Taronga Zoo to Manly
Download & Print Map and Notes8 hrs
746 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 → HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head
670 m
16 mins
31m
-40m
Easy track
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
(1.3km) HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head → Int. End of Iluka Rd access and Borogegal Trks
1.5 km
34 mins
83m
-80m
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 → Bottom of Morella Rd track
680 m
16 mins
59m
-32m
Moderate track
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.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows ‘Clifton Gardens’[3] 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[4] (on your left).
(3.44km) Bottom of Morella Rd track → Morella St lookout
170 m
4 mins
3m
-14m
Moderate track
(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 → Roundabout at end of Chowder Bay Road
230 m
4 mins
19m
-5m
Moderate track
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
(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
Bacino Cafe
(4.39km) Int. Bacino Bar back deck and Chowder Bay Trk → Int. Gunners’ Barracks drive way and Chowder Bay Trk
270 m
7 mins
47m
-2m
Moderate track
(4.66km) Int. Gunners’ Barracks drive way and Chowder Bay Trk → Int. Chowder Bay Trk and Georges Heights Rd
60 m
1 mins
2m
-1m
Moderate track
(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 → Balmoral Park car park
840 m
21 mins
9m
-78m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Balmoral Beach’ downhill away from the road. The walk heads down many flights of stairs and turns right, through a fence. The track then turns left to continue down more stairs, which lead the walk across a bridge and next to an oval with a signposted intersection.
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
(6.8km) Rocky Point Bridge → Int. Wyargine Reserve Trk and Balmoral Beach
480 m
8 mins
8m
-3m
Moderate track
(7.27km) Int. Wyargine Reserve Trk and Balmoral Beach → Chinamans Beach Reserve South
850 m
18 mins
42m
-43m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the road following ‘Stanton Rd’ then ‘Burran Ave’ signs, to veer left onto Hopetoun Ave. The walk soon passes Kirk Oswald Ave (off to the left). After a while the road again splits into two levels, opposite the intersection of Armitage Rd.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, following the sign ‘Armitage Lane’ along the road, and around to the left into Rosherville Rd. The walk continues along the footpath, passing a large boulder and a bench on the right before winding down behind the playground in Rosherville Reserve. The track passes the playground, taking the closest access track to the southern end of Chinamans Beach. Now Turn sharp left to rejoin the main walk .
(7.27km) Int. Wyargine Reserve Trk and Balmoral Beach → Chinamans Beach Reserve South
840 m
16 mins
24m
-25m
Hard track
(8.12km) Chinamans Beach Reserve South → Middle of Chinamans Beach
160 m
3 mins
1m
-5m
Moderate track
Chinamans Beach and Reserve
(8.28km) Middle of Chinamans Beach → Int. Grecia Lane Trk and Chinamans Beach Reserve North
70 m
1 mins
3m
0m
Moderate track
(8.34km) Int. Grecia Lane Trk and Chinamans Beach Reserve North → Int. Middle Harbour Yacht Club car park and Spit Rd
1.1 km
25 mins
55m
-56m
Moderate track
(8.34km) Int. Grecia Lane Trk and Chinamans Beach Reserve North → Middle Harbour Yacht Club entrance
860 m
16 mins
18m
-19m
Hard track
Spit Syphon
(9.2km) Middle Harbour Yacht Club entrance → Int. Middle Harbour Yacht Club car park and Spit Rd
70 m
1 mins
1m
-1m
Easy track
(9.28km) Int. Middle Harbour Yacht Club car park and Spit Rd → Spit Bridge South
280 m
5 mins
1m
-4m
Easy track
Sydney Harbour Kayaks
(9.56km) Spit Bridge South → Int. Spit Rd and Ellery’s Punt Reserve Road
350 m
6 mins
11m
-2m
Easy track
Spit Bridge
(9.91km) Int. Spit Rd and Ellery’s Punt Reserve Road → Int. Ellery’s Punt Rd and Avona Cres Trk
40 m
1 mins
2m
0m
Easy track
(9.95km) Int. Ellery’s Punt Rd and Avona Cres Trk → Int. Ellery’s Punt Reserve Rd and Manly Scenic Walkway
60 m
1 mins
0m
-7m
Easy track
Ellery’s Punt Reserve
(10.01km) Int. Ellery’s Punt Reserve Rd and Manly Scenic Walkway → End of Sandy Bay Rd
980 m
22 mins
51m
-51m
Moderate track
(11km) End of Sandy Bay Rd → Int. Sandy Bay Rd and Fairbairn Ave
40 m
1 mins
0m
-2m
Very easy
(11.04km) Int. Sandy Bay Rd and Fairbairn Ave → Clontarf Reserve (Clonny’s)
480 m
9 mins
11m
-14m
Moderate track
Turn left: From Clontarf Marina, this walk follows the footpath along Sandy Bay Road, keeping the water on the right. About 100m from the marina, the footpath turns right and heads into ‘Clontarf Reserve’. The walk passes the ‘Manly Scenic Walkway’ signpost and heads over the grass towards the children’s play area, then past the public phone to Clonny’s Cafe.
