Sydney Nature Bonanza – The 5 Walks I Love Most!
Happy Australia Appreciation Month! It's time to explore a new region and what better place to discover than the diverse country of Australia! There is never a dull moment with so many different landscapes, climates and natural wonders to discover. Over the next few weeks, we will explore some of my personal favourites here in Downunder. Today we start in Sydney, away from the usual tourist haunts. There is no better way to see the city from its best side than by getting into nature. And Sydney has plenty of it. Let's discover my favourite top 5 hiking trails in and around the city!
Since Sydney is my new home, I feel it’s only right to start our journey here. And there is no better way to slow travel than to get out of the hectic concrete jungle and into nature.
Everyone knows the famous Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge but what makes this city truly spectacular is the stunning nature. And Sydney just has it all on its doorstep – stunning beaches, dramatic coastlines, bushland and forests. To top it off, you always see some big cockatoos fly past and you can hear the haunting calls of the Kookaburra. Between May and November, it is whale season along the East Coast of Australia. With a bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of those amazing animals with the city as a backdrop. As a European, seeing such wildlife is still mindblowing to me.
The sea and several rivers are cutting through the city, forming bays and natural divides, almost looking like a fjord landscape. At times, it makes it difficult to get from one point to the next, but you are always rewarded with some amazing views. For a huge city of 5 million people, I find it simply amazing how much nature Sydney has to offer.
What has been recently going on in Downunder? Due to COVID, the country has shut its doors airtight, not letting anyone in or out! So far, only Australian citizens or permanent residents are able to return home. We’ve made it, but had to spend two weeks in tropical Howard Springs in the Northern Territory, completing our mandatory 14-day quarantine. A truly bizarre experience. If you are interested in reading about it, check out Welcome to Howard Springs and I’ve Deadset Not Moved!
While the whole vaccination process started pretty sluggish in Australia, efforts to get the majority of the countries population fully vaccinated, have ramped up. Sydney is currently still in lockdown, with schools, restaurants and non-essentials shops closed. However, with about 70% of the state of New South Wales (NSW) vaccinated, the lockdown is set to lift on 11 October. Freedom Day – as it’s already dubbed – is upon us. International travel is set to start from November again, so things are looking up!
#1 - Bondi to Coogee
This one is probably the most famous walk in Sydney and popular with tourists and locals alike. It is so popular even, it even comes with its own website! Nevertheless, there is no way you could talk about hiking walking in Sydney and not mention this one. It is simply spectacular.
If you come to Sydney, a visit to the famous Bondi Beach is a must! It is a beautiful bay with plenty of lovely cafes, restaurants and little shops. Make sure you spend a bit of time in Bondi, either braving the waves during a swim, roasting in the sun on the beach or slurping on a cocktail in one of the beach bars. One of the famous landmarks here is the so-called Icebergs swimming pool. This iconic landmark is best-known for being located in the sea, only separated by a rock wall from the ocean. For a fee of 9 AUD (about 6 EUR or 6.50 USD), you can enter the pool to go for a swim. The high-end Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is situated just above the swimming pool, offering some of the best views over the Bondi and the ocean. Reservations are essential and a three-course menu will set you back about 150 AUD (about 90 EUR or 100 USD) excluding drinks. But hey – you only live once, so why not treat yourself?
The Trail
Anyway, back to the trail! This stunning coastal walk takes you on a little path right on the edge of the cliffs, through the low shrubs. The views are simply spectacular! During whale season, it’s the perfect place to spot whales breaching the surface.
The full trail from Bondi to Coogee is about 6 km long – very easy to do one way, a bit more strenuous if you do the return walk. The trail is not too demanding and suitable for any fitness level. Along the way, you pass several other smaller and usually less busy beaches. Starting from Bondi, you first come past Tamarama and then Bronte Beach, which is one of my favourites. It reminds me of the little seaside towns in Cornwall, England. Just stunning!
From here, you continue to Clovelly and, last but not least, you get to Coogee! Again, Coogee alone is worth a visit with its amazing beach and the Beach Pavillion. At the Pavillion, you can get anything from coffee and ice cream to restaurant meals and cocktails. The hill overlooking the beach is one of the most popular places in the area to watch the sunset with some drinks.
Some Insider Tips
It really doesn’t matter from which side you start or end the trail – it is stunning no matter which way you walk. I would suggest making a day of it to really enjoy the beautiful places you come past and have time to explore. The distance between the bays only range between 1 and 2 km each, so it’s easy to take it slow and take as many breaks as you like.
I have done the walk a few times and I usually ended up no further than Bronte, since there are a few lovely little restaurants that serve delicious wine. Needless to say, it was just too cosy, sitting in the sun with a glass of wine in hand to continue the walk further. I still urge you though, to not give in to sluggishness, but to make it all the way to Coogee. Take your time at the different beaches and bays, it is truly one of the most beautiful spots Sydney has to offer. Make the most of it!
