8 Best Walks in Sydney Harbour National Park

Discover the best walking tracks in Sydney Harbour National Park, featuring stunning views, secluded beaches, and historic landmarks.

Nestled right in the city’s backyard, the Sydney Harbour National Park is one of the most stunning national parks in Greater Sydney.

Established in 1975, Sydney Harbour National Park was created to protect the Harbour’s islands, landforms, and foreshore areas, particularly those located east of the Harbour Bridge.

With an incredible variety of bushwalking tracks, picnic spots, secluded beaches, vantage points, and historic sites, Sydney Harbour truly has something for everyone. Below, we reveal the eight best Sydney Harbour walks.

Top 8 Sydney Harbour Walks:

Walk Distance
1 Rushcutters Bay to Rose Bay 5.5 km (one way)
2 Rose Bay to Watsons Bay 8 km (one way)
3 Watsons Bay Circuit Walk 4.5 km (circuit)
4 Anzac Bridge to Woolloomooloo 12 km (one way)
5 Spit Bridge to Manly 10 km (one way)
6 North Head Walk 9.5 km (circuit)
7 Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach 6.5 km (one way)
8 Cremorne Point Circuit Walk 3 km (circuit)

1. Rushcutters Bay to Rose Bay

Rushcutters Bay
Rushcutters Bay

The scenic Harbour foreshore trail between Rushcutters Bay and Rose Bay is a 5.5 km adventure filled with endless photo opportunities.

This walk takes you through a series of stunning parks and marinas, offering breathtaking views of the Harbour and the city skyline.

The trail officially begins at Rushcutters Bay Park, winding its way to Double Bay via Yarranabbe Park and McKell Park. The second stretch of the walk explores the Point Piper area before concluding at Rose Bay.

Rushcutters Bay to Rose Bay
Distance: 5.5 km (one way)
Duration: 3 hours (depending on stops)
Grade: Easy

2. Rose Bay to Watsons Bay

Hermit Bay
Hermit Bay

One of Sydney’s most scenic walking trails is the 8 km coastal track that leads hikers from Rose Bay to Watsons Bay in the city’s eastern suburbs.

This relatively easy walk showcases some of Sydney’s finest secluded beaches, along with stunning parks and picturesque bays. The sweeping views of the city skyline and Sydney Harbour will leave you wanting to revisit this trail time and time again.

A highlight of this walk is the shorter Hermitage Foreshore Track, which stretches between Bayview Hill Road, just north of Rose Bay, and Nielsen Park in Vaucluse.

Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
Distance: 8 km (one way)
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Grade: Easy / moderate

3. Watsons Bay Circuit Walk

Watsons Bay walk in Sydney Harbour National Park
The Gap in Watsons Bay

The Watsons Bay Circuit Walk is a stunning hike around South Head, offering breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, the city skyline, North Head, and the historic Hornby Lighthouse.

A standout highlight of this walk is Camp Cove, where Governor Arthur Phillip first landed in Port Jackson (the original name for Sydney Harbour) in 1788. Today, it’s a quiet, north-facing beach nestled within a sheltered bay.

Another highlight is the Hornby Lighthouse, an iconic red-and-white striped tower built in 1858. The views from this spot are exceptional, with the Pacific Ocean stretching out to the east, Sydney Harbour to the west, and North Head right in front of you.

Parking in Watsons Bay can be tricky, especially on weekends, so public transport is your best bet. The ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay is not only convenient but also one of Sydney’s most scenic ferry rides.

Watsons Bay Circuit Walk
Distance: 4.5 km (circuit)
Duration: 2 hours
Grade: Easy

4. Anzac Bridge to Woolloomooloo

Map of the Anzac Bridge to Woolloomooloo walk
Anzac Bridge to Woolloomooloo

The fantastic walking trail between the Anzac Bridge in Pyrmont and Woolloomooloo on the opposite side of the CBD is one of Sydney’s newest Harbour walks.

Officially opened in 2021, this continuous walking path became possible with the completion of the Barangaroo Foreshore Walk, which stretches from South Barangaroo to the northern tip of Barangaroo Reserve.

This trail offers a wonderful way to experience the best of Sydney Harbour and the city, passing numerous iconic landmarks along the way, all while enjoying stunning harbour views as a bonus.

Anzac Bridge to Woolloomooloo
Distance: 12 km (one way)
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Grade: Moderate

5. Spit Bridge to Manly

Views from Dobroyd Head
Views from Dobroyd Head

The Spit Bridge to Manly Walk is a stunning 10 km hiking trail, showcasing scenic bushland, secluded inner harbour beaches, picturesque bays, and sweeping ocean views.

