Spit Bridge to Manly (Manly Scenic Walkway)

3 h 15 min to 3 h 45 min 3

9.2 km ↑ 281 m Moderate track One way ↓ 300 m

The Spit to Manly walk is a classic bushwalk on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The walk follows a well-maintained track and provides beautiful views over Middle Harbour. This walk is great for those looking for exercise or just a stroll along the shoreline of Sydney Harbour. If you have time, the sidetrips down to Grotto Point and up to Arabanoo Lookout are definitely worth the effort. There are also a few places to get a bite to eat along the way. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Class 3 of 6 Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles

Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)

Gradient Short steep hills (3/6)

Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Getting to the start: From Warringah Freeway, M1

Turn on to Military Road Offramp, A8 then drive for 260 m Continue onto Military Road, A8 and drive for another 5.8 km Keep left onto Battle Boulevard and drive for another 70 m Turn left and drive for another 2 m

Before you start any journey ensure you; • Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are late returning • Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge to undertake this journey safely • Consider weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers • Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point • Are healthy and fit enough for this journey Share If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help. Bushwalk.com /j/VLT2XR

Bushwalking is fun but also can be dangerous. All information here is general and your personal and specific situation needs to be considered. You need to be prepared to cope with all kinds of errors and/or omissions. Neither the authors nor publishers accept responsibility or liability for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained. © bushwalk.com. The maps and some text in this document are generated using Open Database Licenced data © OpenStreetMap contributors and other sources. 0 0.5 1 2 km

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ng ng Sign Sign Sign Sign Seat Seat Store Store Lookout Lookout Car park Car park Car park Car park Up steps Up steps Up steps Up steps Viewpoint Viewpoint Water tap Water tap Viewpoint Viewpoint Water tap Water tap Picnic area Picnic area Entity|cleari Entity|cleari

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h h ng ng BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Cafe Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Seat Cafe Store Store Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Artwork Artwork Water tap Water tap Water tap Water tap Water tap Water tap Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Entity|beac Entity|beac Picnic table Picnic table Picnic table Picnic table Picnic table Picnic table Down steps Down steps Down steps Down steps Down steps Down steps Down steps Down steps Entity|cleari Entity|cleari

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0 9 km 6 km 8 km 8 km 9 km 6 km 6.2 km 4.6 km 5.3 km 5.5 km 6.4 km 6.7 km 6.9 km 7.1 km 7.4 km 7.6 km 7.8 km 8.3 km 9.2 km 4.8 km 5.1 km 5.8 km 8.5 km 8.7 km 5.5 km 6.2 km 6.7 km 7.1 km 7.6 km 7.8 km 8.3 km 9.2 km 4.6 km 5.3 km 4.8 km 5.8 km 5.1 km 6.4 km 6.9 km 7.4 km 5.7x 8.5 km 8.7 km Getting started: From car park at the top Then find the "Ellery's Punt Reserve" (7 m on Then find the "Clonny's" (25 m on your left). of Battle Bvd, this walk follows Battle Bvd your right). down the hill, towards the water, to the end of the road. Continue straight: From the end of Battle Boulevard, this walk heads down the stairs following the sign 'To Manly'. The walk follows the stairs under the bridge then Clonny's is a neat kiosk and restaurant inside across the grass clearing to the 'Manly Ellery's Punt Reserve is a very nice grassed area Clontarf Reserve. The kiosk is open 7 days (but Scenic Walkway' map and info sign on the on the north eastern side of the Spit Bridge. The may close dependant on weather and demand) footpath, in Ellery's Punt Reserve. reserve has road access and parking, and seems and serves ice creams, drinks, chips, hot foods,

to be a popular spot for fishing from the bank. and coffee. For those seeking something finer W W There is also seating and shaded areas. the restaurant is open for lunch on Saturdays

and Sundays serving a 2 course meal for $55. S S Start. and Sundays serving a 2 course meal for $55.

