To Know: Can be walked in either direction — start with a ferry to Manly or a bus to Spit Bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Best Walks in the Northern Beaches
The Kangaroo Point Boardwalk is one of the most accessible options in the Northern Beaches, running for 1km through mangroves and bushland with expansive views across the Hawkesbury River. It’s fully suitable for prams, bikes, scooters and wheelchairs, and toilets, a cafe and a restaurant are all available on site. For those wanting a longer outing, the boardwalk now connects to an unbroken 3km stretch from Brooklyn Village to the river foreshore, making it easy to extend the walk without added difficulty.
The Curl Curl to Freshwater walk passes through a dog-friendly nature reserve adjacent to Carrington Street, making it a solid choice for owners wanting to bring their dog along. This two-kilometre coastal track hugs the beach between North Curl Curl and Freshwater, taking in nature reserves, beach boardwalks and rock pools, with Gusto on the Beach at South Curl Curl a convenient rest stop along the way. It’s a relaxed, roughly one-hour loop suited to most fitness levels.
The Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk in Palm Beach is widely considered one of the most scenic in the region. Starting at the Boathouse Palm Beach, the 1.5-kilometre climb to the historic lighthouse rewards walkers with sweeping views across Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Broken Bay, the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater. Bangalley Headland, between Avalon and Whale Beach, is another strong option, with views north to Broken Bay and the Central Coast from the top of its three-kilometre loop.
The Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walk takes around three to four hours to complete and covers roughly 10 kilometres through Sydney Harbour National Park. It can be walked in either direction, starting with a ferry to Manly or a bus to the Spit Bridge, and takes in views of Manly, Watsons Bay and the harbour heads along the way. Both endpoints offer places to stop for a drink and rest before heading home.
The Bicentennial Coastal Walk is the region’s longest option, running 25 kilometres in total across a three-day trail. The Narrabeen Lakes to Manly Lagoon section alone covers 10 kilometres and passes through Collaroy, Long Reef, Dee Why, Curl Curl, Freshwater, Queenscliff and Manly, taking in beaches, headlands, lookouts, lagoons, rock pools and boardwalks. It’s best suited to walkers wanting a full-day outing rather than a short stroll.
Conquered the best walks in the Northern Beaches and looking for more places to explore? Check out our edit of the best hikes in Sydney and our round-up of the best hikes in NSW.
