Spit Bridge to Manly

Walk Highlights

Spit Bridge to Manly
  • Distance: 10km one way
  • Time: 3 hours
  • Location: Spit Bridge, Mosman/Seaforth, Sydney
  • Facilities: toilets, fresh water, barbecues, cafes along the way
  • Getting There: Catch a bus from the city to Spit Bridge, and later, catch a ferry from Manly back to Circular Quay, Sydney.
  • Highlights: Coastal cliffs, views of Middle Harbour and the Pacific Ocean from Dobroyd Head, inner harbour beaches (pack your bathers), Aboriginal rock engravings

Walking Track Description

The Spit Bridge to Manly Scenic Walkway is a series of short tracks, mostly less than 1-2km, including the Fairlight, Dobroyd and North Harbour walks. Each track covers a themed section of the harbour, so covering all of them in one walk is a great way to experience the diversity of Sydney Harbour’s bays, beaches and bushland.

The walk is well-signed and offers a number of detours for those looking to get off the “beaten track”, such as the views of the harbour from the old Grotto Point Lighthouse. There are a real variety of things to see and do along the way, from swimming to wildlife and whale watching, as well as learning about Sydney’s rich colonial history. For example, Forty Baskets Beach was so-named because of the fish caught there in the 1880s to feed Sudanese soldiers detained at the Quarantine Station, positioned across the harbour at North Head.

There are a few beach passages of the track that are prone to flooding at high tide, and walkers get wet at these stages of the walk, particularly at Castle Rock Beach. The tide is rarely more than knee-high, and if wading isn’t an option, one can always backtrack a little to follow the road around the beach.

If completing the whole walk is beyond reach, don’t miss the view from Dobroyd Head, about halfway along the walk, and easily accessed by car. This elevated view is sensational, exposing almost 270 degrees of the harbour, and offers a perfect spot to catch your breath mid-walk.

Walking Trail Map

(Start at red marker)

Weather Forecast (Manly)

More Walks in New South Wales, Sydney

  • Govetts Leap Falls (Bridal Veil Falls)
  • Fitzroy Falls
  • Lake Parramatta
  • Euroka to the Nepean River, Glenbrook
  • Uloola Track (Heathcote to Waterfall)

    • 46 Responses to “Spit Bridge to Manly”

    1. Kristi | 19/02/09

      This is one of my favorite Sydney walks, although a little bit long for my preferred short walk length of 2 hours. I recommend it to all my friends who visit Sydney.

      Don’t forget to grab a well earned beer on the deck about the Steyne when you are done!

    2. gimungor | 19/02/09

      Good advice, and there’s all those icecream joints near the Manly Aquarium too, great for the little-tackers.

    3. Just one day? « Bec’s Oxfam Challenge | 15/03/09

      […] increased in length and that’s led to some really lovely weekends.  Yesterday we did the Spit Bridge to Manly walk, and last Sunday we did an amazing walk at Fortescue Bay in Tassie.  Next weekend looks like it […]

    4. St. John's Uniting Church Wahroonga » Blog Archive » Spit Bridge to Manly, 18th June, 2011 | 15/06/11

      […] travellers.  There’s a great description of the walk at the NRMA Travel site and at the Short Walks site, or you can read the brodhure: Manly Scenic […]

    5. Amanda | 27/07/11

      how long does the spit to manly take? it says 3hours on this site, but is that fast walking or a nice ‘sunday’ pace? And is that one way?

    6. admin | 28/07/11

      yes, it’s about 3 hours at a leisurely pace, can definitely be done in less time. and yes, that’s one way. i usually bus to the spit then walk to manly and ferry back to city.

    7. Barbara | 25/09/11

      We are planning a group walk from Clonnys to Manly. How many km is the walk from Clonnys to manly..? and how long would you say and a good pace..?

    8. admin | 26/09/11

      Hi Barbara, From Clonnys the walk is only one or two kms shorter, so around 8km. I’d give it a good two hours allowing for stops on the way.

    9. Spit Bridge to Manly Beach Scenic Walkway | Ray's Down Under Experience | 28/11/11

      […] Sunday, I met up with Lauren Anderson in Mosman.  Together we did the Spit Bridge to Manly Beach Scenic Walkway.  It’s about a 10 kilometer walk (6.2 miles).  We started around 9 a.m. and were done about […]

    10. Volker | 4/01/12

      Hallo,
      is there a bus from “Circular Quay” to “Spit Bridge”?
      Thanks

    11. admin | 4/01/12

      Most of the buses to the spit bridge leave from behind Wynyard Station, for example the 169 bus.

