Cremorne Point Circuit Walk: Scenic Sydney Harbour Views

The Cremorne Point Walk is an easy 3 km foreshore circuit on Sydney’s lower north shore, offering stunning views of Mosman Bay, Sydney Harbour, and the city skyline.

Along the way, you’ll discover hidden gems like Robertsons Point Lighthouse, Cremorne Reserve, and the MacCallum Pool, all surrounded by lush gardens and elegant mansions, just a quick ferry ride from Circular Quay.

Cremorne Point Circuit Walk
Distance: 3 km (loop)
Time: 1.5 hours
Grade: Easy
Wheel-friendly: Only some sections
Dog-friendly: Yes, on a lead

Getting There

The best way to travel to Cremorne Point is by ferry. It’s only a short 10-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, with excellent Harbour views along the way.

And if you’re planning to do this walk on a Friday or the weekend, you can take advantage of the daily travel cap on public transport.

If you wish to drive, street parking is available in the northern part of Cremorne Point, along Bogota Avenue, Hodgson Avenue, or Milson Road.

You can also travel to Cremorne Point by bus, with various routes departing from the city (Wynyard) heading to Sydney’s lower north shore.

Catch a ferry to Cremorne Point
Catch a ferry to Cremorne Point

Track Notes

The Cremorne Point Circuit Walk is an easy trail that hugs the shoreline, offering stunning harbour views at every turn.

Below, we’re describing the walk in an anti-clockwise manner along the following highlights, landmarks, and milestones:

  1. Cremorne Point Wharf
  2. Robertsons Point and Cremorne Reserve
  3. Robertsons Point Lighthouse
  4. Mosman Bay
  5. Shell Cove
  6. MacCallum Pool

Map of the Cremorne Point Walk

1. Cremorne Point Wharf

The old ferry wharf at Cremorne Point was struck by disaster in June 2007, when it partially sank during vicious storms.

It reopened in September 2007, but it was decided to build a brand new wharf to meet modern safety standards. That new wharf opened in February 2015. In 2025, it is undergoing critical maintenance work, with visitors able to use Old Cremorne Wharf further north.

Cremorne Point ferry wharf
Cremorne Point ferry wharf

There is a little cafe at the wharf with an interesting history. It used to be called Sophie’s Place but is now trading as Cremorne Point Wharf Kiosk.

The original owner of the cafe, Sophie Vaillant, used to sell coffee at the wharf in the 1990s with her espresso machine. She turned her little coffee business into a thriving cafe popular with the locals.

In 2009, a plaque was dedicated to Sophie Vaillant and her work, following her passing in November 2008. The inscription reads, “She made her cafe a meeting place for our community”. Very thoughtful indeed.

2. Robertsons Point and Cremorne Reserve

Before starting the circuit walk, we recommend doing the side trail to Robertsons Point first. Also referred to as Cremorne Reserve, this is the southernmost tip of the Cremorne Point peninsula.

Only 30 metres wide, Robertsons Point is an interesting mix of bushland, ornamental gardens, cliffs, and a short walking trail.

Playground at Robertsons Point
Playground at Robertsons Point

The walking trail through the middle of the headland leads to the Robertsons Point Lighthouse, an active lighthouse also known as Robertsons Point Light and Cremorne Point Light.

The headland is also home to a large playground where locals and visitors can socialise and enjoy outdoor recreation in a great setting, with natural shade provided by the trees.

3. Robertsons Point Lighthouse

Robertsons Point was named after James Robertson, the first European settler to own land there in the early 19th century.

James was the father of John Robertson, the 5th Premier of New South Wales.

Robertson Point Lighthouse
Robertson Point Lighthouse

The Robertson Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1910 and is still active today. It is very similar in appearance to the lighthouse at Bradleys Head, not too far away from Cremorne Point.

The lighthouse is closed to the public, but you can get very close by climbing down the small ladder attached to the rocks. But be careful when using this ladder, especially in windy conditions, as it’s quite narrow and exposed.

4. Mosman Bay

Leaving Robertsons Point behind, the Cremorne Point circuit trail now heads north, following the shoreline facing Mosman Bay.

Eastern side of the walking trail
Eastern side of the walking trail

This part of the walking track is very scenic, with impressive mansions and beautiful gardens on your left, and panoramic views of Mosman Bay on your right.

