";s:4:"text";s:7878:" Sydney Harbour National Park offers fantastic vantage points for a spectacular panorama of the city skyline. From the Cobblers Beach Trail track head (beside the car park near the end of Middle Head Rd, Mosman), this walk heads to the very end of Middle Head Rd towards the sandstone wall. Celebrate the New Year with the best views of Sydney's famous New Year's Eve fireworks. What more could you ask for? Veer left: From the gate, this walk heads to the intersection of Middle Head Road and Chowder Bay Road. The grass surrounding the lookout is also a nice place to lay the picnic rug for lunch. The foliage surrounding the track is topped by a closed canopy which provides shade, before opening out onto the sunny beach. Work for building the fortifications started in 1801 and the last batteries were constructed in 1942, with the majority of the work being done 1870 and 1911 . The views are capped off by the vista over Sydney Harbour from the Grotto Point Lighthouse. Middle Head is a superb lookout spot in Sydney Harbour National Park. Total climbing: 60m, The walk up to Georges Heights is a very scenic one, with the climax being the view from Georges Heights lookout.
The optional side trip leads to an informal lookout on an unfenced rock platform. The park is patrolled by rangers from 8am to 4pm and by security personnel from 4pm and 8am. Housed in a former Clubhouse for Mosman Golf Club, a beautifully renovated building dating back to the 1920s, Burnt Orange is a boutique restaurant with stunning harbour views from its wrap-around verandah. The forts area is an excellent place to spend some time walking through the tunnels and gun pits. The walk spends most of its time on the coast, and follows the Spit to Manly walk for the last half. The walk is mostly along boardwalk or footpath through rainforest vegetation. Total climbing: 85m, The WW1 hospital above Georges Head is an interesting collection of historic buildings, which are nicely complemented by Georges Heights Lookout. The fencline is followed as it tends right, coming to a gate. For your own safety, and to protect the park’s flora and fauna, please remain on the dedicated walking or bike tracks when exploring the bushland and observe the following rules, enforceable by our rangers: Conditions of entry: Do not feed wildlife; keep dogs on a leash; do not litter, dump rubbish or leave dog waste; do not camp overnight; do not erect gazebos or marquees (without a permit); do not operate remote-controlled vehicles (including drones); do not smoke, light fires or use portable barbeques; remain on dedicated bush tracks; do not play amplified music (without a permit) or create excessive noise; do not undertake commercial activities (without a permit); do not hold private functions (without a permit); do not disturb plants, soil and rocks; do not ride bikes, skateboards or scooters on footpaths or walking tracks; do not climb walls, fortifications, sculptures or cliffs. Total climbing: 127m, This is an excellent walk with some very scenic views. The walk returns via Chowder Bay Rd which offers a few fortifications hidden in the bush. Check park alerts and visit COVID-19 updates for more information before visiting any park. To visit Shark, Clark or Rodd islands all vessels, including kayaks, need to pay a $7 per person landing fee. Enjoy scenic views of Sydney Harbour from the lookout or take a guided tour of the historic fort and military relics.
Balmoral Beach offers a few spots for a coffee or fish and chips along the way. Continue through the roundabout for parking facilities at Middle Head.
The track follows the arrow on this sign for approximately 200m through the bush to a sunken concrete fort on the right. Total climbing: 64m. Total climbing: 36m, This is a short walk down to Castle Rock Beach, tucked into the rocky shores of Middle Harbour. The walk heads along the fenceline passing the Sydney Harbour NP sign. Update (20/05/2020): The Harbour Trust Tennis Court at Middle Head is open for court hire (four players only) and private lessons (4 on court total). Total climbing: 83m, Spend some time relaxing and exploring Camp Cove – the first landing place for Europeans in Australia. There are pay and display machines that accept cards and coins - no change given. Paid and accessible parking is offered at the Middle Head Parking Area and the Clubhouse Parking Area, off Middle Head Road. There are plenty of options for swimming. You're in luck – there are pony rides! Around 2.3km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.6km is clearly signposted.
There are a few alternate routes for use at high tide or high seas. Turn around: From the middle of Cobblers Beach, the walk follows the track up the hill, with the beach on the right of the track. In spring, this walk is particularly spectacular with a wide range of wildflowers on display. COVID-19 update. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is planning to construct a new walking track in the Sydney Harbour National Park linking Middle Head and Georges Head to the Sydney Harbour Scenic Walk. The beach is a small pretty and clothing optional beach on the northern edge of Middle Head in Sydney Harbour NP. [Update (14/07/2020): Middle Head Café will be closed from 14 to 20 July. The track continues with an exploration of the whole of Middle Head, including forts, a nudist beach (a sidetrip option) and stunning views over the harbour. Annual NSW Parks Passes not valid for landing fees. Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the clear dirt track, Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads directly away from the water views and sandstone forts, along a mostly flat but clear dirt track for about 90m to pass the sign pointing back to ‘Inner Middle Head Forts’, Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the wide management trail downhill.
From here, walkers can explore the fortifications. Turn right: From the intersection of Chowder Bay and Middle Head Rd, this walk heads down through the car park to the far end, where there are signs. In addition to serving breakfast, lunch and high tea, Burnet Orange is an event venue and retail store offering fashion, homewares and gifts.
For day visitors, please avoid busy parks between 11am and 2pm during the school holidays to avoid congestion. Meanwhile, the precinct’s decommissioned military infrastructure, which dates back to the 1870s, is a source of fascination for history buffs. You will start at Camp Cove, the first landing place for Europeans in Australia, and also visit a number of gun emplacements, designed to protect the shores from the threat of invasion. By ferry: Sydney Buses operate the 238 services, which collects passengers who arrive by ferry at Taronga Zoo’s Athol Wharf from Circular Quay. The walk from Chowder Bay to Middle Head is an interesting one, passing Georges Head Lookout and its views over South Head, and then going up to the WW1 hospital. Our website uses cookies which collect information about how you interact with our website. The sandstone seats and shaded grassy areas make this a perfect walk for a picnic too. Around 3.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 520m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The Harbour Trust's vision for the precinct is a public domain and parklands where heritage buildings have been reimagined and activated for community and commercial uses.