    12. Susan | 24/03/12

      If walking from Manly to the Spit Bridge, which bus will get us back to Manly from the Spit Bridge?

    13. Easter hiking « Timinator | 8/04/12

      […] saw me getting back to hiking, something I’ve not done for a couple of months. I did the Spit to Manly walk, one of the best-known ones around Sydney. It was a great hike, with the first third being […]

    14. Sunday Social Run/Walk & Lunch – 20th May 2012 - Joe's Garage Gym | 10/05/12

      […] This scenic 9km track provides beautiful views over Middle Harbour and is a favourite run for locals.  You can read more about the track here. […]

    15. A stroll alongside Sydney Harbour « 365 Completed Tasks | 13/08/12

      […] geocache, which we had placed early last year, is hidden just below the Spit Bridge to Manly walk. It is a gorgeous 10 kilometre trail that has some spectacular scenery. We walked along a 1.5 […]

    16. Best Coastal Walks in Sydney | 18/12/12

      […] Spit Bridge to Manly […]

    17. RailCorp News and Information Portal » Blog Archive » Coast to Coast – Great Walking Trails along Sydney’s Finest Beaches | 22/03/13

      […] http://short-walks.com.au/new-south-wales/sydney/spit-bridge-to-manly-walk/ Trail No 3: The Coastal Track – Bundeena to Otford – South Sydney […]

    18. Sydney | longroutehome | 5/04/13

      […] 3 We took advantage of the hot sunny day and took the ferry over to Manly.  We did the coastal walk from the split bridge to Manly harbour, approximately 10km.  We passed by some beautiful beaches […]

    19. How to Survive Sydney on a Budget | Megan Snedden | 15/07/13

      […] Walk takes you five miles along the coastline and back with an incredible view along the way. The Spit Bridge to Manly Walk likewise takes you along the coast, but also through a woodland area. The Harbour Circle Walk takes […]

    20. Partha | 19/07/13

      I am planning to do the Spit to Manly walk next Saturday,wondering if there are toilets along the track? Also are there any picnic spots?

    21. Melinda | 3/08/13

      Hi, can anyone tell me if you can do this walk with a pram? Thanks.

    22. Summer in Sydney - Student Accommodation Sydney | 24/12/13

      […] Spit Bridge to Manly (or vice versa) […]

    23. 10 amazing Australian hikes | 27/12/13

      […] favorite is Manly to the Spit Bridge, a 10-kilometer one-way walk of three […]

    24. Michela of Rocky Travel Blog | 11/04/14

      This is one of my favourite walks in Sydney. Always recommend it to everyone visiting Sydney.

    25. ANZAC Day Hike | KF Down Under | 27/04/14

      […] http://short-walks.com.au/new-south-wales/sydney/spit-bridge-to-manly-walk/ […]

    26. Stretch your legs - Iglu Student Accommodation, Student Housing, Apartments in Sydney and Chatswood | 2/06/14

      […] Spit Bridge to Manly (or vice versa) Now this is a good walk to stretch your legs – about 10kms of stretching all up. It covers some mixed terrain, including a walk along Clontarf beach, rocky stairs and cool coastal cliffs, and offers lots of awesome views of Middle Harbour and out to the Pacific Ocean. Click here for more details […]

    27. Casey | 9/07/14

      Fantastic walk. by far the best i have done in Sydney. Beautiful scenery and not too crowded.

    28. Jonas | 17/08/14

      Did this hike with work a few weeks ago and was very impressed. I even posted about it on my blog.
      http://notesfromthenewworld.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/spit-bridge-to-manly-hike.html

    29. Spingo il tempo al massimo, la corsa e la mia playlist | How about Steve? | 3/11/14

      […] scale un sali scendi e poi viste mozzafiato ogni volta.  Per qualche info cercate pure qui   Lì sono arrivato a una bellissima forma. Belle cosce, bei glutei che spingevano come un […]

    30. Australia: The Walk from Spit Bridge to Manly | 11/11/14

      […] a few stormy Australian nights, a nice walk is always a great way to discover the area. The Spit Bridge to Manly walk is one of many trails local residents and tourists of Sydney enjoy for its views and access to […]