E Phone on (02) 9948 2373. N N After another 1 km continue After another 350 m continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. NN straight, to head along Manly to Spit

S E E Bridge Walk.

After 45 m pass the car park (9 m on your left). S

Keep right. S

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After another 115 m continue After another 55 m pass the water tap (5 m on E After another 55 m pass the water tap (5 m on E After another 115 m continue After another 80 m continue straight.

your left). straight, to head along Manly to Spit W W Bridge Walk.

After another 250 m continue straight, to

N head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. N EE After another 15 m pass the water tap (10 m on N After another 245 m find the "Clontarf Reserve" After another 75 m continue your left). straight, to head along Manly to Spit (on your left).

Bridge Walk. E SS E

WW After another 235 m veer right, to

After another 55 m pass the car park (20 m on S

S head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. N P your left). N

Continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit W Bridge Walk. W Clontarf Reserve is a great picnic area and After another 330 m come to the viewpoint (on After another 6 m pass the sign (6 m on your beach on Sandy Bay Rd, Clontarf. The large park your left). i left).left). provides great facilities with picnic tables, covered shelters, shaded children's play ground, E covered shelters, shaded children's play ground, E a kiosk & restaurant, and toilets. The beach in the park has a netted swimming area. The park After another 105 m turn right, to S S head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. N also has tap water, a public phone, showers and N head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. garbage/recycling facilities. There are plenty of shade trees in the park. There is a fee for W parking in and around the reserve and the park W isis wellwell managedmanaged byby ManlyManly Council.Council. Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip to Castle Rock Beach.

W W

S S Find the sign at the start. side trip to Grotto Point Engravings.

To start this optional side trip continue i N S straight here. Start. S E To start this optional side trip turn

right here. Start.

N After another 150 m turn right, to

E E

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W head along Grotto Point Lighthouse.

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W After another 25 m come to the end. After another 35 m come to "Grotto Point N

N Engravings".

After another 360 m continue straight.

E The engravings at Grotto Point depict

N N kangaroos, fish and what appears to be After another 30 m come to "Grotto Point boomerangs. The engravings are in quite good About 30 m past the end is "Castle Rock Beach". Lighthouse". condition, considering their age. We have already lost so much of this region's history that historians are not entirely sure if this is the land of the Gayamagal or the Cammeraygal clan. Please take a great deal of care at this site to ensure the longevity of this history.

EE The end. N The end. Castle Rock Beach can be found a short walk N Surrounded by a white picket fence, the small down from the Manly-to-Spit walking track, near Grotto Point Lighthouse overlooks Middle Head. Ogilvy Road. This small, secluded beach is a SS The light was designed in the early 1900s by the

great spot for those wanting a quieter day at the WW architect Maurice Festu to assist ships entering beach, instead of the more popular and larger the harbour. Construction started in 1910, with Turn around and retrace your steps back the 35 beaches in the area. the lighthouse being commissioned on m to the main route. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 25

September 1 1911. Back at the main route turn right and follow on W m to the main route. W

from the 3.5 km waypoint. S Back at the main route turn sharp left and follow S The end.

on from the 3 km waypoint.

N N N

E After another 8 m continue straight,

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W W S S to head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. After another 30 m turn left, to head Turn around and retrace your steps back the W along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. 550 m to the main route.

Back at the main route turn sharp right and

N N Back at the main route turn sharp right and E

E After another 6 m head up the steps (about 70 follow on from the 3.4 km waypoint. m long) After another 410 m pass the sign (on your

right). After another 50 m continue straight, to head

E i E

along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. S along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. S At the intersection of Manly to Spit Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip Bridge Walk & Grotto Point Lighthouse After another 30 m come to the viewpoint (15 m

to Grotto Point Lighthouse. continue straight, to head along Manly on your left).

