Sydney on Foot: The Top City Walks for Every Explorer
Sydney on Foot: The Top City Walks for Every Explorer
Visiting Sydney and want to get some steps in? Known for its picturesque views, Sydney is a walker’s paradise. If you’re looking to stretch your legs and soak in Sydney’s stunning scenery, here are five popular walks that you shouldn’t miss.
These walks are generally easy, as well as accessible, suiting a wide range of travellers. Enjoy your time exploring Sydney by foot!
Table of Contents
Sydney Harbour Walk
Starting off at Circular Quay, this walk gives you some impressive views of two of the most famous landmarks: Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Stroll along the waterfront, watching the ferries come and go from Circular Quay. Enjoy the mixture of work and holiday life with the combination of office professionals and tourists surrounding you. Make your way towards the Botanic Gardens and finish at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair for some iconic Bridge and Opera House views.
- Distance: Approximately 2km
- Time: 30 mins - 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy (paved paths)
Royal Botanic Gardens
This beautiful, lush park is set among the high rises and busy streets of Sydney. There are themed sections throughout and lots of different areas to explore. You can walk the loop or pick particular parts to visit. Alternatively, you could just allow yourself to get lost wandering through.
It was a pleasant surprise to find this tucked away in the heart of the city and I went every morning when I woke up. What a start to each day!
- Distance: > 3km
- Time: allow up to 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy (with accessible routes if required)
Circular Key to Darling Harbour
If you are after longer walk, this could be for you. At Circular Quay instead of turning right and heading towards the Sydney Opera House, turn left and head towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
This is another beautiful trail that will lead you through some picturesque parks and scenery on your way through to Darling Harbour. Walk under the Harbour Bridge, through Barangaroo Reserve and Barangaroo, walk by Sydney Zoo, and finally arrive at Darling Harbour. Finish with a drink at one of many waterfront bars and with a photo on the Pyrmont Bridge.
- Distance: Approximately 5km
- Time: 1 - 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy (pavement or walking track)
Sydney Harbour Bridge
So far we’ve mentioned walks with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but did you know you can also walk over it? There are two options to do this: 1 – walk across for free, or 2 – pay around $400 to walk right over the top. While the bridge climb gets great reviews, if you are wanting something budget-friendly, option 1 is the way to go.
I was in the minority walking across this early morning during the weekend – be warned of the runners! In saying that, it was a great walk to get some photos and take in the bridge. You are directly by cars so it will be noisy and there are security around, but it felt very safe. A great free activity!
- Distance: The bridge is just over 1km long, so approximately 2km roundtrip
- Time: 30 minutes hours
- Difficulty: Easy (stairs and elevator option)
Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach
This is a great walk, but you cannot do this from the Sydney City Centre. Instead, you will need to train and/or bus. We caught the train to Bondi Junction and then a bus to Coogee Beach. You can also do this walk the other way around, from Bondi to Coogee, by catching the bus to Bondi Beach.
The travel time took around 45 minutes total (including walking to the station). It’s worth it though! The coastline is stunning, the scenery is different to that of the walks around the City Centre and you may even be lucky like us and see whales!
If it is a hot day, you also may enjoy stopping off at one of the beaches along the way and going for a swim.
- Distance: Approximately 6km
- Time: 2 - 3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy - moderate (stairs and climbs along the way)
Tips
Weather
Sydney can get HOT! Depending on what time of year you are visiting be cautious of the heat. During the summer, plan your walks around sunrise or sunset (as a bonus, the views may be even better at these times!).
Sun protection
Sydney’s sun can be strong, so even in winter we would suggest wearing sunscreen and have a hat and sunglasses with you.
Water
Always take some water with you. Some areas have public fountains but not all.
Shoes
Wear comfy shoes, but you won’t need trail shoes or hiking boots for any of the walks mentioned above.
Getting to and from walks
Although it is easy to get around the City Centre by foot, you may not always feel like walking to and from the walks mentioned above. In this case, we would highly recommend Sydney’s fantastic public transport system. See our guide here for more information.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your time walking your way through Sydney’s parks, waterfront, and beaches!
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- Australia