Mosman Bay
Mosman Bay

Keep following the path northbound, past the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and the Old Cremorne Wharf, until the path makes a left turn, heading up the stairs to Hodgson Avenue.

Stairs to suburban streets
Stairs to suburban streets

From there, the circuit walk crosses a few suburban streets until it ends up at the archway entrance to the western side of Cremorne Point.

5. Shell Cove

This section through the streets of Cremorne Point may get a bit confusing at times, but if you keep heading straight along Hodgson Avenue, followed by Bogota Avenue, you should be okay.

Archway entrance
Archway entrance

This unusual archway entrance is situated on Bogota Avenue and serves as the access point to the walking path on the western side of Cremorne Point, overlooking the waters of Shell Cove.

The first section of this walking path feels a bit like a walk through an urban rainforest, surrounded by red gums, Sydney peppermints, and Banksias.

Shell Cove
Shell Cove

As you follow the trail heading south, the views of Shell Cove become clearer, with the Harbour and the city skyline also appearing in the distance.

6. MacCallum Pool

A key point of interest on the western side of Cremorne Point is the historic MacCallum swimming pool, where you can swim laps against the backdrop of the Sydney CBD skyline and the Harbour Bridge.

Originally built as a rock pool by Olympic swimmer Fred Lane in the early 20th century, local resident Hugh MacCallum improved and looked after the pool in the years to come.

Maccallum Pool
Maccallum Pool

In 1930, the North Sydney Council took ownership of the pool and officially named it the Hugh MacCallum Pool, in recognition of his great work.

Now named the MacCallum pool, this 33-metre-long harbour-side swimming pool has a charming heritage atmosphere. The pool is free for everyone to enjoy, but it does close regularly for cleaning.

If you would like to go for a swim, it’s best to check the North Sydney council website for the cleaning timetable and other practical information.

Sydney Harbour views from Cremorne Point
Sydney Harbour views from Cremorne Point

From the swimming pool, keep following the walking path that will ultimately bring you back to the ferry wharf.

You will find many great vantage points along this last stretch of the walk, from where you can enjoy fantastic views of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline.

Check out our guides on walks in Sydney Harbour and bay walks in Sydney for more of these great walking trails.

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Author:

AJ Mens

AJ Mens is a digital publisher based in Sydney, Australia, and the editor-in-chief of Sydney Uncovered and Blue Mountains Uncovered.

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8 Comments
  1. Hi again,

    I did make my visit to Cremorne Point (returned just yesterday 10/01/23) and what a beautiful place it is! Just 8 minutes ferry ride from Circular Quay, so I could be in the hustle and bustle of one of the worlds great cities in a flash, then back to the peace and quiet of Cremorne equally as quickly.

    I did the full walk once. Delightful, but every day I walk a little way from my hotel (The Cremorne Point Manor Hotel), along a little stretch to the ferry wharf. Really refreshing to be out in amongst the flowers and plants, not to mention the, for me, more unusual wildlife (seeing a wild Kookaburra for the first time was amazing, and as for the Bush Turkeys, I didn’t even know such birds existed!).

    On the whole my impression is that Cremorne Point, and the walk, is a little oasis away from the pressures of life, and I enjoyed every minute on the “Point”!

    Reply
    • Hey Kevin, thanks so much for checking back in, and so glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself.

      Your description of the Cremorne Point walk is spot on! Hopefully you’ll get to do some of the other coastal and Harbour hikes in Sydney too.

      And don’t forget to visit some of the (quieter) beaches, the weather is perfect for it. Sirius Cove beach is pretty close to where you are, and then Clifton Gardens a bit further away, and, of course, beautiful Balmoral Beach.

      Reply
  2. I am visiting Australia for the first time in December to see ex-pat friends (from England) and will be staying in Cremorne Point.

    Wanting to arm myself with some knowledge of the area I checked out this site, discovering this guide to the walk. This has really whetted my appetite and I cannot wait to be strolling along those beautiful streets! See you all soon.

    Reply
    • That’s brilliant, thanks so much Kevin.

      If you’re in Cremorne Point, you can basically walk the entire Harbour coastline to Balmoral Beach and on to Manly. Hopefully the weather will work in your favour!

      Reply
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