Walks

During whale-watching season see the migration of humpbacks and southern right whales from the clifftops along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. The Federation Cliff Walk is a 5 km clifftop trail from Dover Heights to Watsons Bay, where you can enjoy lunch in the pub or fish and chips in the park, and afterwards take a return ferry to Circular Quay.

On the South Coast, in beautiful Jervis Bay, is the easy hour-long White Sands Walk. For more adventurous walkers, reserve your place on a hike with Sydney Coast Walks, followed by camping under the stars. Enjoy trails in NSW’s many national parks for beginners and more experienced walkers. Life’s an Adventure has hikes in the Blue Mountains.

Walks, Sydney
Kiama Coast Walk, Kiama

Splendid walks in Sydney

Walking in Sydney is a delight, with paths and trails leading to some of the city’s landmark attractions and glimpses of the harbour around every corner. Discover new panoramas of the Sydney Opera House and enjoy sweeping views of the harbour from rocky headlands and tranquil beaches.

You’ll find many of the trails easy to walk. One of the most popular is the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. It’ll take up to two hours to complete and you’ll pass Waverley Cemetery where two of Australia’s most famous poets, Henry Lawson and Dorothea Mackellar, are buried.

Refresh yourself after your walk at one of Coogee Beach’s many cafés and restaurants, and then take a bus back to Circular Quay.

Stroll to the Opera House and continue walking through the Royal Botanic Garden, taking the harbourside path to Woolloomooloo. There you can enjoy a pub lunch or dine at one of the many elegant restaurants on one of the world’s longest timber wharfs.

On the harbour’s northside is a popular walk that begins in Manly, about 30 minutes from Circular Quay by ferry. The clearly signposted Manly to Spit Bridge walk takes up to four hours and traverses beach and forest, also known as bushland. See Aboriginal rock engravings at Dobroyd Head before arriving at the Spit where there are cafés, restaurants and buses to the city.

C​lark Island, Sydney Harbour National Park

Sydney Harbour Islands

Sydney Harbour island­hopping is a great way to get out and about on the water. For a fun family day out, pack a picnic and enjoy the chance to explore an extraordinary destination with sweeping views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Sydney Ferries operate daily services.
Jacarandas in bloom in Sydney. View from the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney

Gardens

Crimson and bright red waratahs and colourful kangaroo paws are among the native flora on show in public and private gardens and at flower festivals in Sydney and regional NSW. Explore the Royal Botanic Garden, near the Sydney Opera House, for a spectacular harbourside setting.
​Anvil Rock, Blue Mountains National Park

World Heritage Areas

Visit World Heritage­ listed wilderness and natural wonders. Head to the Blue Mountains, where the scenic railway plunges into ancient eucalypt forest. Or follow a World Heritage Walk along a road built by convicts near the Hawkesbury River. Find tours and accommodation in these incredible areas.