The Spit Manly walk was one of the highlights of our time whilst living in Sydney. The Spit to Manly Walk is the best harbour walk in Sydney and one of the most impressive coastal walks in the city alongside the Coogee to Bondi walk.
The 10km Manly Scenic Walkway begins at the Spit Bridge. On the walk you’ll pass sandy beaches, ancient Aboriginal sites and wonderful lookouts, before arriving at the cosmopolitan restaurants, cafes and bars in Manly. With beautiful bushland, wonderful harbour views and spectacular coves, the trail is really diverse and has something to please everyone.
The beauty of the walk starts from the very first moment with the incredible landscape stretching out in front of you. Whilst the tree-lined paths shelter you from the blazing sun. We planned a whole day around the walk and even added on a trip to Shelly Beach before reaching our end destination of Manly Beach.
Quick Facts:
- Distance: 10km one-way
- Dogs are not allowed
- Level: Grade 3 track. Suitable for most ages and fitness levels with occasional sections of stairs. There are also sections of sand, bush tracks and boardwalk. The walk is not suitable for prams or wheelchair users
- Top attractions: Clontarf Reserve, Grotto Point Aboriginal engraving site, Crater Cove Lookout, Forty Baskets Reserve and beautiful Manly
- If you don’t want to walk the whole 10km you can shorten the track at various exit points along the way
- Toilet facilities can be found at the start and end of the walk and at Clontarf Reserve, Reef Beach, Forty Baskets Beach, North Harbour Reserve and Fairlight Beach
- Drinking fountains are available at Clontarf Reserve, Fairlight Beach and Manly
Spit to Manly Distance
The walk from Spit to Manly is 10km/ 6.2 miles. It is one of the longer coastal walks in Sydney but undoubtedly worth the extra steps. Set off early and you’ll be able to find a beautiful spot to break for lunch.
The route is paved the whole way but, it can get extremely busy, especially during the summer months. The route is a mixture of slopes, stairs and flat paths, suitable for anyone with an average fitness level. If you find the walk challenging, then it’s the perfect excuse to take more breaks and soak up the view!
The longer distance means that there is even more time to soak up the incredible views over the harbour and the coves along the way.
How long does the Spit to Manly walk take?
The walk, without any stops, takes on average, 3.5 hours. But, with all of the incredible views it will more likely take you closer to 5-6 hours. We took a picnic lunch and made a day of it, something that we recommend doing.
What is the route along the Spit Manly walk
The Spit Manly walk route is:
Spit Bridge – Clontarf Reserve – Washaway Beach – Crater Cove and Arabanoo Lookout at Dobroyd Head – Reef Beach and Forty Baskets Beach – North Harbour Reserve – Manly Beach.
The Spit Manly walk can be taken in either direction, but most people (including us) choose to start at the Spit Bridge. The walk officially starts from the North end of Spit Bridge.
We recommend grabbing a coffee at Grumpy’s Wharf Café before starting your walk. When you’re ready to start, walk across the footpath on the west side of Spit Bridge. Once you reach the other side, follow the path that under the bridge. If you see signs here saying The Spit to Manly walk then you know you’re on the right track.
How to get to Spit
To get to Spit Bridge you can either drive or catch the 144 bus from the city centre.
How to get the CBD from Manly
To get back to the city from Manly you can either get 144N towards North Sydney then change at Neutral Bay Junction to bus BN1 towards City.
Alternatively, you can get our favourite mode of transport – the boat! Just be mindful it can get very busy in the summer and at peak times so try and leave earlier or later in the evening to avoid long queues.
The boat costs $10.50 and takes approximately 20 minutes.
Of course, you can also do the walk in the other direction: Manly to Split. However, parking at Manly can be hard and it is much easier to get back to the city from Manly. This is why we recommend sticking to Split to Manly.
