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The Best Coastal Walks in Sydney
This seaside city is a walker's paradise. Explore on foot with our edit of the best coastal walks in Sydney.
The best coastal walks in Sydney include Bondi to Coogee for classic beach-hopping, Spit to Manly for harbour views, and Cape Bailey in Kamay Botany Bay National Park for clifftop whale watching. Serious hikers can take on the 26km Coast Track in the Royal National Park, while the Hermitage Foreshore Walk near Rose Bay makes for a quick harbourside stroll in under an hour. Our edit spans accessible boardwalks to multi-day treks, so there’s a route for every pace.
Best Clifftop Coastal Walks in Sydney
Barrenjoey Lighthouse
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 The Joey 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.
Where: Barrenjoey Headland, Palm Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Couples, Nature lovers, Active, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Start at the The Joey Palm Beach and climb 1.5km via the Smugglers Track or Access Path. Allow about an hour return.
Bondi to Coogee
No Sydney coastal walk roundup is complete without mention of this buzzing stretch. Heaving with runners and walkers year-round, the quintessential coastal views and city-adjacent location allow locals and visitors to enjoy a convenient nature hit. The fact that it’s dog-friendly adds to its popularity. The full stretch will tick off some of the city’s favourite beaches, including Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Cogee, as well as the world-famous Bondi Icebergs pool.
Time: 2-3 hours
Where: Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Visitors, Locals, Active, Weekend plans
Need To Know: The full stretch takes two to three hours and passes Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee beaches. If you’re in town during spring, keep an eye on dates for the annual Sculpture By The Sea exhibition.
Best Sydney Harbour Walks
Spit to Manly
The walk from Spit Bridge to Manly serves up the best of Sydney Harbour in a neat 10km package. As you pass some of the city’s most iconic views, you’ll be trekking past ancient Aboriginal sites, a lighthouse, beach kiosks, small beaches and reserves. And when you get to your final destination, Manly’s bustling waterfront beckons with cold drinks and fresh seafood.
Where: Spit Bridge to Manly
Cost: Free
Best For: Visitors, Active, Cultural, Weekend plans
Need To Know: A 10km one-way walk taking about four hours, ending at Manly’s waterfront.
Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach
Work your way through Sydney’s most iconic sights! This walk shows off the city and is a solid workout. It starts at the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf, which has views stretching across the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, and winds its way through Chowder Bay, Georges Heights Lookout, and Middle Head. It’s quite steep in some parts, so take your time. The beginning of the walk features a stretch of some of Sydney’s most beautiful, winding angophora trees. Keep your eye out for plenty of Sydney Eastern Water Dragons sunning themselves along the path. Wanting to soak up more of this beautiful part of Sydney? Keep going to Spit Bridge for the most scenic walk to Manly.
Where: Taronga Zoo ferry wharf to Balmoral Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Active, Visitors, Nature lovers, Weekend plans
Need To Know: A 6.8km walk taking 2.5 to 3.5 hours, with steep sections. You can continue on to Spit Bridge.
Hermitage Foreshore Walk
This glorious short walk offers some of the best harbour views in Sydney and will land you just a short distance from The Nielsen, should you fancy a spot of lunch.
If you’re heading over from the city, catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Rose Bay and walk up the beach to Hermitage Foreshore Reserve. From here, you’ll pass plenty of hidden beaches, glades and the grounds of Strickland Estate. If you’re up for an adventure, you can complete this walk as part of the Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk which will take you up to half a day. It conveniently ends at the Watsons Bay ferry terminal so you can hitch a ride back to Circular Quay.
Where: Hermitage Foreshore Reserve, Rose Bay
Cost: Free
Best For: Couples, Visitors, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Rose Bay. The walk takes 30 minutes to an hour, or up to half a day if you continue to Watsons Bay.
Best Easy Coastal Walks in Sydney
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.
Where: North Curl Curl Beach to Freshwater Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Locals, Outdoor, Weekend plans, Families
Need To Know: A 2km track. The nature reserve section near Carrington Street is dog-friendly.
Cronulla Esplanade
If you’re looking for a walk that combines coastal scenery with coffee and cafes, this is it. Begin at either Wanda Surf Life Saving Club or Bass and Flinders Point if you’d like to take in the entirety of the 4km stretch. As you wander along, you’ll pass rockpools, beaches, playgrounds and cafes as well as picnic areas and bays. A slight deviation will take you up to Cronulla high street, where boutique stores and sleek eateries can be found, whilst a visit to Shelly Park Shop, Barefoot on the Beach or elevated seafood spot Bobbys are on the way.
Where: Cronulla Esplanade, Cronulla
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Kids, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: A 4km stretch taking about an hour each way. Start at Wanda Surf Life Saving Club or Bass and Flinders Point to walk the full length.
Kangaroo Point Boardwalk
Fancy a meander through mangroves and bushland, with expansive views out across the Hawkesbury River? This new 1km boardwalk is delivering an immersive new nature experience for one and all.
The great news is, the boardwalk is completely accessible and suitable for prams, bikes, scooters and wheelchairs. Toilets, a cafe and a restaurant are all available at Kangaroo Point. If you fancy extending your walk, the new boardwalk now means you can enjoy an unbroken 3km journey from Brooklyn Village to the river foreshore.
