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ManlyThe Locals' Guide
Walk the coast. Mind the echidnas.

Walks & Nature

Walk the coast. Mind the echidnas.

From a 20-minute boardwalk to Shelly Beach, all the way to the full 10km Scenic Walkway. Manly is one of the great walking towns of Sydney, and you barely need a car.

Manly's geography is a gift to walkers. A narrow isthmus, a sandstone headland on either side, and protected reserves that have kept the bush right up against the beach. You can knock off a 20-minute boardwalk before lunch, or take on a half-day epic out to the Spit. Bring water, a hat, and reef-safe sunscreen.

Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk

№ 01

Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk

Sydney's signature harbourside walk and arguably the best half-day you'll have in the city. Sandstone cliffs, hidden coves like Forty Baskets and Reef Beach, the Aboriginal middens and engravings at Dobroyd Head, and panoramic city views from Tania Park before you drop down to the Spit Bridge bus stop. Catch the 144 bus back to Manly when you're done. Bring 2L of water and decent shoes; there's no shop after Clontarf.

Distance
10 km one way
Grade
Moderate
Time
3 to 4 hrs
Track notes (National Parks NSW)
Manly to Shelly Beach Boardwalk

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Manly to Shelly Beach Boardwalk

Flat, paved, pram and wheelchair friendly, and the most photographed stretch in town. You'll pass the Art Deco rock pools at Fairy Bower and the bronze 'Oceanides' sculptures rising out of the surf, then the boardwalk hugs the cliff line into Shelly. The only east-facing beach on the Sydney coast and the calmest swim around for miles. Coffee at Bower Restaurant on the way back is non-negotiable.

Distance
1 km
Grade
Easy
Time
20 min
Cabbage Tree Bay info
Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve

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Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve

An eco-sensitive marine reserve between Manly and Shelly that's been a no-take zone since 2002. Mask up to swim with grey nurse sharks (harmless, honest), wobbegongs, blue gropers, weedy sea dragons and the odd green turtle. Best entry is off the Shelly Beach sand at the southern end of the bay. Calm conditions only; check the swell on Willyweather first.

Distance
Snorkel + walk
Grade
Easy
Time
1 to 2 hrs in the water
Reserve rules (NSW DPI)
North Head Sanctuary

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North Head Sanctuary

A former military and quarantine site now run by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Echidnas, the only mainland little penguin colony in NSW, and 180° views from Fairfax Lookout across the harbour mouth to the open Pacific. The Bella Vista loop (3 km) is the easy win; the full Native Heath circuit takes in the old gun emplacements and Q Station.

Distance
3 to 8 km loops
Grade
Easy to Moderate
Time
1 to 3 hrs
Visiting info (Harbour Trust)
Manly to Curl Curl Coastal Walk

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Manly to Curl Curl Coastal Walk

The lesser-known northern sibling of the Spit walk. Up the cliff stairs at Queenscliff, past the dramatic Freshwater headland (and Duke Kahanamoku's surf statue), then along the cliff tops to South Curl Curl with the open Pacific the whole way. End it with a swim in the Curl Curl rock pool and the bus back from Pittwater Road.

Distance
5 km one way
Grade
Moderate
Time
1.5 to 2 hrs
Northern Beaches Council
Fairfax Walk, North Head

№ 06

Fairfax Walk, North Head

If you only do one short walk in Manly, do this. A flat clifftop loop ending at three lookouts that, on a clear day, take in everything from South Head to the city to the Blue Mountains. Sunrise here is properly memorable. Drive or grab the 161 bus from Manly Wharf.

Distance
1 km loop
Grade
Easy
Time
30 min
Fairfax Lookout (NPWS)

FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the best walk in Manly?

The Manly to Spit Bridge coastal walk: 10 km one way, three to four hours, moderate. It follows the harbour past sandstone cliffs, the hidden coves at Forty Baskets and Reef Beach, and the Aboriginal middens and engravings at Dobroyd Head, finishing with city views from Tania Park. Catch the 144 bus back to Manly at the end. Bring two litres of water and proper shoes — there is no shop after Clontarf.

Is there an easy, flat walk suitable for prams?

The Manly to Shelly Beach boardwalk: 1 km, about 20 minutes, flat, paved and friendly to prams and wheelchairs. It passes the Art Deco rock pools at Fairy Bower and the bronze Oceanides sculptures before hugging the cliff line into Shelly, the only east-facing beach on the Sydney coast. If you want a second short one, the Fairfax loop at North Head is a flat 1 km clifftop circuit of about 30 minutes, ending at three lookouts.

Do the walks cost anything or need booking?

All of them are free and none needs booking. They cross a mix of council land, national park and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust's North Head Sanctuary, all open to the public in daylight hours. The only cost is getting to the far ends: the 144 bus back from the Spit Bridge, or the 161 from Manly Wharf up to North Head if you would rather not walk the hill.

What time of day should I start a coastal walk?

Early, especially in summer. The Spit walk is largely unshaded across the headlands and the middle of the day is the hardest part of it, so a start before 9am makes the whole thing easier. In winter, an afternoon start is comfortable and the light along the harbour is better. Sunrise at the Fairfax lookouts on North Head is the one worth setting an alarm for, and it takes half an hour.

The Spit to Manly walk, mapped

The flagship coastal track, with its lookouts and swimming stops marked along the way.

Start · Spit BridgeFinish · Manly WharfInteractive map: the 10km Spit to Manly walk with the main stops along the way. Use ctrl + scroll to zoom, or pinch on mobile.

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