The Taronga Zoo to Middle Head walk packs 8.5km of Sydney Harbour views, hidden beaches, and military history into one of the city’s most rewarding half-day adventures.
While the track from Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay is a well-worn favourite, the section between Middle Head to Georges Head is a more recent addition to Sydney’s lineup of epic short walks.
Opened in 2025, the Middle Head to Georges Head walk is a scenic walk along a section of the harbour that played an important role in Sydney’s military history.
“Middle Head and Georges Head have been part of Sydney Harbour National Park since 1984, but until now, they have never been connected via walking tracks to other harbourside reserves.”
Chad Weston, Manager Sydney North Area
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
This guide covers everything you need to know about the walk from Taronga Zoo to Middle Head including how to get there, where to go, and what to look out for along the way.
| Distance: | 8.5km |
| Start: | Taronga Zoo Wharf |
| End: | Middle Head |
| Public Transport: | Ferry at Taronga Zoo Wharf Bus at Middle Head Road |
| Water: | Clifton Gardens Reserve at Chowder Bay |
| Toilets: | Bradleys Head Clifton Gardens Reserve at Chowder Bay Georges Head (detour off track) Middle Head |
| Top Tip: | Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the many vantage points overlooking Sydney Harbour. |
Taronga Zoo to Middle Head Walk Overview
This 8.5km Sydney Harbour walk starts at Taronga Zoo wharf and ends at Middle Head. Along the way it passes Athol Bay, Bradleys Head, Clifton Gardens Reserve on Chowder Bay, Georges Head, Obelisk Beach, and Middle Head.
The walk starts on a popular section track through harbourside bushland close to the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf. When you exit the wharf you’ll turn right and walk up the footpath toward the entrance of Taronga Zoo. The start of the track is on the harbour side of the road, directly opposite the entry to the zoo.
The first point of interest you’ll come across when walking the track is Athol Beach. Marked by a signpost, if you follow the steps down to the harbour’s edge you’ll find a pretty beach with views across to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline.
Take the steps back up off the sand to rejoin the main track and you’ll be on your way to Bradleys Head (Booraghee). You’ll continue to enjoy sweeping views across the harbour along much of the section of track between Taronga Zoo and Bradleys Head.
At Bradleys Head there is a grass amphitheatre that steps down to the harbour’s edge and a stone jetty juts out into the harbour – a popular spot for photos.
Before leaving Bradleys Head you’ll pass a few more points of interest: the Naval Memorial, a Doric column, and the Bradleys Head Light.
- Bradleys Head Naval Memorial: The monuments at the Bradleys Head Naval Memorial commemorate the service of the Royal Australian Navy. You’ll see commemorative plaques, trees, and the mast of HMAS Sydney.
- Doric column: Back in 1847, the Doric column that now stands at Bradleys Head was part of Sydney’s old General Post Office. When the GPO was demolished, the column was salvaged before being moved to its current site in 1871. It marks 1 nautical mile from Fort Denison.
- Bradleys Head Light: the light tower at Bradleys Head was built in 1905. A fog siren was added the following year, and concrete modified the original build in 1949. Today it is on the state heritage register.
At the end of the Bradleys Head car park you’ll follow the track alongside the road for a short section before heading back into the bush toward Taylors Bay.
Taylors Bay is home to another picturesque, secluded harbour beach. Onward from Taylors Bay brings you to the far less secluded, but just as picturesque Clifton Gardens Reserve and Chowder Bay.
There’s a little bit of everything here: a netted swim enclosure, a sandy beach, plenty of shaded lawn to picnic on, a playground, BBQs, bins, toilets, water refill stations, plus nearby cafe and restaurants. Clifton Gardens Reserve gets very busy on weekends, public holidays, and during school holidays.
From Clifton Gardens Reserve you’ll skirt around the beach, pass the cafes, and take the stairs up to Chowder Bay Road. From here you’ll take the footpath along Chowder Bay Road for a few minutes until you spot the Sydney Harbour National Park sign, and behind it, heading down to towards the harbour, the path from Georges Head to Middle Head begins.
Your first stop on this section of the walk are the military relics and monuments at Georges Head including the Georges Head Observation Tower, Georges Head Casemate Battery, and the Submarine Miners’ Firing Station. You’ll also enjoy views across Sydney Harbour.
As you leave Georges Head behind, you’ll head toward Obelisk Beach, one of Sydney’s nude beaches. As the track makes its way around Obelisk Bay you’ll have views across the harbour to Camp Cove and South Head.
Before long you’ll have made it to Middle Head for the final section of the walk. At Outer Middle Head you’ll see military fortifications including gun emplacements and underground tunnels. The track continues across the headland to the inner fort at Inner Middle Head.
The final stretch of the track takes you up to Middle Head Road, via Cobblers Beach (another clothing optional beach which is a short side trip off the main walking track) and past the restored Officers Quarters building which dates back to 1880 and now operates as holiday accommodation, managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Make the walk your own
The Taronga Zoo to Middle Head walk follows a harbourside track with plenty of opportunities to join and leave along the way which means the walk can be shortened or extended.
