Sydney · Easy · One way

Spit Bridge to Manly

A harbour-side walk from Spit Bridge round Clontarf, Grotto Point and Dobroyd Head to Manly, through bush, coves and small beaches.

Distance
9.6 km (6.0 mi)
Ascent
142 m
Time
About 2 h 45 min
High point
86 m
Grade
Easy

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

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Spit Bridge to Manly
eyeintim · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the bus stop at the south end of Spit Bridge, cross the bridge and follow the foreshore path east round Fisher Bay and Sandy Bay to Clontarf Beach. Past Clontarf Point the track enters Sydney Harbour National Park and climbs through bush above Castle Rock Beach to the junction for Grotto Point. It crosses the heath of Dobroyd Head, where Arabanoo Lookout looks out between North Head and South Head, then drops to Reef Beach and Forty Baskets. The last stretch rounds North Harbour and follows the shore through Fairlight to Manly Wharf.

It is 9.6 km one way with 142 m of ascent and 135 m of descent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Easy: a good track with many steps, sandy patches and some rock; the national park section is the roughest.

In places the track has a detour for high tide, so you may need a little extra time. The Aboriginal rock engravings at Grotto Point are on the side track to the lighthouse, which this walk leaves out. Carry water and sun protection.

Buses from the city stop at Spit Bridge, and ferries run from Manly Wharf to Circular Quay, so the walk needs no car.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • The walk follows the shores of Middle Harbour and North Harbour, much of it through Sydney Harbour National Park
  • Aboriginal rock engravings are found near Grotto Point, on a side track to the lighthouse
  • From Arabanoo Lookout on Dobroyd Head the view runs across the harbour mouth between North and South Head
  • It ends at Manly Wharf, where ferries leave for Circular Quay

Getting there

Start: Spit East Reserve bus stop, Spit Road. -33.80524, 151.24646

Directions to the start

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Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Spit East Reserve bus stop: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.