Things to See at Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk in Sydney (2024)

One of Sydney’s most amazing coastal walks is the Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk. It is very popular because it offers breathtaking views of the ocean and great opportunities to take amazing photographs. The walk also passes some historical sites, including aboriginal rock carvings.

I have done the Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk many times. It is surely one of my favourite coastal walks in Sydney after the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. All coastal walks in Sydney, including this one, are great ways to explore the beautiful panoramic landscapes of the harbour and bushlands.

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About Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal walk

The Spit Bridge to Manly coastal walk is a well-known and well-marked coastal walk in Sydney. It was opened in 1988 and passes through the Sydney Harbour National Park, bushlands, and local suburbs. The walk is famously known as the Manly Scenic Walkway.

Are you new to Sydney? Or are you travelling here in Sydney? Read my Ultimate Guide to Sydney.

How to travel between Spit Bridge / Manly and Wynyard?

By Public Transport

• Getting to Spit Bridge – There are frequent buses between Wynyard and Spit Bridge (bus numbers 178 and 180). The fare costs around AUD 3 to 4.
• Getting from Manly – There are ferries and buses between Manly and Circular Quay. From Circular Quay, you can walk to Wynyard (9 minutes walk) or take a light rail/train to Wynyard. There are also direct buses between Manly and Wynyard (bus numbers 178 and 180)
• More up-to-date information on public transport can be found on the NSW Transport website.

It is best to get an Opal transportation card to travel on public transport in Sydney. However, you can also pay using the credit or debit cards.

By Road

Even though you can drive to one point of the walk, you still need to take public transport or a taxi as this walk is just one way and is not a loop or a return. The Spit Bridge is about 11 kilometres from the Sydney Central Business District (CBD), and there is parking near the Spit Bridge.

Things to see on Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk

Spit Bridge

The Original Spit Bridge was built in 1924 to replace the punt service. The current Spit Bridge, built in the 1950s, replaced the old wooden bridge.

The bridge is really cool, as the middle section can be raised to allow tall ships or boats to pass through. It opens multiple times during the day (different times on weekdays and weekends). I had an opportunity to see the Spit bridge in action, and you can find the updated opening times on the Roads and Maritime website.

Sandy Bay Beach

Popular among dog owners, Sandy Bay Beach is perfect for swimming with your dogs. With turquoise blue water and sandy beaches, this beach is very pretty and an ideal place to spend an afternoon.

Castle Rock Beach

Castle Rock Beach is a secluded and quiet beach. It is only accessible by foot and is a short deviation from the Spit Bridge to Manly coastal walk.

Aboriginal Art at Grotto Point

The walk also passes through the Grotto Point Aboriginal engravings. These are protected Aboriginal artifacts belonging to the Eora group, who lived in the Sydney Harbour region. Said to be more than 1000 years old, the engravings depict kangaroos, boomerangs, fish, and a whale. You can find more information on the art on the ATNF website.

Do you love finding the Aboriginal art? Then, you may want to explore the Balls Head Reserve area to find more of this amazing ancient art.

Reef Beach

One of the picturesque beaches you can see on the walk is the Reef beach. With lovely views of the harbour and Manly Cove, the Reef beach is located at Dobroyd Head. It was once a nude beach, and due to the local protest in 1996, clothing was made mandatory. Now, the beach is declared an Aboriginal Place because of the remains that were found in 2005.

If you want to do more coastal walks with stunning views of Sydney Harbour, consider the Harbour Foreshore Walk or the Hermitage Foreshore Walk.

Whale watching

During the whale migratory season (between the months May and October), whales migrate from the south to north and then back. This is a perfect time to spot some humpback whales in Sydney. Even though I have not spotted a single whale on this walk, I have been told by my fellow hikers and walkers that some of them have seen whales. So do watch out for them.

I do feel that it is less likely to spot whales on this walk, it is best to do the walks – La Perouse to Maroubra or Kurnell to Cronulla walks to spot whales. When I hiked the Second Point Train in Bouddi National Park, I saw around 8 to 9 humpback whales in a span of 20 minutes.

Ensure to carry a binocular.

Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk Details

The walk starts at the Spit Bridge and ends at Manly Beach. The coastal walk passes through some spectacular beaches. It also has many beautiful bridges and bushlands along the way.

Are you located in the North West of Sydney in the Hills area? Then you can go to Rouse Hill to Norwest Walk.

The walk gets busy over the weekends with many runners and walkers.

Logistics

Below are the logistics for the Spit Bridge to Manly coastal walk:

• Starting point: Spit Bridge. (The walk can also be done another way, i.e., starting from Manly Wharf.)
• Finishing point: Manly Wharf. (The walk can be done the other way as well, i.e., by finishing at Spit Bridge)
• Distance: 10 to 11 kilometres; well-marked coastal walk.
• Type: One way.
• Time: 3 to 4 hours.
• Grade: Easy to Moderate.
• Path: Spit Bridge > Ellery’s Punt Reserve > Clontarf Reserve > Clonny’s > Castle Rock Beach > Grotto Point Lighthouse > Grotto Point Engravings > Crater Cove Lookout > Arabanoo Lookout > Reef Beach > North Harbour Reserve > Manly Wharf.

If you are still up for a longer walk than the Spit Bridge to Manly, you can extend your walk from Manly to Mona Vale via Long Reef.

Important Information

• There are cafes at the Spit Bridge and Manly. There are also a few cafes along the way.
• Certain walk sections go through the Dobroyd Head, and dogs are not allowed there.
• There are various swimming points along the way.
• The walk’s path passes through headlands and suburbs (streets), so be careful and look out for vehicles when walking on the streets.
• There are toilet facilities at various points.
• There are water facilities along the way where one can refill water.
• This is a family-friendly walk.
• This walk is suitable for all kinds of hikers and walkers. It is easy, so it is perfect for beginners.
• Look out for humpback whales during the whale migratory season.
• This walk is in the city, so it gets quite busy over the weekends.

General Hiking Information

• Wear sturdy and comfortable shoes.
• Carry an extra pair of socks.
• Keep yourself hydrated along the way. Take your water bottle with you to refill at the water-filling stations.

Is it safe for solo female travellers?

This walk is very safe for solo female travellers. There are so many people walking over the weekend that there is no section that gets lonely and scary. Help is always there if needed.

However, like any other place, better to be a bit cautious, especially at nights and to trust your instinct.

Closing Notes

The Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk is undoubtedly one of the best walks in Sydney. It is an easy, relaxed walk over the weekend, where one can enjoy the spectacular views and still get good exercise. Having done this walk many times, I vouch for it, and I would recommend it while visiting Sydney.

Enjoyed this coastal walk? Then, have a look at other One Day walks in Sydney.

Also, read

• Hikes and Walks in Sydney

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