Opened in 2025, the 3 km walking trail between Georges Head and Middle Head (Gubbuh Gubbuh) is a scenic coastal walk that highlights Sydney’s rich military history.
Featuring fortifications, gun emplacements, and other remnants from the past, along with sweeping Sydney Harbour views, this walk offers a fascinating mix of history and scenery.
| Georges Head to Middle Head | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 3 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy (some steps) |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Dog-friendly: | No |
| Route: | Google Maps |
Getting There
You can start this walk from either Georges Head near Chowder Bay or from Middle Head. Both locations offer ample parking and nearby bus stops.
In the track notes below, the walk starts from the Chowder Bay end. Paid parking is available along Chowder Bay Road, where you’ll also find a bus stop. If you’re starting from the other end, there’s a large parking area at the end of Middle Head Road, with a bus stop located a short distance away.
Alternatively, you can include the Georges Head to Middle Head Walk as an extension of the Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay Walk. In that case, catch a ferry to Taronga Zoo, then follow these two walks that lead to Chowder Bay Road:
Then, once you’ve reached Middle Head, catch a bus from Middle Head Road back to Taronga Zoo Wharf, or continue to Balmoral Beach and take a bus from there. The extended walk is approximately 8 km long.
Track Notes
This 3 km one-way walk is fairly easy, but it does have steps, so it’s not considered wheelchair-friendly. The path is straightforward to follow, except for the first stretch, where signage is a little limited.
As mentioned earlier, you can start from either end, but we began in Chowder Bay.
1. Georges Head
To find the start of the walk, look for the large Sydney Harbour National Park sign along Chowder Bay Road. It’s worth taking a moment to read the information here, as it provides more background about the walk.
The start of the trail is located behind the sign, where a path heads into the bush. Follow this path to reach the first highlight of the walk, the Georges Head Casemate Battery and Observation Tower.
The Georges Head Casemate Battery is part of a heritage-listed military fortification built on the headland of Georges Head. Constructed to defend the entrance to Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson), it features gun emplacements, tunnel systems, and observation posts.
It’s an interesting place to explore, with plenty of information panels explaining its history.
2. Obelisk Bay
From the Casemate Battery, the walk continues along a grassy path past various military remnants before joining a more defined trail with short boardwalk sections.
This is one of the most scenic parts of the walk, passing through pleasant bushland with a few lookouts where you can rest and enjoy the Harbour views. The views over Obelisk Bay, in particular, are quite special.
Just beyond Obelisk Bay, the walking track reaches a three-way junction near the lookout above the 1801 Battery.
3. 1801 Battery
The 1801 Battery is the oldest fortification on the headland, now long abandoned. The lookout above it offers beautiful views across Sydney Harbour, with North Head and South Head visible straight ahead.
From this lookout, continue along the walking trail to Old Fort Road. From there, it’s a short stroll to the military site on Outer Middle Head.
4. Outer Middle Head
The Outer Middle Head Battery is part of a historic military site on the Middle Head peninsula in Sydney Harbour.
Built in the late 1800s to defend the city from potential naval attacks, it still features old gun emplacements, tunnels, and observation posts to explore.
It’s an iconic location where you can wander through the remnants of Sydney’s defences while enjoying sweeping views across the Harbour and out to the Pacific Ocean.
Once you’ve finished exploring this historic complex, look for the path to the Inner Middle Head Forts just north of the two large cannons.
5. Inner Middle Head
The fortifications at Inner Middle Head were built in the late 1800s as part of Sydney’s coastal defence system, and included guns mounted on “disappearing” carriages.
These disappearing guns would recoil into a pit for reloading, which was considered advanced technology at the time. The guns were removed in 1918, but you can still see the gun emplacements and explore the remains of the fortification.
From Inner Middle Head, it’s a short walk to Middle Head Road, where you can continue to Balmoral Beach, catch a bus to Mosman or Taronga Zoo Wharf, or walk back to Chowder Bay.