Obviously, any walk is most beautiful when the sun is out. However, you always have to be sun smart in Australia, because the sun is quite intense here. A famous Australian TV campaign from the 1980s preached to Slip, Slop, Slap – Slip on a shirt, Slop on the 50+ sunscreen, Slap on a hat! Most Australians still have this saying internalised and live by it!
To avoid ending your walk with a massive sunburn or worse, make sure to put sunscreen on and wear appropriate clothes. Take some water along too, there are even drinking water fountains along the way where you can fill up your bottle for free.
#2 - Spit to Manly Walk
While the Bondi to Coogee trail is relatively quick and easy, the Spit to Manly Walk is longer and a bit more demanding! Nevertheless, it is absolutely beautiful and should be on your itinerary for Sydney!
The walk starts from the Spit Bridge in wealthy Mosman in Sydney’s north, which is easy to reach by bus. The trail takes you through thick bushland, past stunning bays, all the way up to Manly. The full trail is 10 km long and takes about 4 hours. The walk is well signposted so there is little chance to get lost. Walking through the bush, you feel a million miles away from the city. Every now and then you pop out of the thick forest to enjoy the stunning views over the landscape. As you are hugging the Harbour Bay, you also get some views over Dobroyd Head and the Sydney Harbour National Park.
Again, dress sun smart and pack some water. You can fill up during your walk at several drinking fountains. If you plan to spend time in Manly, also pack some swimming gear and a change of clothes.
Manly
Once you finish your walk in Manly, make the most of it and spend some time here. What a beautiful spot this is. You arrive after your walk at the harbourside where the ferries leave from. If you walk through the pedestrian shopping area to the opposite side of the harbour, you end up at the beach with unobstructed views over the ocean!
Relax by the beach, go for a swim and treat yourself to a nice meal. Manly is well-known for its outstanding fish and chips shops close to the beach, offering everything delectable from the sea. Do yourself a favour and try it! There are also a couple of lovely bars and pubs if you fancy a drink after your solid workout. You surely deserve it! It’s a great place to spend time in the sun and enjoy the satisfying exhaustion after a good walk.
How to get back? Catch a Ferry!
One of the highlights of this day is taking the ferry from Manly back to Circular Quay in the city centre. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes and drops you right back into the city. It gives you the best views of the harbour bay with all its lovely little beaches, coves and islands. Sit on the top deck, relax and enjoy the stunning views. The highlight is the last few minutes of the ferry ride when the city comes into full view with the Opera House, the harbour bridge and the impressive skyline. Make sure you snap some pictures because you won’t find a better angle to capture Sydney’s beauty. The perfect end to a beautiful day.
Sydney has a wide range of public transport options! Trains, busses and even ferries – you can use it all! It is easy to plan your trip on the New South Wales Transport website or download the app on the go. It shows you the best way to get from where you are to your desired destination. All you need is the Opal card, the card valid on all public transport in the city. The only glitch with this fantastic transport system is, that you need to find a retailer to buy the Opal card. One would assume that you buy it at the train stations or other transport outlets. But oh no, you are wrong! You first need to find an Opal card retailer, who by no means has to be close to a train station. Therefore, make sure to first organise your card before jumping on public transport! If can’t be bothered, you can always call an Uber and get chauffeured straight to your destination!
#3 - Royal National Park
The Royal National Park is a favourite of mine and ideal if you have your own transport available. Situated about 45 km south of Sydney’s city centre, this beautiful spot offers plenty of stunning hiking trails. You follow the Princes Highway into the park, where you find the entrance booth. You only need to pay if you park somewhere in the national park. The entrance fee is 12 AUD park fee per vehicle (about 7.50 EUR or 9 USD). Should you only pass through the park or park in Bundeena, you don’t need to pay for entrance.
The Royal National Park offers several stunning trail options. We tried the Bundeena Drive to Marley Walk, which starts from a little parking along the road to Bundeena. It is unfortunately badly signposted, so drive slowly and watch out for a small hidden parking area to your left. The trail starts across the road from the parking, marked with a pretty small signboard. Once you find the starting point, this 8 km trail however is just lovely. You walk for quite a while through pretty thick bush and shrubs on a little dirt path. It’s great when the weather is good but I would not recommend the walk after strong rain. The trail gets muddy and the little stream you have to cross gets a bit more intense. Most of the way however, the trail is not too strenuous but it is a bit more tricky than the Coastal Walk.
The Coastal Walk
The most popular trail is the Coastal Walk, starting at the small hamlet of Bundeena. Google Maps should be able to guide you through Bundeena’s far end, where the walk starts. Along this trail, you’ll find some of the most spectacular coastal scenery! The elevated path leads you into the bush and out to some breathtaking cliffs overlooking the wild ocean. This is by far the best place to see whales during the season. Most amazingly, we got to see the rare black cockatoos sitting in one of the bushes. What a sight!
