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Image credit: Mark Merton | Aerial image of North Head Sanctuary in Manly.

Visit North Head Sanctuary

arrow View the North Head Sanctuary Master Plan
Cost

Free admission

Hours
  • Walking and bike tracks: sunrise to sunset, daily
  • Cemetery: 8am-5pm, daily
  • Visitor Centre: 10am-4pm, daily
Further information
Location

Visitor Centre, North Head Sanctuary (North Fort Precinct), North Head Scenic Drive, Manly, NSW 2095

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Plan ahead

Click here to view alerts and disruptions for North Head Sanctuary

Just a short drive from Manly Beach, North Head Sanctuary is a coastal parkland bordered by dramatic cliffs on the peninsula.

A series of dedicated walking and bike tracks are an opportunity for visitors to discover military fortifications from the Second World War as well as visible evidence of the nation’s early quarantine practices.

Highlights include native wildlife, scenic outlooks, Australia’s Memorial Walk and historic landmarks including North Fort and the Third Quarantine Cemetery. Were it not for the epic harbour views, it would be hard to believe you are only 11km from Sydney’s CBD.  

How to get here

Planning to visit? For a hassle-free experience, refer to the information below ahead of your trip.

Directions arrow

By car: From Manly, follow Darley Road onto North Head Scenic Drive and pass through the stone archway and Q Station roundabout. Continue for approx. 2km and turn left at North Fort to arrive at our Visitor Centre and car park.

By bus: The 161 bus service runs from Manly Wharf to North Head. For public transport information, including timetables, visit the Transport NSW website.

By ferry: The F1 ferry service runs directly from Circular Quay to Manly. If you're coming from the Eastern Suburbs, Captain Cook Cruises offers a ferry from Watsons Bay to Manly Wharf, while Fantasea Cruising's Bay2Beach Express service runs between Double Bay and Manly Wharf. From Manly Wharf, catch the 161 bus to North Head or enjoy a scenic walk. For public transport information, including timetables, visit the Captain Cook Cruises, Fantasea Cruising and Transport NSW websites.

Alerts and disruptions arrow

Click here to view alerts and disruptions for North Head Sanctuary.

Free parking arrow

Parking is available in marked spaces at North Head Sanctuary and a bike rack is located outside the Visitor Centre. Subject to sign-posted time limits, parking is free of charge for motorcycles and drivers with Mobility Scheme Permits. Parking permits issued by Northern Beaches Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are not valid in Harbour Trust parking areas. 

Facilities and accessibility arrow
Visitor Centre

Our Visitor Centre relies on the generosity and availability of our volunteers. While we endeavour to open from 10am to 4pm daily, we cannot guarantee the centre will always be open.

Accessibility

Our Visitor Centre has wheelchair access and our nearby car park provides accessible parking. For accessible toilets, see the 'Public toilets' information below. Please keep in mind that North Head Sanctuary is a natural environment with uneven surfaces and that some walking tracks include stairs and medium inclines. 

Public toilets

The Harbour Trust maintains public toilets, including accessible toilets, at North Head Sanctuary, and these facilities are included on the Department of Health’s National Public Toilet Map. The toilets available at this destination are listed below:

Emergency and security arrow

North Head Sanctuary is patrolled by rangers from 7am to 4pm and by security personnel from 4pm and 7am. In the event of an emergency, dial 000 or 112 if mobile reception is poor. To contact a ranger during an emergency, call 0434 652 152 (7am to 4pm). Alternatively, to contact a security officer, call 0433 631 689 (4pm to 7am).

Visitor guidelines arrow

For your own safety, and to protect the park’s flora and fauna, please remain on the dedicated walking or bike tracks when exploring the bushland and observe the following rules, enforceable by our rangers:

Conditions of entry

Do not feed wildlife or bring dogs and other pets; only use bikes on designated bike tracks; do not litter or dump rubbish; do not camp overnight; do not erect gazebos or marquees (without a permit); do not operate remote-controlled vehicles (including drones); do not smoke, light fires or use portable barbeques; remain on dedicated bush tracks; do not play amplified music (without a permit) or create excessive noise; do not undertake commercial activities (without a permit); do not hold private functions (without a permit); do not disturb plants, soil and rocks; do not climb walls, fortifications, sculptures or cliffs; do not ride or use skateboards, roller-skates, in line skates or similar equipment on Harbour Trust land. For further information, see: Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT) Regulations 2021

Animals

No animals, except for assistance animals (as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992), are permitted to access Harbour Trust land at North Head which includes North Head Sanctuary.

Total fire bans

In the event of a total fire ban, tracks and trails will be closed for the public’s safety (penalties apply). For more information, dial 1800 679 737 for the NSW Rural Fire Service’s bush fire information line.

History

This area has enduring significance for the Traditional Owners and Custodians, the Gayamagal people, who know it as Car-rang-gel.

North Head was the backdrop for some of the earliest interactions between First Nations people and Europeans. It also occupies a notable place in the nation’s quarantine and military narratives. Between 1881 and 1925, the area was used to quarantine people suffering from deadly epidemic diseases and it also served as their final resting place. During the Second World War, military fortifications at North Head formed part of a defence system that spanned 300km of coastline.

[Image credit: The Quarantine Burial Ground, Spring Cove, Manly, George French Angas (1822-1886), National Library of Australia.]

North Head Sanctuary Master Plan

Endorsed by the Members of the Trust in February 2024, the North Head Sanctuary Master Plan provides a strategic roadmap to protect and revitalise the destination's natural, cultural and built heritage.

This master plan will guide future decisions on projects, priorities and funding and ensure future work complies with the relevant statutory requirements.

 

Helpful links

Learn more about North Head Sanctuary and our other extraordinary places on Sydney Harbour.