Coastal Trails
Are you looking to explore Sydney's beautiful harbour foreshores by foot? As well as walking within our sites, you can also visit them as part of longer walks around Sydney's coastal tracks. Our sites are part of a number of exhilarating harbour treks.
Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach
Description
Why don't you take yourself on a fabulous bush walk from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach....or vice versa!
You can walk from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach, taking in breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, passing through native bushland and historic military sites that have been closed to the public for more than 100 years. The full walk passes through parts of Sydney Harbour National Park, Mosman Council reserves and Harbour Trust lands.
Opening Hours
Open daily during daylight hours. Walking track gates on Harbour Trust lands are open at the following times:
6.30am - 7.00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
6.00am - 8.30pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time).
Closures may occur on days of high bushfire risk.
Map
Download Walking Taronga to Balmoral [PDF 608kb]
Visitor Information
The walking track is unsuitable for dogs as the track passes through national park and council reserves.
Distances and Walking Times
Taronga to Balmoral: 6km 2 hours
Taronga to Chowder Bay: 4km 1.5 hours
Chowder Bay to Balmoral: 2km 30-40 minutes
Manly to North Head Sanctuary
Description
You can walk to North Head Sanctuary from Manly via Shelly Beach taking in beaches, coastal views and bushland. After Shelly Beach you walk through the Sydney Harbour National Park and the pathway enters North Head Sanctuary near the Gatehouse Visitor Centre. From here you can join the Gunners' Walk to see the highlights of the sanctuary, including heathland, art deco buildings, historic military remnants and views of the city, harbour and ocean. Stop by the Gatehouse Visitor Centre on your way past to pick up a visitor guide and map.
Walking Coastal Sydney has recently produced a very useful brochure on the walk from Manly Lagoon to North Head and the Spit.
Opening Hours
Tracks open daily during daylight hours.
Gatehouse visitor centre open 10am - 4pm.
Map
For Manly walking tracks go to the Walking Coastal Sydney website.
For walking tracks within North Head Sanctuary download:
Self-guided tour brochure- North Head [PDF 1287kb]
Distances and Walking Times
Manly to Shelly Beach 1.3km 40 mins
Shelly Beach to Gatehouse Visitors Centre 1.8km 30 mins
Gunners' Walk within North Head Sanctuary 2.7km 1.5 to 2 hours
Woolwich Dock
The Woolwich Dock and Parklands walking track starts opposite the Woolwich Pier Hotel on Gale Street, and goes down to the Goat Paddock with magnificent views over Sydney Harbour and to the city. The track then passes by several historic army industrial buildings and connects with a walking track through Clarkes Point Reserve and on to Kelly's Bush via Margaret Street.
This walk can be done as part of a Harbour Circle Walk, a 26km walk winding around the foreshore west of the Harbour Bridge to Hunters Hill. Take the Hunters Hill loop to explore the peninsula, including Woolwich Dock.
The Hunters Hill Walking Trails group has also produced brochures on a range of historic walks throughout Hunters Hill.
Opening Hours
Open daily during daylight hours.
Map
For Woolwich Dock walking tracks download:
Map of Woolwich Dock [PDF 263kb]
For Harbour Circle walking tracks go to the Walking Coastal Sydney website.
Distances and Walking Times
Harbour Circle Walk 26km 8-10 hours
Hunters Hill Loop - 45 minutes
Other Sydney Walks
Walking Coastal Sydney is a partnership project between community walking volunteers, State, local and federal governments and other authorities. For further information on walks in Sydney see the Walking Coastal Sydney website.
