When it comes to scenic walks in Sydney, we’re spoiled for choice. From short walks to multi-day hikes, Sydney is a great city for those of us who love to explore the outdoors on foot.
In this guide you’ll discover some of the best walks in Sydney including city walks, bushwalks, and coastal walks.
Whether you’re looking to explore the hidden beaches of Sydney Harbour or the pockets of bushland in the suburbs, with so much choice, there’s sure to be a Sydney walk to fit exactly what you’re after.
City Walks in Sydney
Looking for the best walks in Sydney CBD? These walks are located in the heart of Sydney, making them an ideal choice if you’re looking for green space to relax and unwind while visiting the city.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Walk across an icon! Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge on the 1.6km pedestrian path between The Rocks and Kirribilli.
From the bridge you’ll enjoy views across Sydney Harbour as you look down over Circular Quay and the Opera House.
The walk is accessible with lifts alongside the stairs at either end. Top tip: do this walk at sunrise or sunset.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
The Royal Botanic Garden is located on the edge of Sydney Harbour. There are paved walkways throughout the gardens.
Some highlights worth keeping an eye out for on your walk include The Fernery, The Calyx, and the various vantage points in the gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour.
If you’d like to stop for a coffee and a bite to eat during your walk, there’s a number of cafes in the gardens or you can pack a picnic and enjoy the lawns.
Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo Reserve
Barangaroo Reserve is a waterfront park on Sydney Harbour, between Darling Harbour and Walsh Bay.
Until the opening of Barangaroo Reserve in 2015, this section of the foreshore was closed off from public access for more than 100 years. Transformed with tens of thousands of native trees and shrubs, today the foreshore park is enjoyed by visitors and locals walking and picnicing on the harbour’s edge.
Experience Barangaroo on the Wulugul Walk, a walking path along the foreshore through Barangaroo Reserve. If you’re walking through Barangaroo during warmer weather and fancy a swim, look out for Marrinawi Cove, an area on the harbour’s edge opened up to swimmers in early 2023.
Hyde Park Fountain to ANZAC Memorial
When you’ve had your fill of shopping at Westfield Sydney, walk up Market St and you’ll soon find yourself in Australia’s oldest park: Hyde Park.
If you’re travelling from elsewhere in the city, St James train station is located on the edge of the park.
At the northern end of Hyde Park (closest to Macquarie St), you’ll find the Archibald Memorial Fountain. From there, you can walk along the park’s fig tree lined central avenue to the Pool of Reflection and ANZAC Memorial at the opposite end of the park.
Self-Guided City of Sydney History Walks
Want to learn about Sydney’s history while exploring various city precincts on foot?
The City of Sydney has produced a series of flyers and the Sydney Culture Walks mobile app to accompany a number of self-guided walks located across the city including Redfern, Kings Cross, and Pyrmont. For each walk you’ll find a map with points of interest and an introduction to the history of the area.
Whether you’re a local looking to learn something new about the city you call home, or a visitor to Sydney eager to explore, these walks are a fantastic way to spend a few hours in Sydney.
Sydney Harbour Walks
Hermitage Foreshore Track
This 1.8km walk is a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Skirting the harbour’s edge between Vaucluse and Rose Bay, the Hermitage Foreshore Track offers sweeping views across Sydney Harbour.
Pack lunch and spend time enjoying the hidden beaches, the grounds of Strickland House, or Nielsen Park.
Extend your walk by continuing on through Neilsen Park to the loop track around Bottle and Glass Point, stopping by Shakespeares Point to take in the view over Shark Beach and Sydney Harbour.
South Head Heritage Trail
Part of Sydney Harbour National Park, the South Head Heritage Trail is a 1km loop track around the southern headland at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
The South Head Heritage Trail has views of Sydney Harbour, North Head, and the ocean, and passes by former military emplacements, Hornby Lighthouse, and the historic Lightkeeper’s Cottage.
If you’re keen for something to eat or drink after your walk, stop into the kiosk at Camp Cove, stop for fish and chips at Doyles, or enjoy a drink with a view at Watsons Bay Hotel.
You can get to the South Head Heritage Trail by taking the ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay.
Cremorne Reserve Loop
Cremorne Reserve is located on the northern side of Sydney Harbour and a paved loop track takes you around the entire reserve. You can take a ferry from Circular Quay across to Cremorne Point Wharf to begin your walk.
The scenic reserve has so many wonderful vantage points to sit and enjoy the view across Sydney Harbour back towards the city, Opera House, and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Some attractions you’ll see on this walk include Robertsons Point (and the lighthouse), Maccallum Pool, and the Lex and Ruby Graham Garden.
There’s a small kiosk at the ferry wharf if you’re after coffee and a snack to enjoy on your walk. And if you want to continue walking, you can follow the harbourside track around to Mosman Bay and beyond.
Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay via Bradleys Head
From the ferry wharf at Taronga Zoo, this walk starts with a short walk up Athol Wharf Road before joining Bradleys Head Walking Track. From there you’ll walk through coastal bushland on the harbour’s edge.
