It probably comes as no surprise that some of the best walks in Sydney are designed to show off the beautiful harbour.
There is something for everyone on these trails from short, flat strolls to longer day hikes. However, the one thing they all have is common are the jaw dropping views.
When we first moved to Sydney, we didn’t own a car so our weekly walks focused heavily around the harbour, which is easy to access by public transport. It made us realise just how lucky we were to live in such a beautiful city and there is no better way to see it than on foot.
We’ve kept this list strictly to harbour walks, if you’re interested in other walks, here are Sydney’s best bush walks, and our favourite coastal tracks.
The best harbour walks in Sydney
These are the 11 prettiest Harbour Walks in Sydney:
-
1. Spit Bridge to Manly
2. Cremorne Point Walk
3. Taronga to Balmoral Beach
4. Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
5. Balls Head to Lavender Bay
6. City Foreshore Walk (Botanic Gardens)
7. South Head Trail (Watsons Bay)
8. The Harbour Bridge Walk
9. Pyrmont Bay to Circular Quay
10. Manly North Head
11. Glebe Foreshore Walk
1. Spit to Manly - the all-rounder
Distance: 9.6km
Elevation: 283m
Difficulty: Moderate
Start point: Spit Bridge
Type of trail: One way
This harbour walk probably offers the most diversity of any of the tracks on this list and is our favourite walk in Manly. With beautiful bushland, Indigenous history, secluded beaches and fabulous harbour views, it definitely ticks all the boxes. It’s especially good if you’re keen to see some Aussie bushland, but don’t want to venture out of the city.
It’s not a difficult walk but it does have the most climbing of any harbour walk so it’s a good one for when you’re feeling moderately energetic!
We’ve done this walk countless times and have only grown to love it more. The beaches are fantastic, and we’re not just talking about Manly or Clontarf, but the little coves that are scattered along the trail.
Our favourite of which is probably the little visited Washaway Beach.
Whilst you could walk the track in just three hours, you could easily spend an entire day beach hopping and stopping at the cafe or having a picnic at one of the many amazing viewpoints.
For all our insider tips plus loads more details on the track, check out our Spit to Manly walk guide.
2. Cremorne Point Walk - Sydney’s best short walk
Distance: 3.3km (including the lighthouse side trail)
Elevation: 91m
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: Cremorne Point Ferry Wharf
Type of trail: Circuit
This walk may only be 3km long, but it’s a real beauty, and perfect for when you just want something very relaxing.
The views are extraordinary and you can enjoy them for almost the entire trail!
As well as a cute lighthouse, this walk also visits a secret garden - which happens to be one of our favourites in Sydney - as well the chance to make a brief detour to sit on a deck overlooking the water, whilst enjoying a coffee or glass of wine.
What more could you want in a walk?
If you answered “the chance to stop for a dip would be nice”, then this walk has you covered for that too. You can stop off at the free Mccallum rockpool which has one of the best views in Sydney.
You are predominantly walking on a paved path so footing is never an issue, and it’s an incredibly relaxing trail. The views, the amazing plants and flowers along the way, the bushland, it’s all just stunning!
Here’s our full guide including a couple of great little side tracks.
3. Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach - beautiful secret bays & snorkelling spots
Distance: 6km or 7.2km including side trails
Elevation: 176m
Difficulty: Moderate
Start point: Taronga Zoo Ferry Wharf
Type of trail: One way
This is a fabulous walk which offers outstanding harbour views, gorgeous quiet coves, and even one of Sydney’s top snorkelling spots - if you’re looking to make an all day adventure.
You’ll start in pretty bushland, with great views, and if you’re lucky, even a bit of a wild animal sound track from the nearby zoo!
You then have the chance to stop at a couple of secluded beaches with amazing harbour views, before arriving at Chowder Bay. If you’ve brought your own snorkel gear, Chowder Bay offers the opportunity to snorkel with seahorses straight off the beach!
If you’re looking to treat yourself you can even stop at Ripples Restaurant for a mid walk lunch too.
There’s also the chance to explore some of Sydney’s military history at the underground tunnels, before ending the walk at Balmoral Beach which has some great cafes and a lovely netted swimming area.
