Discover the best hiking trails in Sydney, featuring stunning coastal walks, scenic bushland tracks, and panoramic harbour views.
Hiking in Sydney offers the perfect opportunity to truly soak in the beauty of this great city. Whether you’re exploring its stunning beaches, rugged mountains, expansive bushland, or the iconic Sydney Harbour, there’s a walk for everyone.
Thanks to Sydney’s near-perfect climate, you can head outdoors and tackle a scenic trail any time of year. With countless hikes available, there’s always a new track waiting to be discovered.
Get ready to explore as we take you through our top 15 Sydney hikes, listed by distance.
1. Blue Gum Walk
The Blue Gum Walk in Hornsby takes you through a diverse range of landscapes, including towering gum trees, lush green ferns, creek crossings, and scenic valley views.
This moderately challenging, family-friendly walking track features numerous highlights and landmarks, such as the Gum Forest, the Fishponds, and the Forest of Ferns.
The Forest of Ferns, in particular, offers stunning scenery as the path winds its way through a vibrant canopy of lush, green ferns.
Read more: Blue Gum Walk.
| Blue Gum Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
2. Lake Parramatta Walk
Lake Parramatta Reserve offers several walking trails, but the highlight is the circuit walk around Lake Parramatta, a water reservoir formed by a decommissioned dam.
Created by the damming of Hunts Creek in 1856, the lake has become a popular recreational area featuring marked bushwalking trails, a picnic area, a café, and a designated swimming enclosure.
The Lake Parramatta Walk provides all the hallmarks of a classic bushwalk, with captivating scenery and picturesque views to enjoy from start to finish.
Read more: Lake Parramatta Walk.
| Lake Parramatta Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4.2 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
3. Bondi to Coogee Walk
The Bondi to Coogee walk is one of Sydney’s most iconic coastal trails, offering stunning beaches, imposing sandstone cliffs, and panoramic views.
Tourists from around the world and local Sydneysiders flock to Sydney’s eastern suburbs daily to experience the walk between Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach, often pairing it with a meal at one of the many nearby cafés.
Read more: Bondi to Coogee Walk.
| Bondi to Coogee Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 6 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 2.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy |
4. Grand Canyon Walk
Often regarded as one of the most impressive walking tracks in the Blue Mountains, the Grand Canyon Walk is a true bushwalking gem.
Although the track features some steep sections, it is accessible to anyone with a reasonable fitness level, provided you bring plenty of water and perhaps a few snacks.
What’s great is that the cooler temperatures in the canyon make this trail a pleasant adventure during the warmer summer months, too.
Read more: Grand Canyon Walk.
| Grand Canyon Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 6 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard |
5. Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach
One of Sydney Harbour’s most enjoyable walking tracks is the trail from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach in the leafy suburb of Mosman.
This 6.5 km route winds through a stunning landscape, featuring secluded beaches, picturesque bays, impressive lookouts, and historical sites.
The best way to reach Taronga Zoo is by ferry from Circular Quay; a scenic journey across Sydney Harbour that serves as a perfect warm-up for the walk.
Read more: Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach.
| Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 6.5 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 2.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
6. Malabar Headland Circuit
The 7 km circuit trail around Malabar Headland National Park is one of Sydney’s newest hikes and has quickly become one of the city’s most popular walks.
The circuit comprises the Boora Point Walking Track, which traces the beautiful coastline of the headland, and the Western Escarpment Walking Track, winding through scenic bushland.
While not a particularly challenging hike, it does take a few hours to complete. With Maroubra Beach just around the corner, there are plenty of great spots to grab a bite after your hiking adventure.
Read more: Malabar Headland Circuit.
| Malabar Headland Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 7 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
7. Manly Dam Circuit
The hike around Manly Dam Lake is a picturesque 7.3 km circuit, offering panoramic views of the lake and its surrounding bushland.
Manly Dam Reserve is a popular recreational spot, providing a range of activities in and around the lake, including swimming, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and even water skiing.
While the hike is relatively long, it isn’t overly challenging, though a few sections can be somewhat steep.
Read more: Manly Dam Circuit.
| Manly Dam Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 7.3 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
8. La Perouse Circuit
The La Perouse Circuit Walk combines coastal and bushland scenery, offering an exciting hike through various highlights, landmarks, and historic sites.
The main highlight is Cape Banks, a rocky headland reached via a small footbridge, offering a rugged landscape and remnants of a historic shipwreck.
The circuit also passes by several beaches, including Congwong Beach, Little Congwong Beach, and Cruwee Cove Beach, along with numerous scenic lookouts.
Read more: La Perouse Circuit.
| La Perouse Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 7.5 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
9. Wattamolla to Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock, a distinctive landmark in Royal National Park, bears a striking resemblance to an eagle’s beak. A scenic coastal walk starting at Wattamolla Beach leads you to this unique formation.
Eagle Rock isn’t the only highlight along this track. Nearby, you’ll find Curracurrong Falls, a stunning waterfall that plunges directly into the ocean.
