Manly’s best trails according to locals

If your boots are made for walkin’, step into Manly’s many trails and be wowed by coastal views and lush bushland.

Our Visitor Information Centre staff are long time locals who love to get out and about, and they’ve shared their favourite spots to explore Manly and its surrounds on foot.

Come for the day or better yet stay for a few and tick off more than one of these walks.

Manly Scenic Walkway (Manly to the Spit)

This beautiful 10 kilometre walk between Manly and The Spit is one of the most popular outdoor attractions for visitors to Manly who fancy something a little more strenuous than strolling the beachfront. Taking in harbourside beaches, Indigenous sites and stunning lookout points, this is a walk not to be missed.

You can start the walk from either end, but we prefer to start the walk from the Spit Bridge. After the long walk, Manly has plenty of places to refuel, drink or to cool off and it’s easy to catch the ferry to the city.

Manly Beach to Shelly Beach

A coastal walk that’s big on views but easy on the legs, this 15 minute accessible walk begins at Manly Surf Club and hugs the coastline all the way to Shelly Beach. On the way, you’ll have sweeping views of the ocean and can even stop for a dip at Fairy Bower rockpool on your way.

One of the most popular walks on our list, the Manly to Shelly Beach walk should not be missed.

North Head Sanctuary

Perched at the northern entrance to Sydney Harbour, North Head is part of the Sydney Harbour National Park and is known for its dramatic cliffs and panoramic lookouts over the ocean and harbour. You can even see all the way to the Sydney city skyline! Join the 9 kilometre walk behind Shelly Beach to make your way up to the headland and then take the loop back down to Manly Wharf.

While you’re up at North Head, you can explore the old Quarantine Station, North Fort and the Army Barracks. There are also history tours available of the Quarantine Station, 3^rd Quarantine Cemetery and the World War II tunnels and barracks precinct.

Manly Beach to Dee Why Beach

Starting at Manly and heading north to Dee Why, this walk also takes in Freshwater and Curl Curl beaches as well as 5 beautiful beach rockpools so make sure you pack your swimmers! Some of the highlights are the breathtaking views at Dee Why headland and the clifftop boardwalk between Freshwater and Curl Curl. It’s stunning from either direction, so it doesn’t matter where you start.

Manly Dam

A serene bushland oasis and a 10 minute drive from the centre of Manly, Manly Dam is Sydney’s largest freshwater lake and home to a variety of native wildlife. While the full circuit is 7.3 kilometres, the dam has many bushwalks of varying length. If you are keen for a shorter walk and want to check out the new boardwalk, drive to the Nyrang Road carpark in Allambie Heights and take a short walk down to the water’s edge.

Bondi to Manly Walk

For those looking for a more intense challenge, Manly is the finish point for the epic 80 kilometre Bondi to Manly Walk showcasing the best of Sydney with 49 beaches, rich Aboriginal history, heritage, culture, arts, great local cafes and architecture, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, all between Australia’s 2 most famous surf beaches, Bondi and Manly. Our team suggests splitting the walk into a few days so you can enjoy the views!

After your walk, you’ll need to rest your legs and there’s no better place than Manly to wine, dine and stay the night. Check out our local restaurants, cafes and places to stay to round off your trip to Manly. Or pop into Manly Visitor Information Centre at Manly Wharf forecourt for local tips and recommendations.