Where: Kangaroo Point Boardwalk, Brooklyn
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Kids, Nature lovers, Free
Need To Know: A 1km boardwalk, fully accessible for prams, bikes, scooters and wheelchairs. Toilets, a cafe and a restaurant are available at Kangaroo Point.
Best Coastal Walks in Sydney for Whale Watching
Malabar Headland Circuit Walk
This 5.5km loop walk offers up some of Sydney’s most scenic vistas. Take in coastal bushland, towering sandstone cliffs, and intriguing historical relics. During winter, this walk provides some of Sydney’s best whale watching ops, whilst other native wildlife like Kookaburras, seals, waterdragons and wallabies can be spotted year-round. There are also plenty of spots along the way to take a dip, so pack your swimmers!
Where: Malabar Headland, Malabar
Cost: Free
Best For: Nature lovers, Active, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: A 5.5km loop taking around 90 minutes. Pack swimmers for the swimming spots along the way.
Cape Bailey
Head south of the CBD to Kamay Botany Bay National Park for this clifftop coastal walk. Wind your way along the towering sandstone cliffs as you pass by coastal scrub and endless ocean views, all the way to the 1950s Cape Bailey Lighthouse. In spring, the path is dotted with flannel flowers, whilst winter brings its own treats. Between May and October, this section of the coast is one of the best for spotting whales on their annual migration.
Where: Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Cost: Free
Best For: Nature lovers, Active, Outdoor, Weekend plans
Need To Know: About three hours. Whales pass between May and October, and flannel flowers line the path in spring.
Best Long-Distance Coastal Walks in Sydney
The Bondi to Manly Walk
For the most epic coastal walk in the entire city, it has to be the 80km Bondi to Manly walk. Recommended to be split across three days, the walk takes you from Bondi Beach to Darling Point, Darling Point to Spit Bridge and Spit Bridge to Manly Beach. Entirely accessible by public transport, it’s a great chance to see the best of Sydney’s coastline in one fell swoop. All you need to do is follow the walk’s signature Aboriginal whale symbol from point to point. The dedicated Bondi to Manly Walk website can assist you in planning your walk.
Where: Bondi Beach to Manly Beach
Cost: Free
Best For: Adventure, Active, Visitors, Nature lovers
Need To Know: An 80km route, best split across three days and accessible by public transport throughout. Follow the Aboriginal whale symbol.
The Coast Track
This epic multi-day walk is a rite of passage for many locals. It can be broken up into segments and tackled over time, or enjoyed in its 26km entirety. Hugging Sydney’s southern coastline, you’ll pass some of the Royal National Park’s biggest highlights, including Wedding Cake Rock and Wattamolla. Leave plenty of time to soak up the seemingly endless hidden waterholes and secluded beaches.
Where: Royal National Park
Cost: Free
Best For: Adventure, Active, Nature lovers, Outdoor
Need To Know: The full track is 26km and can be split into segments. The full track takes around eight hours on average
FAQs
The Bondi to Coogee walk is Sydney’s most popular coastal walk, linking Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee beaches in two to three hours, with the Bondi Icebergs pool along the way. For harbour views, the 10km Spit to Manly walk passes Aboriginal sites, a lighthouse and small beaches before finishing at Manly’s waterfront. For something wilder, head to Cape Bailey in Kamay Botany Bay National Park. Its sandstone clifftop path leads to the 1950s Cape Bailey Lighthouse and offers some of Sydney’s best whale watching between May and October.
The full Bondi to Coogee coastal walk takes most people two to three hours at a relaxed pace, including time to stop at the beaches along the way. The route links Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee, and passes the Bondi Icebergs pool. Because it sits so close to the city, the walk is busy with runners and walkers all year round. In spring, the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition takes over part of the route, so check the dates if you’d like to see the sculptures as you walk.
The Kangaroo Point Boardwalk in Brooklyn is one of the easiest walks near Sydney. It’s a 1km boardwalk through mangroves and bushland beside the Hawkesbury River, fully accessible for prams, bikes, scooters and wheelchairs, with toilets, a cafe and a restaurant at Kangaroo Point. Closer to the city, the Hermitage Foreshore Walk takes 30 minutes to an hour and is easy to reach by ferry from Circular Quay to Rose Bay. The 4km Cronulla Esplanade is another gentle option, passing rock pools, beaches, playgrounds and cafes.
Cape Bailey in Kamay Botany Bay National Park is one of the best coastal walks in Sydney for whale watching. Its clifftop track looks out over whales on their annual migration between May and October. The walk takes around three hours and finishes at the 1950s Cape Bailey Lighthouse. In the eastern suburbs, the 5.5km Malabar Headland Circuit Walk is another strong winter option. Kookaburras, seals, water dragons and wallabies can be spotted there all year round, so allow extra time to stop along the way.
The Coast Track in the Royal National Park runs 26km along Sydney’s southern coastline and is one of the city’s most rewarding long-distance walks. You can complete it in full, which takes around eight hours of walking, or break it into shorter segments over several visits. Highlights include Wedding Cake Rock, Wattamolla and Curracurrong Falls, plus secluded beaches and waterholes. The track runs point to point rather than as a loop, so plan your transport at both ends before you set off.
If you loved this edit of the best coastal walks in Sydney and are keen to head out on a few more hikes, be sure to take a peep at our favourite Royal National Park walks and the best walks on the Central Coast.