The full walk is 26 km one way and takes 2 days to complete. But obviously, you can walk as much as you like along this stunning trail and turn around once you had enough. Most of the walk is pretty easy without too many inclines, which makes it perfect for any fitness level. It can get quite busy along the paths, especially over the weekends. If you want to enjoy the trail as undisturbed as possible, go as early as you can get out of bed. The park opens at 7 am.
Bundeena
I love Bundeena! This little village in the heart of the Royal National Park is just lovely and truly worth a visit. Bundeena shares a beautiful bay with Cronulla on the opposite side. The huge moss overgrown trees give Bundeena a bit of a fairy forest atmosphere. Along the main road, you find several little restaurants and cafes as well as a supermarket. The beach lies just across the road which makes picnicking a great option here. A visit to the Royal Nation Park and Bundeena is the perfect day trip. Maybe drive even further to close by Woolongong. It’s a beautiful drive through the park with scenic views over Woolongong, the ocean and mountains.
#4 - Cronulla Beach
I think Cronulla Beach is my favourite place in Sydney! Maybe it’s because it’s the first beach I laid eyes on when I first came to Sydney, maybe it’s just because it’s so beautiful. No matter what season, you can always go for a walk along the stunning coastal path along the beach and the dramatic cliffs.
Deep in Sydney’s South, not too far from the Royal National Park lies the suburb of Cronulla. The 6 km long white sand beach backed by overgrown sand dunes looks just beautiful. The locals come down here to go surfing, swimming or to socialise by the beach. The about 4 km long coastal trail takes you along the beach and some impressive cliffs on a lovely easy walk. Start from the north side of the beach, which offers plenty of parking. Beautiful beachside restaurants and cafes can easily distract you to stop for a coffee, snack or drink – depending on what time of the day you start your walk. The coastal walk is only about 4 km long one way, from the north end to the south. This still leaves plenty of time to enjoy the beach, go swimming or to visit one of the cafes. The south end of the trail overlooks the bay shared with Bundeena and the Royal National Park. There is even a ferry you can take to the other side.
I absolutely love this walk and can only recommend it. If Bondi to Coogee is too busy and touristy for you, come down south and enjoy a walk in Cronulla. You can easily take the train from the city. From the station, it’s an easy 3-minute walk to South Cronulla Beach.
#5 - Sydney's South - Oatley Park
This is my home park and unless you live in the area, you probably never heard of it. I still think it is one of the most stunning parks in Sydney. Just South of Hurstville lies Oatley, a lovely little suburb by the George’s River. The park is situated on the west side of Oatley, about a 10 minute walk from the main stretch of the village.
You can park at the main entrance to the park to start your walk. You follow the road into the park which immediately encloses you with thick forest. The birdlife here is just amazing. Cockatoos rule the air and the ground with the shrill cries. Not afraid of people or cars, you can often find them sitting next to the road, using one of their feet to hold their food while nibbling on it. Kookaburras can frequently be seen, quietly sitting in the trees and bushes watching what’s going on. If you follow the road you will catch some first glimpses of the George’s River and the beautiful bay. It’s a stunning view over the river with its beaches, the thick forest and the fjord-like landscape. On the far side of the bay, you can see the Como train bridge connecting the St George’s area with the Sutherland Shire.
Again, the perfect place to have a picnic or just sit down and enjoy the amazing scenery. If you follow the road, a lap around the park is only about 2.5 km. An easy little walk. There are however several little bush walks that are worth exploring if you don’t mind getting off-piste. I love this place for its natural beauty and tranquillity! I believe it is worth a visit if you want to get away from the well-trodden paths.
Como Bridge
While you are in Oatley you might as well try the walk over the Como Bridge. From ‘downtown’ Oatley, it’s an easy 3 km walk along a little path next to the train tracks over the Georges River to Como! It is yet again an absolute mindboggling view over the river from the pedestrian bridge. On the other side of the bridge, in Como, you find a little park with a cafe overlooking the bay. A public swimming pool next to it is ideal for a little family outing. The walk over the bridge is flat and not strenuous, great for the untrained stroller who just wants some great views and a good cup of coffee. If you are looking for a longer excursion, combine the bridge walk with a trip around Oatley Park. If you want to get away from tourists, the area here is 100% local. The Oatley train station is conveniently located between Oatley Park and the Como Bridge. So, even if you don’t have a car, a 30-minute train ride from the city will get you right into the beautiful suburban south of Sydney! Give it a try!
Thanks for joining us in Sydney today and I hope you enjoyed exploring the city from a different side. Have you been hiking in Sydney? What’s your favourite trail? Let us know!
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Have a great day and until next time.
