Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay

(0km) Taronga Zoo Wharf → Taronga Zoo Entrance

220 m
4 mins
11m
-5m

Very easy

From the wharf, the walk heads uphill along the footpath beside the road to the Taronga Zoo entrance at the pedestrian crossing.

Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo was founded in 1916, with the vision of imitating the Hamburg Zoo’s bar-less exhibits. Since its opening, Taronga Zoo has directed more attention to research, education and conservation efforts to support the animals. Taronga Zoo is open everyday 9am- 5pm. Phone: +61 2 9969 2777 or email: [email protected]. More info.

(0.22km) Taronga Zoo Entrance → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk

410 m
9 mins
24m
-15m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the opposite the zoo entrance, the walk heads down the ramp leaving the road up to the left. The track soon leads to a a lookout with a set of bench seats and good harbour views. The walk continues along the footpath to a wire fence then follows the ‘Walking Track’ sign along the hillside to climb a few steps and cross a wooden bridge. The track comes to the corner of Athol Hall’s grass clearing.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads down the stairs then continues along the hill for a short time. The walk descends more stairs to a signposted intersection.

(0.63km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk → Athol Hall

70 m
2 mins
9m
0m

Moderate track

Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Athol Hall’ up the stairs, crossing a large grassy area. The walk then continues up to Athol Hall entrance. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Athol Hall

Athol Hall, built in 1908, was once a hotel. Sections of the original building date back to the 1800’s. The hall has an excellent vantage point over the harbour with the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city all well within its scope. Athol Hall today is a cafe and function centre with the cafe open Tues-Fri and Sun, 11am -3pm. More info.

(0.63km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk → HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head

670 m
16 mins
31m
-40m

Easy track

Continue straight: From the stairs, this walk heads around the hillside with the harbour below on the right. The walk travels across large sections of boardwalk which undulate slightly as the walk comes up to a trail (which leads to a bench overlooking Sydney Harbour). From the trail, this walk keeps contouring along the hillside, south and tending left, to the intersection, signposted as the way to ‘Cannons picnic area’.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the car park, keeping the harbour to the right. The walk leads approximately 10m to the intersection with a track (leading down to Bradleys Head Amphitheatre).
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads along the footpath next to the car park for a short distance, until it comes to be above the flag pole, HMAS Sydney Mast.

HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast

The HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast was erected in 1934, following the HMAS Sydney’s decommissioning in 1928. The mast stands as a sign of respect for ‘Australian officers, sailors and ships lost at sea and in combat’[2]. HMAS Sydney itself was a Chatham Class light cruiser which saw action in WW1. More info.

(1.3km) HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track

790 m
17 mins
42m
-29m

Easy track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the footpath, keeping the road to the left, for about 150m to where the road bends sharply left. From this point, this walk heads along boardwalk, on your right, keeping the water glimpses to your right. The board walk soon end and this walk follows the track along the side of the hill for about 600m to come to an intersection with a sign pointing back to ‘Bradleys Head’.

(2.09km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Taylors Bay Lookout

50 m
1 mins
0m
-6m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the main tracks winding into the bush. The track winds past two white benches, to a small rock shelf overlooking the water. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

(2.09km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Int. End of Iluka Rd access and Borogegal Trks

680 m
17 mins
41m
-51m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads into Taylors Gully, with Taylors Bay below on the right. The track continues for approximately 300m, contouring around the hill with views of Taylors Bay on the right. Tending right, this walk enters and exits Taylors Gully, to continue approximately 250m to the signposted intersection at the beginning of the houses, on the left.

(2.77km) Taylors intersection → Chowder Head track intersection

570 m
14 mins
47m
-30m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads along the line of the houses, on the left, for approximately 140m. The track passes a Japanese Submarine information sign on the right as it continues along sections of boardwalk track, to the intersection next to the last house. The walk heads up the stairs below the last house to be met by a large sandstone staircase on the left and a track to the front.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the house and clearing along the fairly flat track keeping the water glimpses to your right. The path soon leads to a clear three-way intersection with a ‘Ashton Park’ sign pointing back along the track.

(3.33km) Chowder Head track intersection → Chowder Head

90 m
2 mins
0m
-10m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Chowder Head’ sign[3] south-west along the clear track. The track heads gently downhill and bends left past some dead gums[4] to find an unfenced rock platform with great harbour views[5]. (Note the informal track continues down becoming steeper, leading to a small bay.) At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.

Chowder Head

Chowder Head provides a small unfenced rocky outcrop to enjoy the wide harbour views. From this vantage point, there are views across the water to South Head, Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Shark Island and Bradleys Head. A great spot to watch the sailing boats on a clear day.

(3.33km) Chowder Head track intersection → Bottom of Morella Rd track

110 m
2 mins
12m
-2m

Easy track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows ‘Clifton Gardens’[6] sign gently up the hill. The track leads through the bush for a short time to soon come to another three-way intersection, this one marked with a ‘Morella Rd’ sign[7] (on your left).

(3.44km) Bottom of Morella Rd track → Morella St lookout

170 m
4 mins
3m
-14m

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the main track keeping the water glimpses to your right (and the Morella Rd track to your left). The track gently works is way around the hill to come to a sign point back to ‘Ashton Park’ and a large clearing with good views behind some houses.

Morella St lookout

This informally named clearing behind some houses[8] on Morella St provides a great view across the harbour[9]. The fairly large clearing has been maintained and is a good place to stop if wanting to avoid the large groups at Clifton Gardens.

(3.61km) Morella St lookout → Bottom of Sarahs walk steps

80 m
3 mins
0m
-17m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows ‘Clifton Gardens’ sign[10] downhill along the concrete path, behind the line of houses[11]. The path leads down the hill, following a series of steps[12] past a bench seat to come to a ‘T’ intersection (with Sarah’s Walk, part way down a set of steps)[13][14].

