Best Hikes and Walks in Sydney (and around it!)

By Roberto (Updated Jan 2023)

⏱ 6 min

What is the best thing about living in Sydney? Many people have asked me. My answer is always simply the same: the walks in and around the city. In this post, we detail the best hikes and walks in Sydney, and around it. Find them also in the next map:

Not many other cities we have been, offer the possibility of taking a 30-minute bus or ferry ride to start not one, but dozens of hikes from the city center. Some of the things that I love about the hikes here are that they are perfectly integrated with the city, well maintained, and the nature is bountiful and quite untouched (💚you Australia).

1. Bondi to Coogee Walk

Bondi to Coogee walk makes the first entry in the post due to its awesome coastal views and its location. If you are visiting Sydney for only one weekend, this walk is a must on your To-Do List. The walk is very accessible and easy to complete. In addition, it offers bars, restaurants, and toilets along the way, and it is dog-friendly.

Don’t expect a hard trail or an adventure through the coast. You will see visitors taking photos, locals exercising, or people showing off their bodies. This walk is simply good for exercise with an amazing surf vibe. The path runs parallel to the ocean and crosses some of the most important beaches of Sydney: Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, and Coogee.

• Location: East Sydney City
• Distance: 6 km (one way)
• Duration: 2.5-3 hours
• Elevation gain: <100 m
• Difficulty: Easy
• How to go: Take a normal bus to “Bondi Beach”

2. Manly to Spit Walk

If you are willing to walk a bit more seriously, the Manly to Spit Walk is totally worth it. Why I consider it as one of the best hikes is because it has a bit of everything: coastal views, secret coves, timber boardwalk, some bush, and you end at Manly Beach where you can enjoy a lunch or a coffee with good views.

The path is less urban and less crowded than the previous one, and you’ll think you are in the middle of nature. It’s perfect for disconnecting on a Sunday. Since there aren’t so many water fountains on the way, don’t forget to bring your own water.

• Location: Spit-Manly (North Sydney)
• Distance: 10 km (one way)
• Duration: 4 hours
• Elevation gain: 350 m
• Difficulty: Easy-Medium
• How to go: Take a normal bus to “Spit to Manly Walk” in Google

3. Hermitage Foreshore Walk

This is a quick and pleasant walk through the bush and beaches. It’s good for various activities such as a picnic on the grass, some drinks at the beach, or a swim at Shark Beach.

Once you’re near Queens Beach, you’ll see the paved path and you only have to follow it until Shark Beach, crossing some mansions, lookouts, and the adorable Milky Beach. At the end of the walk, you may reward yourself with a beer at The Nielsen bar.

• Location: Sydney Harbour National Park
• Distance: 2 km (one way)
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Elevation gain: 123 m
• Difficulty: Easy
• How to go: Take a normal bus to “Hermitage Foreshore Reserve”

4. Cremorne Point Walk

Similarly, with the previous walk, this is an easy and short hike, perfect to do on a lazy day or to combine with other plans around the area. This path consists of a paved trail that goes around the Cremorne Point peninsula in Sydney’s lower north shore.

There is a good viewpoint of Sydney’s skyline from the wharf, a lighthouse with incredible views of the bay at Robertsons Point Lookout, and I personally love the part in ‘the jungle’. At some point on the walk, you’ll see a wooden bridge in the middle of trees, wet and dark. Additionally, if you want to extend the hike, there is the possibility to reach Reid Park and finish at Mosman Bay Wharf.

• Location: Sydney Harbour National Park
• Distance: 3 km (circular)
• Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
• Elevation gain: 115 m
• Difficulty: Easy
• How to go: Take a normal bus to any point of Cremorne Point or the ferry to Cremorne Point Wharf. Since the walk is circular, don’t worry about the starting point.

5. Bradleys Head – Chowder Bay – Balmoral Beach

Another of the best hikes and walks in Sydney is the Bradleys Head – Chowder Bay – Balmoral Beach walk in the north of Sydney. It can be started at the ferry station of Taronga Zoo, or (as we did) from Sirius Cove Beach. There is a bunch of bush and green trees along the way, giving you the feeling of being outside the city.

As you follow the path, crossing some little beaches, you will get to the end of Bradleys Head. Here you’ll find the amphitheater and a lighthouse, both with good views of the bay. This head had military importance due to its geographical position. Now it’s used for less aggressive activities, like fishing or bird watching.

The path keeps going bordering the bay, until reaching Chowder Bay where some people stop the walk. This can be done in 1.5 hours. However, the path continues until Bronte or even Manly. In fact, all the walks around the bay can be somehow connected, so people complete the tracks in parts, but you can decide where to start and end. Our recommendation is to stretch your legs a little more until Bronte.