The trail officially begins at the northern end of the historic Spit Bridge, which carries Spit Road across Sydney’s Middle Harbour. From there, the path winds along the shoreline, passing through Clontarf Reserve, Dobroyd Head, and North Harbour Reserve before reaching Manly Cove.

With breathtaking scenery from start to finish, the Spit to Manly Walk is undoubtedly one of Sydney’s finest and most popular Harbour walking tracks.

Spit Bridge to Manly
Distance: 10 km (one way)
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Grade: Moderate

6. North Head Walk

Burragula Lookout on Manly's North Head
Burragula Lookout on Manly’s North Head

The North Head Walk in Manly is one of Sydney’s most rewarding hikes, offering a mix of history, panoramic views, and scenic beaches.

What makes this outdoor adventure unique is that it combines both coastal and bush walking. While it’s a relatively long trail, it’s suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

This circuit walk takes you past Shelly Beach, Spring Cove, and Little Manly Reserve, with stunning views from North Head along the way. In addition to the diverse wildlife and flora you’ll encounter, the trail also provides a glimpse into Sydney’s rich military history.

North Head Walk
Distance: 9.5 km (circuit)
Duration: 3-5 hours
Grade: Moderate

7. Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach

Harbour views from Bradleys Head
Harbour views from Bradleys Head

The 6.5 km trail between Taronga Zoo and Balmoral Beach winds its way past secluded beaches, picturesque bays, stunning lookouts, and historic sites.

The track can be roughly divided into three sections, with Bradleys Head, Chowder Bay, and Balmoral Beach serving as key milestones. The starting point is on Athol Road, just a short stroll from the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf.

A standout highlight along this trail is Georges Head Lookout, offering spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, with North Head and South Head directly ahead and the Sydney skyline visible to the west.

Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach
Distance: 6.5 km (one way)
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Grade: Easy / moderate

8. Cremorne Point Circuit Walk

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

The Cremorne Point Walk is an easy 3 km foreshore circuit in Sydney Harbour National Park, offering stunning views of Mosman Bay, Sydney Harbour, and the city skyline.

Along the way, you’ll discover Robertsons Point Lighthouse, Cremorne Reserve, and the historic MacCallum swimming pool, as you stroll past picturesque gardens and impressive old mansions.

The circuit walk officially begins and ends at Cremorne Point Wharf, with a detour to Robertsons Point Lookout. Follow the trail clockwise (or anti-clockwise), and within 90 minutes, you’ll find yourself back at the ferry wharf.

Cremorne Point Circuit Walk
Distance: 3 km (circuit)
Duration: 1 hour
Grade: Easy
Up for a real Sydney Harbour challenge? Check out the 80 km Bondi to Manly Walk, Sydney’s ultimate coastal adventure!
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Best Sydney Harbour National Park walks

 

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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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6 Comments
  1. One Sydney Harbour hike that doesn’t seem to get much publicity is Wollstonecraft Station to Milsons Point via Berry Island and Balls Head. Good track and signposting with spectacular inner harbour and bridge views. One of my favourite Sydney hikes.

    Owen Ma

    Reply
    • Thanks for sharing, Owen. You’re right, that is a beautiful walk indeed, and not so well-known. We’ve written about Berry Island and Balls Head here, but it’s good to know that there is an uninterrupted walking track from Wollsoncraft to Milsons Point!

      Reply
  2. Just want to send a thank you from myself and my Air Canada crew members who often frequent Sydney. The city is one of our favourite layovers – great weather, fantastic hikes, good food and the odd beer thrown in. Your website has provided fantastic motivation to get out and enjoy all of the surrounding hikes in the area. I must admit, the Spit Bridge to Manly hike is our fave – with a certain reward across from Manly Beach at the end of the grind. The perfect way to spend our time before the long trip home to Vancouver. Appreciate your website – thanks again!

    Captain Gary Dean

    Reply
    • Thanks so much for the kind words Gary! You’re right, the Spit to Manly walk is amazing and nothing beats a cold beer at the beach after all that hiking.

      Reply
  3. Guys, I remember seeing you will be able to hike the harbor, 50k combined trails. I read the article in the SMH. Do you have any information of that proposal, which trails will be combined. Thanks much, love your trails links.

    Bill Hansen, USA

    Reply
    • Hi Bill, you’re most likely referring to the Bondi to Manly walk, which links existing Sydney coastal and harbourside tracks, a whopping 80km in total.

      The walk is open for business right now, and is a fantastic adventure. We’ve linked to that walk further up in this article. Hope this helps!

      Reply
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