Shorter walks on this track:
- Taronga Zoo to Bradleys Head (1.3km one way)
- Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay (3.8km one way)
- Georges Head to Middle Head (3km one way)
Extended walks:
- Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach via Middle Head (9.2km one way)
- Taronga Zoo to the Spit (13km one way)
- Taronga Zoo to Manly (23km one way; incorporates the Spit to Manly Walk)
You might also choose to make this an out-and-back walk, by retracing your steps once you get to Middle Head so you start and end at Taronga Zoo Wharf.
Maps & Navigation
The walk from the wharf at Taronga Zoo through to Middle Head is easy to navigate, with plenty of signs marking the track and its points of interest.
You might also like to use the maps on the NSW Parks app or on AllTrails:
How to get to the Taronga Zoo to Middle Head Walk
One of the great things about this Sydney walk is that it is easily accessible by public transport at either end.
You can start by getting the ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo wharf.
If you’d prefer not double the length of the walk by returning the way you came, when you get to Middle Head, you can take the bus from Middle Head Road to South Mosman wharf and get the ferry back across to Circular Quay.
Plan your trip using the Transport for NSW Trip Planner or a mobile app like TripView.
Facilities
While this walk is predominantly through coastal bushland in Sydney Harbour National Park, there are some facilities along the way, and even a few cafes if you fancy a lunch stop and would rather not pack your own.
Cafes
There are a few cafes located within proximity of the Taronga Zoo to Middle Head walk, including:
- Cafe La Mer Chowder Bay
- Frenchy’s Cafe near Headland Park at Georges Head
- Middle Head Cafe near Middle Head Oval
- Burnt Orange on Middle Head Road
Drinking Water
You can refill your water bottle at Clifton Gardens Reserve. There is a water refill station next to the jetty near the swimming enclosure.
Toilets
Public toilets are located in a few locations on the walk from Taronga Zoo to Middle Head, including:
- Bradleys Head
- Clifton Gardens Reserve
- Georges Head (requires a detour off-track)
- Middle Head
Taronga Zoo to Middle Head Walk Highlights
From hidden harbour beaches to historic military sites, the Taronga Zoo to Middle Head walk is packed with highlights.
Athol Beach
Athol Beach is located quite close to Taronga Zoo wharf at the start of the walk. This harbourside beach enjoys views across the harbour to the city’s iconic landmarks – the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House – as well as the city skyline.
Bradleys Head
Bradleys Head (Booraghee) is a popular harbourside lookout. Thanks to its picture postcard views, and nearby car park, it’s a much-favoured place to enjoy a picnic overlooking the harbour. At Bradleys Head you’ll also find the Naval Memorial walk.
Taylors Bay
A picturesque bay with access to the harbour beach from a side track off the main walk. Taylors Bay also has a place in Sydney’s defence history.
On 31 May 1942, three Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour. One of those was detected and destroyed at Taylors Bay. You can read about the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour here.
Chowder Bay
Chowder Bay (Gooree) is a protected cove on Sydney Harbour, with a netted swimming area and large park known as Clifton Gardens. Here you’ll find everything you need to enjoy a well-earned break… there’s picnic tables, BBQs, shade, lawns, a sandy beach, swimming enclosure, drinking water fountains, and public toilets. There’s also cafes and restaurants that overlook the pretty bay.
But before Chowder Bay was a favourite leisure spot for Sydneysiders, it too played a role in Sydney’s military history. From the 1890s, it was at Chowder Bay that the Submarine Mining Corps had its base. The site was later used as an army barracks and then a maritime school.
Obelisk Beach
Obelisk Beach is one of Sydney’s few ‘clothing optional’ beaches. This secluded harbour beach is located between Georges Head and Middle Head and enjoys views across the harbour.
Georges Head to Middle Head
The stretch of harbour between Georges Head and Middle Head played an important role in the military defence of Sydney. From the early days of colonial Sydney, through the Second World War and Vietnam War, and beyond. Today, the sites are preserved as historic landmarks, telling stories of Sydney’s past.
With the opening of the Middle Head – Gubbuh Gubbuh to Georges Head walking track came the restoration of key military sites and the introduction of signage to explain the role of each location in the defence of Sydney.
Some of the defence sites and military fortifications you’ll see when walking the track between Middle Head and Georges Head:
- Inner Fort at Middle Head: gun emplacements dating back to 1871
- Outer Middle Head: fortifications here include a maze of tunnels and gun emplacements, first carved into the cliffs of Middle Head in 1871
- 1801 Battery: “earliest surviving intact defence of colonial Australia”
- Armoured Casemate: fortifications built 1883-1884
- Submarine Miners’ Firing Station: dating back to 1878 “controlling an electronic minefield laid across the harbour”
- Georges Head Casemate Battery: a gun emplacement installed in 1942
- Georges Head Observation Tower: built during the Second World War