(3.68km) Bottom of Sarahs walk steps → Clifton Gardens baths

250 m
5 mins
3m
-16m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steps[15] that soon flatten out as the footpath leads around the headland under a few sandstone overhangs[16]. The walk soon comes to a ‘Foreshore Path’[17] sign pointing back along the path at the south-western end of Clifton Gardens.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down onto the beach, towards the wharf in the middle of the beach. The walk passes an Illawarra Flame tree, as it heads approximately 100m along the beach to the start of the wharf.

Clifton Gardens Reserve

Clifton Gardens was developed as a picnic spot in the late 1800s, with a local hotelier building a wharf and dance pavilion. In 1909, Sydney Ferries Ltd purchased the estate, and further developed the area, including a large swimming enclosure. The structure burned down in 1956. Today, Clifton Gardens is touted as ‘remnant bushland’, offering birdwatching, a netted swimming enclosure, change rooms, a fenced playground[20], and of course, spectacular views over Chowder Bay. A short bush track leads through to Rawson Oval.

(3.94km) Clifton Gardens Baths → Chowder Bay Lower Gate

210 m
5 mins
13m
-10m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the wharf, this walk heads towards the playground-end of the beach. The walk leads along the beach, passing the playground and rocky outcrop on the left to tend right onto a boardwalk. The boardwalk takes the walk to the lower gate of Chowder Bay.

Bacino Kiosk

The Bacino Kiosk, just next to Clifton Gardens, is a smaller version of the Bacino Bar above at Chowder Bay. This kiosk supplies passers-by with a home-blend coffee and sandwiches, and all at a reasonable price ($5-12). The Kiosk is open from 7am-4pm every day, except Christmas and bad weather. More info.

(4.14km) Chowder Bay Lower Gate → Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road

230 m
4 mins
19m
-5m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the gate, this walk heads towards the wharf approximately 80m away. The walk soon passes Bacino Kiosk on the left, and continues along the foreshore footpath to the start of the wharf.
Turn left: From the wharf, this walk heads directly away from that wharf, heading up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, this walk follows the footpath right, around a flag pole and house on the left. The walk continues past a round-about, to the start of a car park, opposite Bacino Bar.

Chowder Bay

Chowder Bay looks over Sydney Harbour, to Vaucluse and Rose Bay. The bay is named after the food of the American whalers stationed at Clifton Gardens, ‘clam chowder’. Chowder Bay then became a Submarine Mining Depot in 1889. Today, Chowder Bay still has great views from the remaining military buildings on the hillside. One of the newer buildings houses a cafe, and other buildings stand as monuments to their former use. Chowder Bay offers great views with easy access to Clifton Gardens for a swim.

Bacino Cafe

The Bacino Bar is in Building No.2 at Chowder Bay, with great views across Sydney Harbour. The bar sells pastas, panini, arancini, tramezzini, stuffed eggplant and biscotti, along with homemade sandwiches and treats. The Bacino Bar prices are reasonable, ranging between $5-12 for the delicacies, and their coffee is made of their own blend. The bar is open every day from 7am- 4pm except for Christmas. A public toilet is available at the Eastern end of the building. More info.

Maps for the Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Parramatta River	1:25 000 Map Series	91303N PARRAMATTA RIVER	NSW-91303N
Sydney Heads	1:25 000 Map Series	91302N SYDNEY HEADS	NSW-91302N
Sydney	1:100 000 Map Series	9130 SYDNEY	9130

Cross sectional view of the Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	4.4 km
		Time	2 hrs
		.
Grade 3/6 Moderate track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

1.8km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.4km has short steep hills. The remaining (1.1km) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.7km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (630m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 3.8km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 620m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 4.4km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 4.4km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 3.5km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 850m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay walk starts at the Taronga Zoo Wharf (gps: -33.845752, 151.23978)
Your transport options to Taronga Zoo Wharf are by;

Ferry. (get details)

Bus. (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

The Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay ends at the Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road (gps: -33.838398, 151.25606)
Your transport options to Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road are by;

Bus. (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

Fire Danger

Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Park Information & Alerts

Download Pdf

Open iPhone app

Short URL = http://wild.tl/twtcb

Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)

Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂

Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay

(0km) Taronga Zoo Wharf → Taronga Zoo Entrance

Very easy

Taronga Zoo

(0.22km) Taronga Zoo Entrance → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk

Moderate track

(0.63km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk → Athol Hall

Moderate track

Athol Hall

(0.63km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk → HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head

Easy track

HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast

(1.3km) HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track

Easy track

(2.09km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Taylors Bay Lookout

Moderate track

(2.09km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Int. End of Iluka Rd access and Borogegal Trks

Moderate track

(2.77km) Taylors intersection → Chowder Head track intersection

Moderate track

(3.33km) Chowder Head track intersection → Chowder Head

Moderate track

Chowder Head

(3.33km) Chowder Head track intersection → Bottom of Morella Rd track

Easy track

(3.44km) Bottom of Morella Rd track → Morella St lookout

Moderate track

Morella St lookout

(3.61km) Morella St lookout → Bottom of Sarahs walk steps

Easy track

(3.68km) Bottom of Sarahs walk steps → Clifton Gardens baths

Moderate track

Clifton Gardens Reserve

(3.94km) Clifton Gardens Baths → Chowder Bay Lower Gate

Moderate track

Bacino Kiosk

(4.14km) Chowder Bay Lower Gate → Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road

Moderate track

Chowder Bay

Bacino Cafe

Maps for the Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay walk

Cross sectional view of the Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Taronga Wharf to Chowder Bay

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

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