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W to Spit Bridge Walk. S S After another 470 m pass a seat (15 m on your To start this optional side trip turn left).left). right here. at the intersection of Grotto After another 60 m head up the steps (about 40

Point Lighthouse & Manly to Spit Bridge m long)

N N

W W Walk Start heading along Grotto Point Lighthouse (a walking track). Start of an optional side trip: An optional little N Then head up the steps (about 145 m long) "Seat". EE After another 25 m turn right, to head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. After another 45 m head up the steps (about 7 m long) W

After another 30 m find the "Crater Cove N After another 9 m turn right, to head Lookout" (on your right). along Dobroyd Scenic Drive. A concrete and stone seat, 35cm high, 45cm S deep and 3m wide with no arm or backrest.

E N After another 20 m turn right. EE The end.

After another 45 m come to "Arabanoo W From this fenced lookout, vistas far out to sea Lookout". SS can be enjoyed, with Middle and South Heads Turn around and retrace your steps back the justjust inin view.view. ManyMany yachtsyachts sailsail past,past, withwith thethe 275 m to the main route. container ships out to sea. This is a popular spot Back at the main route turn around and follow for watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart on from the 4.5 km waypoint. race, or for watching whales as they pass by Sydney.

After another 30 m find the "Tania Park" (105 m EE Arabanoo Lookout provides great views over on your left). N Port Jackson, North Harbour and to Manly. The After another 245 m continue lookoutlookout alsoalso hashas somesome interestinginteresting informationinformation straight, to head along Manly to Spit signs and plarques providing information on the Bridge Walk. signs and plarques providing information on the SS

significance of the area. There are two large WW stone seats at the lookout. This lookout is After another 185 m come to the viewpoint. named after Arabanoo, an Aboriginal man kidnapped in December 1788, by British After another 90 m continue straight. Tania Park is home to a large oval, and is found marines on Governor Phillips orders. The on Dobroyd Scenic Dr, Balgowlah Heights. This Governor believed that this was justified as he oval can be accessed on the Manly to Spit wished to facilitate communication between the After another 115 m pass a seat (30 m on your walking track and is home to the start of the British and the Aborigines. Arabanoo lived in the right). Arabanoo Lookout path. The oval has basic company of the Europeans until the 18th May Then come to the viewpoint (30 m on your facilities at the western edge such as toilets, 1789 where he died due to smallpox infection. Then come to the viewpoint (30 m on your right). children's playground , drinking water , BBQ and "Seat". right). picnic tables .

EE Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip Turn left, to head along Manly to Spit to Arabanoo Lookout. N Bridge Walk. EE Bridge Walk.

N To start this optional side trip turn left SS

here. Start. WW A curved concrete and stone seat, 39cm high A curved concrete and stone seat, 39cm high After another 185 m head down the steps SS (33cm at the frount), 45cm deep and 7.5m wide WW (about 210 m long) with no arm or backrest. N After another 325 m come to the "Forty Baskets After another 480 m find the "Shop at the Park" Continue straight, to head along Reserve". (120 m on your left). E Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. W

S After another 185 m find the "Reef Beach" (20 m on your right).

Forty Baskets Reserve is a beach side parkland This neat little CafÃ© can be found on Lower and swimming area, east of Beatty St, Beach street (just near Condamine St) opposite Balgowlah Heights. The yellow sand beach faces North Harbour Reserve and a stone's throw east, towards Manly and North Head, and is away from the Manly to Spit walking track. Open fairly well protected from large waves. The Wed-Sun from 8am to 5pm (closed Monday and reserve has picnic tables, a bubbler (drinking Tuesdays), the cafe serves hot and cold drinks Reef Beach is a strip of sand facing north-east, fountain), tap, swings, netted swimming area, (good coffee), hot food, fresh fruit and a full towards the Manly Ferry Terminal in North open grassy area, some shady trees, and a large lunchlunch menu.menu. ThereThere isis roomroom insideinside forfor aa fewfew Harbour. The beach is in Sydney Harbour toilet/shower and change area. The toilet has a people to sit comfortably, or take the food National Park and has toilet facilities about 80m fancy electronic and self-cleaning system, very across the road to the reserve. behind the beach. The beach was once a nudist cool (sounds silly, but check it out). The toilets After another 15 m pass the toilet (140 m on beach, but clothing is no longer optional. The and showers are accessible to people in your left). beach is fairly well protected from surf and wheelchairs, and a wide sealed footpath provides a great place to rest and enjoy the Continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit provides roll-in access from the end of Gourlay views when walking around Dobroyd Head. Bridge Walk. Ave. After another 60 m pass the toilet (9 m on your After another 20 m continue straight, to head After another 35 m pass the picnic table (15 m left).left). along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. on your left). Continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit After another 35 m pass a seat (8 m on your Then find the "North Harbour Reserve" (30 m on Bridge Walk. left).left). your left). After another 115 m head down the steps After another 35 m head into the picnic table. (about 160 m long) Continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit Then pass the BBQ (on your right). Bridge Walk.