• Location: Bradleys Head – Taronga Zoo – Bronte Beach
• Distance: 6.8 km (one way)
• Duration: 3 hours
• Elevation gain: 328 m
• Difficulty: Easy-Medium
• How to go: Take a bus to Sirius Cove Beach, or the ferry to Taronga Zoo Wharf

6. Botany Bay Coastal Walk

We continue with another walk which is a bit longer and in the southern part of the city, which takes about 4-5 hours to complete. The trail can be started from Cronulla train station. From there, there is around 5 km of walking on a paved path along Cronulla Beach, and then the path changes at Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

On this walk, you’ll find rocks, sand, good views of the bay, and cliffs. If it has been raining for a few days before you go on this walk, beware – you’ll encounter huge puddles of water in some parts of the trail. We weren’t expecting this so it was quite a funny experience. The trail is easy to follow except for the last part, but there is cellular service, so you can always check the maps. Finally, you’ll conclude at Kurnell, where there are some bus stops (check their schedules before going) to go back to Cronulla station.

• Location: Cronulla Beach – Kamay Botany Bay National Park
• Distance: 12.7 km (one way)
• Duration: 4 – 4.5 hours
• Elevation gain: 193 m
• Difficulty: Easy – Medium (if there are swamps)
• How to go: Take a train to Cronulla station

7. Resolute Beach and the Resolute Loop Trail

Moving to the North part of Sydney now, there are National Parks that are really worth a visit. This is the case of Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, in front of the Palm Beach area. Taking a ferry (30 minutes frequency) from Palm Beach Wharf, you can arrive at Mackerel Beach. This beach and the hike have no restaurants, stores, or water supplies, so bring your own food and water.

The trail starts exactly where Google Maps indicates, and it’s easy to follow. It’s a narrow path and there is abundant mud, so we suggest to go with trekking shoes. The main point of the trail is to visit two wonderful beaches: Resolute and West Head, in addition to the West Head Lookout.

To get to the places, there are two possible routes: a circular path over the ‘Resolute trail’ or a linear and shorter one just following the ‘Resolute track’. It’s up to you. We took the ‘Resolute track’ because we were lazy this time and we preferred to spend some time on the beaches instead of walking more.

• Location: Resolute Beach – Ku-Ring-Gai National Park
• Distance: 4.5 km (circular)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Elevation gain: 200 m
• Difficulty: Easy – Medium
• How to go: Take a ferry to Mackerel Beach from Palm Beach Wharf

8. Palm Beach – Barrenjoey Headland Walk

At the north of Barrenjoey Head, there is one of the most Instagrammable photos you can take near Sydney. The views from the top of this walk with the lighthouse are simply magnificent.

We did this short route in combination with the Resolute Beach and the Resolute Loop Trail (the previous one), since they are probably some of the best hikes and walks in Sydney. Wake up early and spend the morning on the Resolute Loop Trail. Eat at the beach and later do this hike and wait for the sunset…a marvelous plan!

The Palm Beach hike has no mystery. It’s easy to follow, you’ll see other people sweating while going up and smiling while going down. At first, the lighthouse seems far, but you will reach in 30 minutes. Sadly, no drones are allowed up at the top.

• Location: Palm Beach
• Distance: 3 km (circular)
• Duration: 1 hour
• Elevation gain: 150 m
• Difficulty: Easy – Medium
• How to go: Take a bus to Palm Beach

9. Wondabyne to Patonga: the most complete walk in Sydney

Want a longer hike 💪🏽? Try the Wondabyne to Patonga hike then. This is a more serious adventure where you have to take a medium distance train, walk for 21 km trough different terrains and overnight outside. For both of us was the most complete hike we did and a wonderful experience. Absolutely recommended!

• Location: Brisbane Waters National Park
• Distance: 21 km one way 
• Duration: 2 days, 1 night 
• Elevation gain: 850 m
• Difficulty: Medium-Hard. 
• How to go: Take a train at Central Station (Platform 8) to go to Wondabyne.

Since it’s a more complex hike, this time we have a dedicated blog about it, check it below ⤵️

Further reading…

If you live in or around Sydney, try some of these walks/hikes. If you have done them already, do any of these make your list of best hikes and walks in Sydney? Which walks/hikes would you add? Let us know in the comments! Even if you don’t live in Sydney, we hope this post inspires you to check out some awesome places close to your home. ☺️

Don’t hesitate to check out some of the posts below on other must-visit places in Queensland, Australia!