Clonny’s
Clontarf Reserve
(11.53km) Clontarf Reserve (Clonny’s) → Monash Cres Track
500 m
8 mins
4m
-1m
Easy track
(12.02km) Monash Cres Track → Int of Manly to Spit track and Ogilvy Road steps
680 m
17 mins
49m
-31m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly’ sign (keeping the water to the right) as it passes up the stairs between the rocks. The track soon comes to a signposted intersection, with the ‘Access to Cutler & Amiens Rd’ off to the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly’ sign as it heads up the slight hill and across the rock shelf, keeping the water on the right. The walk then steps off the rockshelf to continue along the hillside, undulating steeply in parts. The track is board-walked in many places, with a few access points to the water along the way. The walk crosses a bridge before continuing left around the hill to a well signposted intersection.
(12.7km) Int of Manly to Spit track and Ogilvy Road steps → Int of Manly to Spit track and Castle Rock Beach steps
30 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Moderate track
(12.73km) Int of Manly to Spit Track and Castle Rock Beach steps → Castle Rock Beach
50 m
1 mins
0m
-11m
Moderate track
Castle Rock Beach
(12.73km) Int of Manly to Spit Track and Castle Rock Beach steps → Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Manly to Spit tracks
400 m
11 mins
46m
-16m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the rest area, this walk follows the bush track up the rock steps and along the side of the hill, keeping the water to the right. The track continues steadily up to the 4-way signposted intersection.
(13.12km) Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Manly to Spit tracks → Grotto Point Lighthouse
550 m
11 mins
4m
-52m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk winds down the hill, passing an old, blank signpost. The track wanders through dense bush and along the ridge, flattening out for a while until it drops down another hill towards the end of the point, coming to the Grotto Point Lighthouse. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Grotto Point Lighthouse
(13.12km) Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Manly to Spit tracks → Grotto Point Engravings track
110 m
3 mins
8m
-1m
Moderate track
(13.23km) Grotto Point Engravings track → Grotto Point Engravings
40 m
1 mins
2m
0m
Moderate track
(13.23km) Grotto Point Engravings track → Int. Arabanoo Lookout Trk and Manly Scenic Walkway
960 m
21 mins
50m
-27m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows ‘Crater Cove Lookout 700m’ sign along bush track, keeping the water to the right. The walk crosses several separate sections of boardwalk and rock platforms as it winds through the heath, to come to a large rock platform with great views at the unnamed lookout in southern Crater Cove .
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk follows the bush track along the hillside, keeping the water out to the right. The track continues for a short while until coming to an intersection at the base of some stairs on the left.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track down the short hill towards the ocean, soon coming to the Crater Cove Lookout.
Veer left: From Crater Cove Lookout, this walk heads up onto the boardwalk, away from the fenced lookout. The track follows the cliffs, keeping the water views to the right. As the boardwalk finishes, the walk continues along a bush track which winds through the scrub to the signposted intersection with a track on the left, which points to Arabanoo Lookout.