Here’s our full trail guide so you don’t miss a thing.
4. Rose Bay to Watsons Bay - a quiet trail with stunning beaches
Distance: 7.4km
Elevation: 165m
Difficulty: Moderate
Start point: Rose Bay Ferry Wharf
Type of trail: One way
The Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk is a beauty and less popular than the Spit to Manly track. We love the fact it starts and ends with a ferry trip, which really sets the tone for the gorgeous views you have to come.
You’ll find plenty of secret beaches to explore, many of which have fab Harbour Bridge views, as well as little pockets of rainforest. If you’re a fan of stopping for a picnic along the way, you are going to be spoilt for choice.
There are some ups and downs on the walk but the track is in excellent condition, with no difficult terrain. You’ll also have to do a little bit of walking along roads, but the sensational views and gorgeous secluded beaches more than make up for it.
Here’s everything you need to know about the walk, including which beaches to stop at that most people don’t even realise are there.
5. Balls Head to Lavender Bay - for jaw dropping, iconic views
Distance: 7.1km (it can be shortened if preferred)
Elevation: 155m
Difficulty: Moderate
Start point: Waverton Train Station
Type of trail: One way
We might be biased because this is our local walk, but these quintessential harbour views are definitely our favourites in the city.
Balls Head is a lovely little piece of bushland which offers great views which you can enjoy on the bush track, before you leave the reserve and make your way to various jaw dropping viewpoints along the trail.
You’ll pass Larkin Street Lookout which is a locals favourite, as well as the Blues Point Reserve which looks head on to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House with nothing between you and it, but the water.
The trail then continues to the incredibly photogenic Lavender Bay boardwalk, offering yet more sensational views, as well as a close up look at Luna Park.
Here’s more detail on the walk and why it should definitely be on your Sydney bucket list.
6. City Foreshore Walk - the best sunset walk on the harbour
Distance: 3.4km
Elevation: 12m
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: Circular Quay
Type of trail: One way
This short walk is the perfect choice if you’d like to finish with a spectacular sunset. It’s one of the few walks which you can’t leave Sydney without doing.
The paved walkway takes you between Sydney Opera House and Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, through the Royal Botanic Garden.
Unless you divert to explore a little more of the garden, you will follow the water for the entire walk. The views are breathtaking and the birdlife makes for a really relaxing back drop.
We like to do this walk during golden hour and end up at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for sunset. It’s a truly beautiful view, with lots of space to sit and enjoy it, even though it is a really popular spot.
You can then continue around to the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf in the twilight, and grab dinner or drinks there if you want to treat yourself. This walk is fabulous, regardless of whether you choose to do it at sunset or during the day.
Here’s more detail on what not to miss along the way.
7. South Head Trail - for whale watching & ocean views
Distance: 3km
Elevation: 60m
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: Watsons Bay Ferry Wharf
Type of trail: Partial circuit
This is another short harbour walk that really delivers on wow factor. The whole of Watsons Bay just has that feel good holiday vibe and this walk definitely encompasses that feeling.
It’s an easy trail, that is paved for the majority of the way and passes two beautiful beaches, before arriving at an old heritage lighthouse, which is definitely the most picturesque in Sydney.
The views are of course terrific, as well as the harbour you can also look out to the craggy Middle and North Heads and the Pacific Ocean.
It’s a great spot for whale watching if you’re planning to walk it between May and October.
Here’s more details on the walk, including how to extend it to 7.5km if you’re keen for a longer track.
8. Harbour Bridge Walk - a must-do for any visitor
Distance: 1.8km
Elevation: 6 staircases
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: The Rocks
Type of trail: One way
This short walk is a Sydney must do and offers unique views of the harbour from above. It’s a walk that you can’t leave Sydney without doing.
Pedestrians and cyclists are on opposite sides of the bridge so you can relax knowing that no one is going to come up on you from behind.
There is traffic noise, but we never let that spoil the experience of walking over one of Sydney’s icons. I could stand and watch the harbour from up here for hours, there’s always so much to see.