After another 40 m pass the water tap (on your right). North Harbour Reserve is a large open parkland After another 125 m pass the toilet (20 m on on the intersection of Lower Beach and your left). Condamine Streets. The park has shaded play equipment for children, free Electric BBQ's, tap water, picnic tables, Garbage/recycling bins,

W N some shady trees, and a public toilet (at the top After another 150 m (at the end of the park). The park looks across the top intersectionintersection ofof ManlyManly toto SpitSpit BridgeBridge WalkWalk of North Harbour and provides some great & Gourlay Avenue) veer right, to head views. The 'Shop at the Park' provides cafe food

S E along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. and lunch. After another 10 m pass the BBQ (35 m on your left).left). Then pass the water tap (40 m on your left). After another 60 m pass the toilet (10 m on your Continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit right). Bridge Walk. After another 100 m pass a seat (on your left). After another 125 m pass a seat (5 m on your After another 200 m continue straight. right). After another 20 m head down the Continue straight, to head along Manly to Spit After another 35 m pass the "Miss Chu surface|paved steps (about 20 m long) Bridge Walk. Tuckshop" (65 m on your left). W:www.misschu.com.au T:+61 2 9976 3682 After another 20 m pass a seat (on your right). N 11:00-22:00 After another 25 m come to a artwork. Veer right, to head along Manly to After another 115 m continue straight, to W Spit Bridge Walk. head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. E About 60 m past the end is "Chat Thai". After another 30 m pass a seat (on your left). This restaurant is wheelchair accessible. S W:www.chatthai.com.au After another 15 m turn right, to head along About 30 m past the end is "Manly Visitor After another 30 m continue straight, to head Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. InformationInformation Centre".Centre". along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. i After another 315 m find a seat. About 35 m past the end is a pay phone. After another 185 m pass a seat (6 m on your right).

About 50 m past the end is a toilet.

S S

After another 340 m (at the E

E After another 30 m turn right. About 70 m past the end is a water tap. E

W W intersectionintersection ofof ManlyManly toto SpitSpit BridgeBridge WalkWalk & Bolingbroke Parade) continue

straight, to head along Manly to Spit W

N N

Bridge Walk. E Bridge Walk. E

S S After another 165 m pass a seat (5 m on your Then head down the concrete steps (about 20 m The end. right). long)long)

After another 115 m pass the picnic table (8 m

After another 30 m pass the "Manly Pier N W on your right). Pavillion" (8 m on your left). W After another 80 m (at the intersection of Manly After another 95 m pass the "Manly Cove Cafe" to Spit Bridge Walk & Arlington Drive) continue (on your left). straight, to head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. N After another 85 m pass a seat (6 m on your right). Turn right.

E After another 10 m pass the water tap (on your W left).left).

S E E After another 35 m pass the "Manly Art Gallery and Museum" (25 m on your left).

After another 8 m continue straight, S

S to head along Manly to Spit Bridge Walk. After another 30 m pass the toilet (on your left). N

N Keep left.

W W