This walk from Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay via Bradleys Head has fantastic Sydney Harbour views the entire way around to the outdoor ampitheatre at Bradleys Head. Continue your walk around Taylors Bay and into Chowder Bay.
This walk is 4km point to point or 8km returning to Taronga Zoo wharf. You can shorten your walk by turning around at Bradleys Head, or continue your walk as far as you like toward Middle Head and Manly.
Spit Bridge to Manly
Also known as the Manly Scenic Walkway, this 10km harbour walk is a Sydney favourite. This walk begins at Spit Bridge and then follows the harbour’s edge, around to Clontarf Beach.
Continuing on, when you reach Dobroyd Head you’ll see North Head and Manly come into view. There’s plenty of spots to enjoy harbourside beaches like Forty Baskets and Fairlight Beach as this walk continues on before reaching Manly.
At Manly you can wander up The Corso to Manly Beach, extend your walk up to North Head, and take the ferry across to Circular Quay.
Waverton to Balls Head Loop
This short walk through Waverton and down to Balls Head on Sydney Harbour is around 4km return.
From Waverton train station, take Bay Road and Balls Head Road down to the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, a former coal loading facility, decommissioned in 1992.
Wander through the historic coal loading tunnels as you make your way down through the harbourside bushland.
Beyond the coal loader you can walk down to Balls Head. When you loop around to head back up and out the way you came, you can take a small detour to enjoy the harbour views from Berrys Bay.
Coastal Walks in Sydney
The Coast Track
The Coast Track is a 26km walking track in Royal National Park, between Bundeena and Otford.
If you’re travelling from central Sydney, you can take the train to Cronulla and then the ferry across to Bundeena to start your walk.
The Coast Track follows the coastline and offers up incredible views over the ocean. On your walk you’ll pass beaches including Marley, Wattamolla, and Garie, and make your way up through coastal bushland to Otford at the southern end of the walk.
Boora Point Walking Track
This walking track from Maroubra Beach through Malabar Headland National Park is approximately 4km one way.
Tracing the coastline, Boora Point walking track is a great spot to walk during winter when whales migrate along the coast.
This track is sometimes subject to closures due to the nearby rifle range so check local alerts when planning your walk. If Boora Point walking track is closed, an alternate walk close by is the Western Escarpment walking track.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk
This track on Barrenjoey head at the northernmost point on Sydney’s northern beaches passes by the historic Barrenjoy Lighthouse and provides sweeping views over the ocean.
On sunny weekends this walking track and the nearby Palm Beach can be very popular, and when you see the views from the top, you’ll understand why.
Bondi to Coogee
This popular walking track follows the coastline between Bondi and Coogee Beach. Along the way you’ll pass Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, and Gordons Bay before reaching Coogee Beach.
There’s no shortage of places to stop for a swim, to relax at vantage points overlooking the ocean, and to grab a coffee and bite to eat at beachside cafes.
At around 6km one way or 12km return, the from Bondi to Coogee is a great way to spend a sunny day in Sydney.
Scenic Nature Walks in Sydney
Karloo Walking Track
The Karloo walking starts near Heathcote train station and tracks through Royal National Park to Karloo Pool.
This is an ideal walk on a sunny day with Karloo Pool making for a great spot to take a dip.
You can walk back out the way you came, or join the Uloola Fire Trail which continues through to Waterfall train station.
Riverside Walking Track
The Riverside Walking Track is a 5km (one way) walk through bushland along the river in Lane Cove National Park.
It’s a good idea to pack a picnic to enjoy at one of the picnic areas along the way.
You can return the way you came or turn this walk into a loop by connecting with a section of the Great North Walk that follows the opposite side of the river.
Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai
The walk follows a section of the Great North Walk between Berowra and Mount Kuring-gai train stations.
A short diversion at the start of this walk will bring you to Naa Badu lookout, with views over Berowra Creek.
Then you’ll drop down into the valley and follow the creek through scenic bushland before rising up out of the gully at Mount Kuring-gai.
Long Walks in Sydney
While Sydney has a tonne of short walks for you to explore, it’s also home to some fantastic long walks. These long walks in Sydney traverse diverse landscapes and are designed to be completed over multiple days.
Bondi to Manly
This 80km walk follows the coastline between two of Sydney’s most iconic beaches: Bondi and Manly.
This walk was officially opened in December 2019, and links a number of existing harbourside walks including the South Head Heritage Trail, Hermitage Foreshore Walk, the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, and Spit to Manly walk.
You can do the Bondi to Manly walk in a weekend, or split it up over a more leisurely week.
Great North Walk
This one is an epic. The 250km Great North Walk runs between Sydney and Newcastle.
Complete it as a thru-hike over a couple of weeks, or choose sections to walk as day or overnight hikes.
There are some fantastic sections at the Sydney end of the Great North Walk that make for great short walks such as Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai.
Great West Walk
The Great West Walk opened in 2019 and was extended in 2022 and now connects Parramatta with Katoomba, making it western Sydney’s longest walk at 140km.
The walk passes through both urban streets and areas of parkland as it tracks through western Sydney and up into the mountains.
This is another walk you can do in sections as shorter walks and you’ll find a map on the official website to help you plan your walk.