(14.2km) Int. Arabanoo Lookout Trk and Manly Scenic Walkway → Int. Alternate High Tide Route and Manly Scenic Walkway
1.2 km
24 mins
13m
-88m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly via Reef Beach’ sign down the hill to a fenced lookout. From the lookout, the track heads further along the hillside to wind down past some more views. The track soon passes by a large rock shelf, as it comes close to the water and then comes to a boardwalk with bench seat behind Reef Beach.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, keeping the water on the right. The track soon passes a toilet block on the left and then flattens out before coming to the signposted intersection with the high-tide alternate route on the left.
(15.39km) Int. Alternate High Tide Route and Manly Scenic Walkway → South end of Forty Baskets Reserve
560 m
15 mins
31m
-32m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track down and across the wooden boardwalk, then up to Beatty St.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along Beatty St away from the bushland. The walk passes Geddes St on the left to continue to houses number 28 and 30 Beatty St. The walk turns right to head down the laneway between these two houses to an intersection beside the beach. Now Turn left to rejoin the main walk .
(15.39km) Int. Alternate High Tide Route and Manly Scenic Walkway → South end of Forty Baskets Reserve
240 m
4 mins
6m
-7m
Moderate track
Forty Baskets Reserve
(15.62km) South end of Forty Baskets Reserve → End of Gourlay Avenue
450 m
9 mins
19m
-21m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the toilet block, the walk follows the footpath up the gentle hill, keeping the water on the right. The footpath soon comes the intersection with a set of stairs, uphill to the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath up the gentle hill, keeping the water to the right. The path soon comes to another intersection with a set of stone and dirt stairs (uphill to the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath, keeping the water below on the right. Soon, the walk passes around a blue metal gate then continues on to the hairpin bend at the end of Gourlay Ave, just above a small marina.
(16.07km) End of Gourlay Avenue → Int of Gourlay Avenue and Clarence Street footpath
250 m
5 mins
12m
-4m
Easy track
(16.31km) Int of Gourlay Avenue and Clarence Street footpath → Int of Clarence and North Harbour Sts
100 m
2 mins
5m
-2m
Very easy
(16.42km) Int of Clarence and North Harbour Sts → Int of Beach Ln and North Harbour St
120 m
3 mins
0m
-8m
Very easy
North Harbour Reserve
(16.54km) Int of Beach Ln and North Harbour St → End of King Avenue
230 m
5 mins
12m
-5m
Easy track
(16.76km) End of King avenue → Int. of Lauderdale avenue and Manly Scenic Walk
280 m
6 mins
12m
-8m
Very easy
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath along Lauderdale Avenue, down the hill past the bus stop sign. After a couple of houses the footpath comes to a clearing on the right, with views of the water and a signposted intersection with the sealed ‘Manly Scenic Walk’ footpath.
(17.04km) Int. of Lauderdale avenue and Manly Scenic Walk → Manly Wharf
1.9 km
37 mins
51m
-66m
Very easy
Turn right: From the end of Bolingbroke Parade, this walk follows the concrete footpath, keeping the water to the right. The path winds behind the houses, through the open parkland, following the water. The walk passes picnic chairs and some nice views before coming to Fairlight Beach and ocean bath.
Continue straight: From Fairlight Beach, this walk follows the wide yellow footpath past the pool, keeping the water on the right. The footpath continues behind the houses and past several information signs before emerging onto Commonwealth Parade. Once beside the road, the footpath bends left and heads past Manly Waterworks. Just before West Esplanade, this walk turns right and heads along the footpath, with Manly Cove beach on the right, and soon comes to the ferry wharf.
Maps for the Taronga Zoo to Manly 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 Manly bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Taronga Zoo to Manly
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 | 18.9 km | ||
Time | 8 hrs | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
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
7km of this walk is flat with no steps and another 6km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 4.7km has short steep hills and the remaining 2.1km is very steep.
Quality of track
8km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 6km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. Whilst another 3.7km follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 1.7km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
14km of this walk is clearly signposted and another 3.6km has directional signs at most intersection. The remaining (1.7km) has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
17km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1.7km requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience. The remaining (450m) requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 17km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.9km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 15km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 4.4km 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 Manly 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 Manly ends at the Manly Wharf (gps: -33.799562, 151.28427)
Your transport options to Manly Wharf are by;
Ferry. Ferrys run in both directions between Circular Quay and Manly approximately every 45 minutes. (get details)
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/tztm
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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