This is the quintessential Sydney walk. Located in the urban setting of north shore suburbs the easy 10Km trail is ideal if you want a less demanding run. The trail is amazing: pockets of trees with gnarled branch limbs, dramatic cliffs, breathtaking coast views and the occasional trail animal life.
The track begins at the northern end of the Spit Bridge, on the eastern side of the road. You can take a bus that stops just before the bridge or just after the bridge. Don’t be in a rush if you stop before the bridge as sometimes the bridge opens and it takes 10 minutes or so before you can pass across.
Make sure you review the checklist and wear sunscreen as there are lots of exposed sections and the walk is best done fairly early as it can get popular and a little crowded especially as the weather improves.
The trail is very urban and so domesticated that toilets can be found at regular intervals throughout the walk. Locations include at The Spit, Clontarf Reserve, near Reef Beach, Forty Baskets Beach, North Harbour Reserve, Fairlight Beach, West Esplanade near Manly Sea Life, and Manly Wharf.
The track is pretty flat the whole way with only the occasional stair climb. It passes through a mix of interconnected forest and harbourside trails which give it a lot of variety and make it super scenic. The first section is Fisher Bay walk a forested trail that leads onto Clontarf Reserve which is a sunny harborside park and one of many such parks and reserves the trail crosses. Hugging the coast and continuing to get to along Clontarf track the trail is well signposted and easy to follow. which leads onto Castle Rock track and passes the Beach of the same name.
Once you pass by Castle Rock Beach you will head into Dobroyd Head area. If you are feeling keen take the optional there and back detour to Grotto Point Lighthouse and enjoy some amazing views while taking another water break. I found some friendly water dragons here also which were very photogenic.
After the detour, you will pass Aboriginal rock carving by the local Cammeraygal people and more harborside views – another scenic way to spend your water break and indulge in a little culture.
Continuing on the clifftops at Crater Cove and Arabanoo offer more amazing views. After this, the trail unwinds into Manly Cove and the Reef Beach track.
Passing the sunny Wellings Reserve and into the North Harbour walk before passing North Harbour reserve where we get the final stair climb before another urban section of the trail.
The final leg is the Fairlight walk which brings us into Manly for the end of the run – yay!
A great way to finish the run is to catch the ferry from Manly Wharf across Sydney Harbour back to the city from where you can enjoy excellent views of the Sydney harbour bridge, opera house and central business district.
