Walks in Sydney

Sydney’s 70km of harbour foreshore and 100km of coastal paths offer some of the world’s most spectacular urban walking trails. Over the past decade, I’ve explored hundreds of kilometres of tracks across the city, from hidden harbour coves to ancient Aboriginal pathways. Let’s go find one you will love!

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City and Suburb Walks

Harbour and Coastal Walks

Bush and Mountain Walks

Start Here: Sydney’s Must-Do Walks

If you’re new to Sydney or short on time, these walks showcase the best of the harbour city.

Sydney Opera House refection at the Rocks

Hermitage Foreshore

Take in Sydney’s most iconic sights and hidden harbour coves

Bondi walk square

Bondi to Coogee

Six beaches linked by dramatic coastal cliffs and rock pools

Hornby Light House Credit Port Authority NSW

Watsons Bay Circuit

Combine harbour views, military history and Sydney’s best fish and chips

City and Suburb Walks

Sydney’s historic neighbourhoods hold stories that only reveal themselves on foot. Discover hidden laneways, heritage architecture, and local haunts that most visitors miss.

Heritage and Architecture

  • Potts Point & Elizabeth Bay: Stroll inner city streets that are home to Australia’s finest collection of Art Deco buildings
  • Sydney History walk: Explore Macquarie Street and learn about Sydney’s first streets
  • The Rocks: A self guided walk to uncover Colonial sandstone and Victorian terraces

Culture and Creativity

  • Indigenous Art walk: Learn more about Sydney’s Aboriginal community, through cultural sites and contemporary Indigenous art
  • Newtown: A craft beer lover’s paradise where Victorian-era pubs meet contemporary street art
  • Surry Hills: Creative hub with converted warehouses and café culture

Most city walks take 1-2 hours and include plenty of spots to stop for coffee or lunch. Each guide includes transport options and accessibility information. If you prefer a guided experience check out our favourite walking tours here.

Harbour and Coastal Walks

Sydney’s waterside walks range from peaceful harbour paths to dramatic ocean trails. Whether you’re after a gentle stroll or a clifftop adventure, there’s a coastal walk perfect for you.

Sydney Harbour Walks

  • Rose Bay to Watsons Bay – A flat harbourside walk past secluded beaches and magnificent harbour homes
  • Cremorne Point Loop – A peaceful peninsula walk with some of Sydney’s best harbour views and gardens.
  • Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay – A bushland harbourside track combining military history with harbour lookouts.

See our guide to Sydney’s top 10 harbour walks.

Coastal Walks

See our guide to Sydney’s best coastal walks

Bush and Mountain Walks

Just beyond Sydney’s suburbs, you’ll find national parks offering everything from short nature trails to challenging day hikes.

Blue Mountains

Just 90 minutes by train from Central Station, the Blue Mountains offer Sydney’s most dramatic walking territory. While many tracks deserve their own guides, here are three accessible walks perfect for day trips from Sydney:

  • Three Sisters Track – An easy walk with classic Blue Mountains views and Aboriginal heritage sites
  • Grand Canyon Loop – A lush rainforest track past waterfalls and sandstone cliffs
  • Cliff Top Walk – A spectacular cliff-edge trail connecting major lookouts

Explore some Blue Mountains walks

Regional Walks

Royal National Park

Australia’s oldest national park, just an hour south of Sydney, offers everything from coastal walks to secluded rainforest tracks.

Royal National Park Waterfall near Eagle Rock

These popular walks make perfect day trips:

  • Coast Track – Sydney’s most dramatic coastal walk with whale watching spots
  • Forest Path – A peaceful circuit through pristine rainforest
  • Karloo Walking Track – Hidden swimming holes and native bushland

Most bush walks need more planning than city strolls. Each guide includes details about park fees, facilities, and current track conditions.

For national park walks, check current alerts and fees on the NSW National Parks website before you set out.

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