    31. Spit to Manly Coastal Walk - Hotly Spiced | 17/11/14

      […] I was all loaded up with everyone else’s belongings and we set off for the Spit Bridge.  It was now the middle of the day and quite hot and very windy and as I had 10 arriving for an […]

    32. Sustainable Weekends | Carbon Reduction Institute Blog | 5/02/15

      […] Spit Bridge to Manly Walk: http://short-walks.com.au/new-south-wales/sydney/spit-bridge-to-manly-walk/ […]

    33. Sustainable Weekends | 9/02/15

      […] Spit Bridge to Manly Walk: http://short-walks.com.au/new-south-wales/sydney/spit-bridge-to-manly-walk/ […]

    34. Teil 1 – Sydney: Newtown, Manly und das Opera House | English Worldling | 19/04/15

      […] gleich am Sonntag Morgen gegen 11 Uhr, als ich über Couchsurfing an einem Tagesspaziergang von der Spit Bridge nach Manly teilnehmen konnte und nicht nur auf supernette Leute aus Sydney, Brasilen und Taiwan stieß, […]

    35. 32 Sydney Outings For Less Than $15 - Totally nailed it | 18/05/15

      […] there are also a ton of cafes along the way if you need a little power rest. Get more info here. Cost: […]

    36. Uni break in Sydney: 10 Activities under $10 | The International Student Blog | 1/06/15

      […] amazing and world famous walks. The first is the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk and the second is the Spit to Manly walk. The Bondi to Bronte walk is less intense than the spit to Manly walk and you will often see people […]

    37. Spit Bridge To Manly Coastal Walk - Jet Set Brunette | 12/06/15

      […] Walking along the coast, the distance between Spit Bridge and Manly is approximately 10km. The terrain isn’t too bad for walking, but it’s fairly hilly at points and a good amount of stairs. The map below is from the website Short Walks, which can be found here. […]

    38. Sydney: My guide of things to see and do | The Squiggly Line | 14/07/15

      […] to the ferry wharf and turn to walk ‘right’ – or in the direction of Sydney city. Check out this site for a better map/directions. You follow a footpath for most of the first 2-3km, weaving in and out of suburban Manly. At some […]

    39. How wonderful it feels to know that we will be sad to leave | alsoknownasmahina | 12/08/15

      […] the Manly to Spit Bridge walk.  This was my favourite walk in Sydney.  Nick and I got up early on our one year wedding […]

    40. AJ | 30/08/15

      We did this walk today and with the sunny weather it was the best day out. We actually decided to park our car at Tania Park on the Dobroyd scenic drive and walk to Manly from here. The great thing is that parking here is free all day, and of you don’t want to do the whole trail in one go, you can just start from this point and walk to Manly. We had lunch in Manly and then walked back to our car. A great day out!

    41. WDI: The Halfway Mark | 31/08/15

      […] Tradition calls. Time to do The Spit Bridge to Manly Walk. […]

    42. 10 free solo things to do in Sydney – for the outdoor person | Depths of Travel | 31/08/15

      […] beach offers a rocky area to snorkel at at low tide. Take the Spit Bridge to Manly Beach walk which will give you amazing views of the coastal areas of east […]

    43. 61 099km // SYDNEY // AUSTRALIA | How Far From Home | 16/11/15

      […] of course the day we had at Taronga Zoo, which still has to be my highlight). After taking a 10km walk between Spit Junction and the Manly Wharf, along beaches, tropical forests and flower-filled fields that made my heart melt, we ended one […]

    44. Spit to Manly Hike - Living EZ | 31/12/15

      […] has tons of gorgeous coastal walks: Bondi to Coogee, North Head, South Head, and Spit to Manly. The Spit to Manly hike includes awesome nature-filled bushwalking, rougher terrain (i.e. soo many stairs), and […]

    45. The 14 Best Walks in Sydney - PARKROYAL Blog | 5/01/16

      […] truly beaten track on the city’s tourist trail, this 10-kilometre harbour-side walk hasn’t gained its reputation without reason. At the mid-way point, Dobroyd Head offers a […]

    46. A cruisy week - Woo! | 29/02/16

      […] our fitness guru ‘Hikes’ took the crew out for some much needed exercise with the WooFit! Spit Bridge to Manly Walk, what a stunner of a […]

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