The Spit to Manly walk was my favorite thing I did while in Sydney and I highly recommend it! Don’t worry, there is no actual spit involved, that’s the name of the starting point!
The Nitty Gritty:
It took me ~3.5 hours to complete, with lots of stops for photos of course, but I do walk pretty quickly
It is ~7 miles in length if you do the full walk. You can also hop in after the designated start point if you want to do a shorter version
To do the full walk the starting point is right under the Northern end of the Spit Bridge. If you’re taking the bus from the CBD to the walk (which I definitely recommend because it’s super cheap and easy), be sure to get off BEFORE the bridge. If you get off after the bridge you have to cross a really busy road and walk through a neighborhood, which is much more complicated than just getting off before the bridge, walking across the bridge, and then hopping on the trail.
Bring enough water/snacks because there is not really anywhere to stop once you get started.
Adorable pup fishing at Clontarf Beach
Part One
The first section of the hike switches back and forth between lush, tropical vibes and walking along the water in small towns. I loved the scenery of the nature sections of the trail, but my favorite part was seeing all of the dogs living their best lives at the beaches in Clontarf. They were absolutely adorable! PSA there are public bathrooms at Clontarf Beach (the only ones on the walk).
Keep your eyes peeled for lizards (and potentially other creatures) once you start to get uphill and away from Clontarf, I saw quite a few! The views of the water are stunning as you move through this section, you really get to see the different shades of green and blue.
One of the many viewpoints over the bay
Part Two
The next section of the trail changes as you get into the Dobryod Head area. This area is some of the most unique landscape I’ve ever seen. The trees change, the dirt changes, the air is thicker. It’s an awesome walk providing great views of the entire bay.
Dobryod Head
Davis Marina
Part Three
After Dobryod Head the last part of the trail is mostly hopping from beach to beach, starting with Forty Baskets Beach.
From there you walk along the water to the marina and around the harbor to Manly, your destination!
4 Pine Manly
Manly Recommendations
I highly recommend you walk straight from the trail to 4 Pines Manly. This brewery has an outdoor balcony, frequent live music, food, and delicious beers. What’s better after a long hike than a cold beer?
From 4 Pines walk down to the beach for some R&R. Manly has a large surfing draw so there is plenty of entertainment while you lay in the sand.
Once you get bored or thirsty again, I highly recommend checking out Manly Wine. It is an adorable wine bar with beach views. They’ve got a great Happy Hour from 4-7pm Monday-Friday and you can snag a cheese plate to go with your refreshment of choice.
If Manly Wine isn’t your scene, most of the bars and restaurants along the main street have great Happy Hours as well.
I recommend taking the ferry back to the city, and timing your ferry ride with sunset is always a good idea! Sit outside in the front of the ferry for the best views, just be prepared that you might get splashed!
