af011 Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
From the Rose Bay ferry wharf, head east around the foreshore promenade past the Woollahra Sailing Club to Tingira Reserve. From there head along New South Head Road. Look for a narrow alleyway between the shops near Newcastle Street for access to the beach. Because of housing development right down to, and in some cases on, the sand public beach access is limited. If it is low tide you may be able to walk to Dumaresq Reserve at the Eastern end of the beach. Otherwise its back to New South Head Road. You may also get to Dumaresq Reserve by walking down to the bottom of Dumaresq Street and back up, but I recommend you save your energy and push on up New South Head Road. Turn left at Tivoli Avenue and left again at Bayview Hill road at the end of which you'll find the Hermitage Foreshore Walk.
The Hermitage walk is "a splendid, intimate meander, up hill and down dale, through leafy glades, past little, still beaches, and lots of lookouts with amazing views up the Harbour". [John Gunther's Sydney by Ferry and Foot, p. 166.] It also includes "remnant heaths, woodland and small patches of rain forest, as well as craggy cliffs and secluded coves..." [Woollahra Council Brochure.]
The Hermitage walk ends at Nielson Park. Take a break at Shark Beach before doing the short Bottle and Glass Rocks loop for views down the Harbour to Manly. It starts at the Eastern end of Shark Beach up the steps behind the Ladies toilet. Time to get back to the pavement. Follow Coolong Road through ritzy Vaucluse until you reach Vaucluse Bay and beach. You may go for a walk in the grounds of nearby Vaucluse House if you wish.
Go north along Wentworth Road and at right at Fitzwilliam Road. Look for the pathway next to 43A which takes you down to the Parsley Bay pedestrian bridge. If you have the time and energy you can take a walk through Parsley Bay Reserve, otherwise follow The Crescent around to Hopetoun Avenue. Take the Palmerston Street pathway down to Gibsons Beach on Watsons Bay. Cool down with a dip in the Watsons Bay Public Baths before heading off to the Watsons Bay Hotel (now Doyles) on Wharf Beach for fish and chips and a beer while enjoying the view. The last ferry from Watsons Bay to Circular Quay is 3:50pm. If you miss the ferry there are buses back the city. - a 4.6 mi walking route in Sydney, Australia
Route Location
Start Lat/Lng: (-33.8713419939655, 151.26229763030997)
City: Sydney
Country Name: Australia
Country Code: AU
State Code:
State Name:
Postal Code:
Route Stats
Activity: Walking
Distance: 4.6 mi
Max Elevation: 34.62 meters
Elevation Gain / Total Ascent: 50795.3 meters
Data Source: MapMyRun
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