Bushwalks along the Coast and Middle Harbour

As well having 30km of coastline between Manly and Palm Beach, the Northern Beaches encompasses Pittwater and Narrabeen Lakes. It also has Cowan Creek and Middle Harbour Creek as part of its borders. The walks listed below explore some of the many tracks along the coast and Middle Harbour. They include some popular trails that are hard to ignore (but can get busy – and some more challenging routes to avoid the crowds.

  • All bushwalks below are within (or very close) to the Northern Beaches LGA, but please confirm they comply to the current NSW Health orders based on where you live.
  • For more bushwalking suggestions have a look at the 80+ bushwalks in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Garigal National Park guides

The Bantry Bay Loop is a varied loop, which passes the Bantry Bay Aboriginal engravings next to the Engravings Track. It then descends to Bantry Bay along the Timber Getters Track and returns via the scenic Bluff Track.

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The Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk is a short, easy and popular loop walk that offers sweeping views over the Barrenjoey peninsula, Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River.

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The Resolute Loop is a great little walk that passes an Aboriginal engraving site, offers great views over Pittwater and provides access to two secluded beaches

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Duffys Wharf Track and the Slades Trail can be combined into a loop; a fantastic little hike that descends to Duffys Wharf on Cowan Creek and back up to Slades Lookout.

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The Flat Rock Beach circuit is a very nice loop walk through Garigal National Park around Killarney Heights. It combines the Flat Rock Beach Track, Magazine Track and Bates Creek Track. 

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This short and partly off-track Flint and Steel Loop bushwalk connects Flint and Steel Bay and Flint and Steel Beach at West Head via a rough track around the headland. Low tide best.

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The Middle Harbour Creek circuit is a relatively long bushwalk around Middle Harbour Creek. The route goes down one side of the creek from St Ives to Roseville Bridge, returning on the opposite side. This loop combines the Governor Phillip Walk. Lyre Bird Track, Two Creeks Track and Lockley Track.

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