Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in. There aren't any eateries en route, so fortify yourself in Manly beforehand or stock up for a picnic. Make
sure you carry plenty of water, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat and wear sturdy shoes.
Check the surf at
Manly Beach
then cruise down
The Corso
to the
visitor information centre
where you can pick up a walk brochure with a detailed map.
Head down to
Manly Cove
and pick up the path near
Oceanworld
. After 700m you'll reach
Fair-
light Beach
, where you can scan the view through the heads. Yachts tug at their moorings as you trace the
North Harbour inlet and after 2km you'll come to
Forty Baskets Beach
. Kookaburras cackle as you enter
the national park and approach
Reef Beach
.
The track becomes steep, sandy and rocky further into the park - keep an eye out for wildflowers, spiders in
bottlebrush trees and fat goannas sunning themselves. The views from
Dobroyd Head
are unforgettable.
Check out the deserted 1930s sea shacks at the base of
Crater Cove
cliff, and
Aboriginal rock
carvings
on an unsigned ledge left of the track before the turnoff to
Grotto Point Lighthouse
.
Becalmed
Castle Rock Beach
is at the western end of the national park. From here the path winds around
the rear of houses to
Clontarf Beach
.
Sandy Bay
follows and then
Fisher Bay
before you reach
Spit Bridge
. From the southern end of the bridge you can either bus it back to Manly (buses 140, 143 or
144) or into the city (176 to 180).
Balgowlah Heights
REEF BEACH
(Beatty St, Balgowlah Heights; 171)
Despite what you might have heard, this little cove on
Manly Scenic Walkway is neither nude nor full of dudes; the Manly Council put pay to
that in 1993. Now it's often deserted.
BEACH
FORTY BASKETS BEACH
(Beatty St, Begowlah Heights; 171)
On the Manly Scenic Walkway, just before heading into
the Begowlah Heights section of Sydney Harbour National Park. The picnic area is cut off
at high tide.
BEACH
Clontarf
WASHAWAY BEACH
BEACH