This walking track, offering access to both Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls, is among the finest in Sydney and Royal National Park.
Read more: Wattamolla to Eagle Rock.
| Wattamolla to Eagle Rock | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 8 km (return) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
10. Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
The trail between Rose Bay and Watsons Bay offers a mix of secluded beaches, beautiful parks, and picturesque bays, all with panoramic views of the city and Harbour along the way.
Another appealing aspect of this walk is the option to park at either Rose Bay or Watsons Bay and take a ferry back to your starting point.
Ferry services between the two locations run frequently, making it a convenient and enjoyable round trip.
Read more: Rose Bay to Watsons Bay.
| Rose Bay to Watsons Bay | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 8 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
11. Narrabeen Lagoon Trail
The Narrabeen Lagoon Trail is a picturesque 8.4 km circuit around Narrabeen Lakes, located on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Since its completion in February 2015, the trail has become a popular spot for walkers, joggers, and cyclists, offering a peaceful escape around the serene lake surrounded by lush bushland.
Narrabeen Lakes, often called Narrabeen Lagoon, is essentially a coastal lagoon, separated from the sea by Ocean Street.
Read more: Narrabeen Lagoon Trail.
| Narrabeen Lagoon Trail | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 8.4 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 2.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
12. Manly North Head Circuit
The circuit hike on Manly’s North Head forms the second part of the Manly Scenic Walkway, with the Spit to Manly Walk serving as the first section.
This hike stands out as one of Sydney’s most fascinating trails, thanks to its blend of stunning natural scenery, breathtaking coastal and harbour views, secluded beaches, and a touch of history.
Another great aspect of the North Head Walk is its convenient start and end points in Manly, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy a great meal or a refreshing drink after your hike.
Read more: Manly North Head Circuit.
| Manly North Head Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 9.5 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
13. Spit Bridge to Manly
The hike from Spit Bridge to Manly Beach is one of Sydney’s most popular and well-known walking tracks.
This stunning 10 km coastal trail showcases secluded inner harbour beaches, lush bushland, picturesque bays, and sweeping views of Sydney Harbour.
For the best views along the trail, make sure to stop at the Crater Cove and Arabanoo lookout points at Dobroyd Head, offering breathtaking panoramas of Sydney Harbour, North Head, and South Head.
Read more: Spit Bridge to Manly.
| Spit Bridge to Manly | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 10 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 3-4 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
14. Lane Cove Riverside Circuit
Lane Cove National Park is a pocket of thriving bushland that lines the banks of the Lane Cove River, which ultimately flows into Sydney Harbour.
A 10 km circuit walk along both sides of the river offers an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the park’s natural beauty.
This circuit combines the Riverside Walking Track and the Lane Cove Valley Walk, making for a moderately challenging bushwalking adventure.
Read more: Lane Cove Riverside Circuit.
| Lane Cove Riverside Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 10 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 3-4 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
15. Curra Moors Loop Track
The Curra Moors Loop Track is a circuit trail that provides a refreshing mix of bushland and coastal walking.
Starting from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, the walk winds through heathland and low-lying tree vegetation before joining the Coast Track near Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls.
Spanning approximately 10 km, the track offers a moderately challenging hike, but with mostly flat terrain, it is manageable for anyone with a reasonable fitness level.
Read more: Curra Moors Loop Track.
| Curra Moors Loop Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 10 km (part circuit) |
| Duration: | 3-4 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
Multi-Day Hikes
Up for a much bigger challenge?
There are quite a few hikes in Sydney and New South Wales that require multiple days to complete. Here are three of the most popular ones:
- Coast Track:
The Coast Track between Bundeena and Otford in Royal National Park is one of the most iconic hikes in Sydney and in New South Wales. While most people do this 26 km track in one day, it is possible to camp overnight at the North Era camping ground and turn this into a 2-day hiking adventure. - Bondi to Manly:
The Bondi to Manly Walk is an 80 km coastal hike featuring a series of connected trails that showcase the very best of Sydney Harbour. Conquering this beautiful coastal adventure can take anywhere between two and six days. - Grand Cliff Top Walk:
The Grand Cliff Top Walk is a brand-new 19-kilometre hike in the Blue Mountains, linking Wentworth Falls, Leura, and Katoomba. Like the Coast Track, the Grand Cliff Top Walk can easily be done in one day, but for the best experience, it may be best to spread it out over two days.
So I like walking along the embankment. Sydney is a very beautiful city, I like to come there sometimes on weekends, I live nearby. I really like Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, it is very beautiful and calm there. Nice camping site, I enjoy spending time there with my family. Hope we can come there soon. I haven’t even heard of some of the hikes and places on this list, it’s interesting to visit them too. Thanks!
Thanks so much, glad you like this list. There are so many great hikes in Sydney, so it’s hard to pick the best ones, but hopefully the above 25 hikes are a good reflection of what Sydney has to offer.