Sydney's best coastal and harbour walks

Bondi to Coogee (6 km)

Start at Bondi Icebergs and follow the signposted path south. You pass Mackenzies Point, the small surf beach at Tamarama, Bronte's park and ocean baths, the clifftop Waverley Cemetery, the long inlet at Clovelly and the rocky snorkelling cove of Gordons Bay before dropping down to Coogee. It is about 6 km, mostly paved, with stairs and some steep sections.

Allow two to three hours with stops. Start early in summer — there is little shade — and carry water. Buses link both ends with the city, so you can walk one way.

The Spit to Manly (10 km)

This longer walk follows the shore of Middle Harbour through bushland in Sydney Harbour National Park. Highlights include Clontarf Beach, Grotto Point with its lighthouse and Aboriginal rock engravings, and the big views from Dobroyd Head over the harbour entrance. The final stretch passes Fairlight's ocean pool into Manly.

Allow three to four hours. The track is uneven in places, with sand, stairs and rock, so wear proper shoes. Take a bus to the Spit Bridge and return by ferry from Manly — see Manly and the Northern Beaches.

Harbour walks with the best views

• Circular Quay to Mrs Macquarie's Chair (about 2 km): the classic Opera House and bridge loop through the Botanic Garden.
• Hermitage Foreshore Track (about 2 km): from Rose Bay to Nielsen Park past small beaches with views back to the city.
• Watsons Bay and South Head: a short loop to Hornby Lighthouse at the harbour entrance, with Camp Cove beach on the way.
• Federation Cliff Walk (about 5 km): dramatic ocean cliffs from Dover Heights to Watsons Bay.
• Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay: a quiet North Shore foreshore walk between two ferry wharves.
• Barangaroo to The Rocks: an easy waterfront stroll, best at sunset.

Further afield

In Royal National Park, the two-day Coast Track from Bundeena to Otford is one of Australia's great coastal walks, and its sections make excellent day hikes. On the Northern Beaches, the short climb to Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach is worth the effort. In the Blue Mountains, the cliff-edge walks between Echo Point and Leura or Wentworth Falls are spectacular.

Safety on coastal walks

• Stay on marked paths and behind fences; sandstone edges can collapse.
• Never stand on rock platforms where waves are breaking — freak waves catch people every year.
• Carry water, sunscreen and a hat; heat and sun are the most common problems.
• Check for track closures after storms, and avoid cliff walks in very strong winds.
• In an emergency call 000; many tracks have numbered location markers.