This is a beautiful walk close to the city, but still giving you a sense of seclusion within nature. It is located within the Sydney Harbour National Park, and contains monuments showcasing Sydney’s military history. Here is a guide to the Bradley’s Head to Chowder Bay Walk.
At a glance:
- Distance: 4kms (One way)
- Time: 1.5 hrs
- Difficulty: Easy
This walk begins at Taronga Zoo, and isn’t overly crowded at all! It’s very peaceful and I only came across a few other people on this walk (except for the Bradley Head Amphitheatre). The start of the track is along a boardwalk within a lush green forest, that quickly turns into an Angophora forest, or Sydney Red Gums.
The view points along the way provide incredible views of Sydney Harbour, including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from a different vantage point. Take the side trail near the beginning of the walk and check out the secret Athol Beach.
Along the way I saw a Kookaburra, and while I hear these guys and their psycho laugh every morning when I’m trying to sleep, it was my first time actually seeing one up close! The notorious bush turkey also made an appearance, these things just stroll around the suburbs of Sydney and look hilariously out of place.
There are a couple side paths along the trail that take you down to empty and secluded beaches. I found one beach that had THE MOST SEA GLASS I’VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. It was so cool. This beach was also made up of a million small shells, the details and uniqueness of each one were beautiful.
Eventually you’ll leave Bradley’s Head behind and enter the Taylor Bay track. At Taylor’s Bay, one side trail had a set of stairs that led straight into the water. Great spot for a swim on a sunny day!
When I got to Chowder Bay, I found the beach far too crowded for my liking and didn’t spend any time there. All these hidden beaches along the walk are a much better spot to spend the afternoon in my opinion. If you want, you can even extend your walk and continue to Balmoral.
How to get there with public transport:
Regular ferries and buses go to Taronga Zoo. It’s a 12min ferry ride from Circular Quay to Taronga and Opal Cards are accepted. Alternatively, a bus from Sydney CBD to the zoo takes about 25min. When you reach Chowder Bay you can either turn around and walk back to the zoo, or take a bus from there back to Sydney (30min). Note that this bus doesn’t come super often so plan ahead!
How to get there by car:
It takes about 20min to drive from Sydney CBD. There are limited parking spots at Bradley’s Head and it costs $8 for park entry fee. There is lots of parking at the nearby Taronga Zoo but that is $18 for the day. Your best bet is getting here by public transport.
Interested in more walks? Read my post about the best walks and hikes around Sydney!
Leave a Reply!