Bondi to Manly Walk Showcases Sydney’s Natural Beauty

By Siriol Dafydd on December 27, 2019 in News

Burn off your Christmas excess, by Destination NSW.

If you’re heading into the New Year with the inevitable urge to embrace a new challenge, then we’ve got some good news: the Bondi to Manly Walk is officially open. As of December 12, 2019, you can walk the 80 kilometre track which hugs the coastline all the way from the Eastern Suburbs to Manly via the Opera House, over the Harbour Bridge and past Taronga Zoo – and that’s only a fraction of the suburbs and sites you’ll pass along the way.
Whether you cover it in sections or plan to tackle the whole shebang in one go like a right hero, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, iconic landmarks and wonderful wildlife and fauna, as well as insights into our rich Indigenous heritage.
This mammoth effort took the collaboration of all three levels of government. City of Sydney, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Waverley and Woollahra Councils all pitched in, while NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services, Place Management NSW, Roads & Maritime Services, Port Authority of NSW, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney Opera House and Taronga Zoo represented on a state level. On the federal front, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, as well as La Perouse and Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Destination NSW and the Greater Sydney Commission were all involved.
It is safe to say that a lot of effort has gone into completing this project. If you fancy giving it a go, the entire path is clearly marked with Aboriginal Whale Symbol signs. 350 of these way marks have already been installed and another 500 individual signs are set be added. Or, if you (like me) don’t entirely trust your sense of direction, a digital walking app is also available at www.bonditomanly.com.
“The walk will be a place where visitors and locals alike will rediscover our city, our coastal environment and learn more about our Indigenous past. It will have economic benefits and social benefits as well. It’ll be a coming together of families and communities against the backdrop of our absolutely stunning city,” Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos told The Beast.
Woollahra Mayor Susan Wynne is also a fan of the project.
“As an avid walker, I love taking in the stunning scenery that Woollahra has to offer and I am delighted that our spectacular harbour foreshore will be showcased as part of the Bondi to Manly Walk,” she said.
“Woollahra Council looks forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy highlights including Camp Cove, Gap Park, Macquarie Lighthouse and our many other magnificent locations along what will no doubt become one of the world’s truly great walks.”
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Nathan Moran, said, “The Bondi to Manly Walk will showcase all of the beauty that is Sydney aka Eora. Be it the oldest living human culture or the most beautiful natural harbour on Earth.”
It’s easy for us to take our surroundings for granted, but this walk offers a massive 80 kilometre tour of our unique history, culture and iconic natural and man-made landmarks which makes it a world-class attraction in itself. By connecting some of our most famous assets with some hidden gems in between, this walk promises to boost tourism on both local and international levels. It also encourages and enables both serious and casual walkers to access a huge amount of suburbs, attractions and landmarks by foot which offers several social, environmental, health and economic benefits.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your walking shoes and burn off your Christmas beer-belly with a free world-class trip around Sydney!