If you are an early riser, sunrise is a magical time to do this walk. You can then grab some breakfast at the waterside cafe in Kirribilli or why not visit one of Sydney’s best secret gardens?
Exactly how to get up onto the bridge and other tips for the walk are in this post.
9. Pyrmont Bay to Circular Quay - a great city walk through Sydney’s newest suburb
Distance: 4.7km
Elevation: 15m
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: Pyrmont Bay Ferry Wharf
Type of trail: One way
This is the only walk on this list which we’ve made up ourselves, but trust us it’s a goody. We’ve added a map so you can follow the route.
Starting at Pyrmont Bay you’ll follow the paved walkway around Darling Harbour before arriving at Sydney’s newest suburb, Barangaroo.
You will then explore Barangaroo Reserve which has fantastic harbour views, and is an ideal picnic spot or just a nice place to relax on the rocks beside the water.
Despite being ideally located in the city, it never seems to get busy and you often feel like you have these incredible views all to yourself.
The walk then takes you along residential streets before arriving at Circular Quay for some of Sydney’s most famous harbour views.
You could extend the walk either by walking over the Harbour Bridge as you will pass the entrance way, or by taking the City Foreshore Walk into the botanic garden as mentioned above.
10. Manly North Head Walk - for history, beaches and views
Distance: 9 - 12km (depending on whether you do the side trails)
Elevation: 121 m
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate
Start point: Manly Ferry Wharf
Type of trail: Circuit
If you’re interested in some of Sydney’s military history along with your harbour views then the Manly North Head walk makes an excellent choice.
As well as fab coastal and harbour views, including one of Sydney’s best whale watching spots, you’ll also walk through pretty bushland and have the option to take a couple of worthwhile side trails.
You can look at the gun pits and military barracks independently, as well as take a tour to explore more of the underground tunnel complex.
This walk offers a lot of variety and can be lengthened or shortened according to how much you feel like walking.
It’s got a couple of climbs but it’s generally an easy walk with lots of flat sections, and the option to eat at a great cafe roughly half way through.
You can read our full trail guide which outlines the side trails which are worth checking out too.
11. Glebe Foreshore Walk - a short and easy walk
Distance: 2km (each way)
Elevation: Flat
Difficulty: Easy
Start point: Jubilee Park
Type of trail: One way
The Glebe Foreshore Walk is a really easy stroll on a paved path for virtually the entire way. To begin the walk you cross a couple of parks and it isn’t the most inspiring of starts, but don’t give up because you soon hit the path beside the water and from there it’s really pretty for the entire way.
You get the most fantastic views of the Anzac Bridge, and near the beginning of the walk you also see the Harbour Bridge sitting behind the Anzac Bridge which is quite an unusual view.
You’ll pass by two absolutely ginormous fig trees, they are some of the biggest we have ever seen! You’ll soon come to Blackwattle Bay, passing by the cute Bellevue Cottage cafe and some very pretty old houses.
There’s even a patch of mangroves which we did not expect to see right in the city! The water views are great throughout and you’ll often seen rowers out from the nearby rowing club. We’ve even seen dragon boat racers here!
After 1.5 km you reach one of our favourite fish restaurants in Sydney, the Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, it’s an amazing place for a celebration or when you just want to treat yourself!
The path runs just behind the restaurant for a few hundred metres more, before you come to the end of the trail.
From here you can walk back or take the light rail from Glebe Station which is just three minutes away.
Alternatively you can walk a further five minutes and visit the Sydney Fish Market, which is a good place to have lunch or a drink on the picnic tables by the water.
Packing suggestions for the walks
Having the right gear can make a huge difference. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Sunscreen: Cancer Council Active. With a high SPF, but not the greasy feel of other sunscreens. Makes a big difference when you’re working up a sweat on a sunny day! Check it out on Amazon
Good Rain Jacket: North Face This is an essential item we always pack in our bag! This jacket from North Face is designed to keep you dry but also comfortably warm (many rain jackets will make you feel like you’re in a sauna). Check it out on Amazon
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check them out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
Like it? Pin it!
Follow us on Social Media
Are you planning a Sydney Harbour Walk? Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
