Cremorne Point Circuit Walk (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.

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 do wish to drive, street parking is available in the northern part of Cremorne Point, for example 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.

Cremorne Point, a leafy harbourside suburb just 6 km from Sydney’s CBD, is a hidden gem on the lower north shore.

Once home to the vibrant Cremorne Gardens in the mid-19th century, where entertainment ranged from live music and dancing to archery and fireworks, this peaceful peninsula now offers a much quieter charm.

The best way to explore the beauty of this quiet little peninsula in Sydney Harbour? The scenic Cremorne Point Circuit Walk, 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

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.

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.

According to Monument Australia, 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 after she passed away 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This odd-looking archway entrance is located on Bogota Avenue and marks the access point to the walking path on the western side of Cremorne Point, facing the waters of Shell Cove.

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

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 years to come.

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.

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.

Keen to do more walks like this one? Have a look at our list of walks in Sydney Harbour or our list of bay walks in Sydney for more ideas!