Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach
Download & Print Map and Notes3 hrs
328 m
Hard track
(0km) Taronga Zoo Wharf → Taronga Zoo Entrance
220 m
4 mins
11m
-5m
Very easy
Taronga Zoo
(0.22km) Taronga Zoo Entrance → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk
410 m
9 mins
24m
-15m
Moderate track
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
Athol Hall
(0.63km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Athol Hall Trk → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Cannons Picnic Area Trk
610 m
14 mins
30m
-35m
Easy track
(1.24km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Cannons picnic area Trk → HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head
60 m
2 mins
1m
-5m
Easy track
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
(1.3km) HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track
790 m
17 mins
42m
-29m
Easy track
(2.09km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Taylors Bay Lookout
50 m
1 mins
0m
-6m
Moderate track
(2.09km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Bottom of the Iluka and Morella access track
1.1 km
27 mins
67m
-77m
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.
(3.18km) Bottom of the Iluka and Morella access track → Chowder Head track intersection
150 m
4 mins
21m
-4m
Moderate track
(3.33km) Chowder Head track intersection → Chowder Head
90 m
2 mins
0m
-10m
Moderate track
Chowder Head
(3.33km) Chowder Head track intersection → Morella St lookout
280 m
6 mins
15m
-16m
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.
(3.61km) Morella St lookout → Bottom of Sarahs walk steps
80 m
3 mins
0m
-17m
Easy track
(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 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
(3.94km) Clifton Gardens Baths → Chowder Bay Lower Gate
210 m
5 mins
13m
-10m
Moderate track
Bacino Kiosk
(4.14km) Chowder Bay Lower Gate → Chowder Bay Wharf
70 m
1 mins
1m
-3m
Easy track
(4.21km) Chowder Bay Wharf → End of Chowder Bay Wharf
40 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Easy track
(4.21km) Chowder Bay Wharf → Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road
160 m
3 mins
18m
-2m
Moderate track
Chowder Bay
(4.37km) Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road → Int. Bacino Bar back deck and Chowder Bay Trk
20 m
1 mins
6m
0m
Moderate track
(4.39km) Int. Bacino Bar back deck and Chowder Bay Trk → Bacino Bar
30 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Moderate track
Bacino Cafe
(4.39km) Int. Bacino Bar back deck and Chowder Bay Trk → Int. Chowder Bay Trk and Georges Heights Rd
330 m
8 mins
49m
-3m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads across the road to head up the bush track on the hill for approximately 50m, to the signposted intersection behind ‘Georges Head Lookout’.
(4.72km) Int. Chowder Bay Trk and Georges Heights Rd → Georges Head Lookout
70 m
1 mins
0m
-2m
Very easy
Georges Heights
(4.72km) Int. Chowder Bay Trk and Georges Heights Rd → Int. WW1 Hospital and Chowder Bay Trk
380 m
7 mins
13m
-11m
Easy track
WW1 Hospital
(5.1km) Int. WW1 Hospital and Chowder Bay Trk → Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Trk
280 m
6 mins
5m
-11m
Easy track
(5.38km) Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Trk → Balmoral Park car park
570 m
15 mins
4m
-67m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads toward the sea, keeping the oval to your left. The walk passes ‘1st Balmoral Sea Scouts’ on the right before coming to the car park.
(5.94km) Balmoral Park car park → Rocky Point Bridge
860 m
14 mins
5m
-9m
Easy track
Balmoral Beach
Maps for the Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach 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 Zoo to Balmoral Beach bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach
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 | 6.8 km | ||
Time | 3 hrs | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
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
2.5km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.2km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 1.8km has short steep hills and the remaining 380m is very steep.
Quality of track
3km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 2.3km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (1.5km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 6km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 950m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 6km 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).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach 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 Zoo to Balmoral Beach ends at the Rocky Point Bridge (gps: -33.823419, 151.25171)
Your transport options to Rocky Point Bridge 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
Short URL = http://wild.tl/tztbb
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 🙂
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