Bondi to Manly walk: Where to eat, drink, swim, stay and must-sees along 80km route

The Bondi to Manly walk is a bucketlist item. We’ve compiled a complete guide on how best to do it, featuring all the top coffee, food, swim spots and places to stay. No excuses.

Parsley Bay Bridge is part of the iconic . Bondi to Manly walk. Picture: Destonation NSW.

The Bondi to Manly 80km walk follows a series of harbourside walking tracks connecting two of Australia’s most famous surf beaches.

NewsLocal has compiled a comprehensive guide, with the help of experts at bonditomanly.com and local knowledge from our reporting team, so you can enjoy the best of what Sydney has to offer along the route.

We have the best coffee stops, breakfast, lunch and dinner choices, as well as tips on where to have a swim, the cultural highlights, after walk activities and accommodation options.

There’s even some suggested tips on where to get the best Instagram shots.

Bondi to Manly Walk.

We recommended you go to bonditomanly.com to download the walking app, interactive map and track notes before you start.

We’ve outlined two four day itineraries, one starting from Manly and the other Bondi.

Don’t forget to tag in the Manly Daily, Wentworth Courier and Daily Telegraph in your social media posts as you go.

Good luck!

MANLY TO BONDI

Manly and North Head. Picture: Google.

Manly to Spit and Balmoral. Picture: Google.

Day 1: Start at Manly Beach, around North Head then along the Manly to Spit to Balmoral (22.6km)

Start: 8am, head from Manly Beach towards Shelly Beach.

Coffee: The Boathouse at Shelly Beach or the Bella Vista Cafe on North Head.

The Boathouse at Shelly Beach has great views towards Manly and Queenscliff. Picture: Troy Snook

Another coffee spot with a view. Bella Vista Cafe at North Head in Sydney.

Lunch: Half way is Manly Wharf where there are plenty of choices, although just before you get there at Manly Cove is the Manly Skiff Club, with a deck that sits out on the water. A perfect spot to the watch the iconic Manly ferry pull in.

The terrace dining area at Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club.

Afternoon Tea / Coffee: The Sandy Bear on Clontarf Marina.

Cultural Highlights: Rock engravings at Grotto Point which are some of the most significant in Sydney.

Another idyllic spot to stop at Sandy Bear at Clontarf.

Best Views: North Head and Dobroyd Head.

Best swim spot: Castle Rock Beach

Views of Sydney CBD from North Head at Manly. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Detour Trips on the Spit to Manly – couple of detours for walks here.

Grotto Point Lighthouse, with the short detour to Washaway Beach.

Crater Cove Walking Track. This leads you to those hidden seaside huts everyone talks about. It’s an accessible path, but it’s quite discreet so not many people spot the right path to get there. Google Maps implies that this is accessed at the junction to Beaty St Track. This isn’t correct – it’s further towards Manly.

Grotto Point.

Instagram moment: Just after North Harbour Reserve on the way to the Spit, there’s a rope swing with a cool view back over the Reserve.

Dinner: The obvious favourites – The Pavilion, Boathouse or Balmoral Public Dining Room

The Albert Hotel offers heritage-style boutique accommodation. Picture: John Appleyard

Accommodation: Airbnb is your best bet in Balmoral, otherwise it’s The Albert Hotel in

Mosman (1km off route).

Evening Activity: SUP or Kayak around the Harbour.

Note: There are currently some changes to the North Head route due to damage caused by a bushfire. Please check the interactive map at bonditomanly.com.

Day 2: Balmoral to The Rocks (22.9km)

Bondi to Manly walk map. Picture: Google.

Start: 8am

Coffee: Balmoral Boathouse or Burnt Orange on Middle Head.

Morning tea: Drift Cafe at Chowder Bay.

Lunch: Archie Bear at Mosman Bay.

Fish burger Archie Bear Mosman Rowers.

Cultural Highlight: Middle Head Military Fortifications, May Gibbs Nutcote Cottage tour at Neutral Bay.

A cultural stop. Beautiful harbourside home Nutcote Cottage is the name of the house designed for Australian children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs who died in 1969. Picture: Britta Campion.

Best Views: Middle Head, Bradleys Head Amphitheatre, Cremorne Point Lighthouse (aka Robertsons Point Lighthouse).

Sun rising over MacCallum Seawater Pool at Cremorne Point with view of Sydney Harbour. Credit: Destination NSW

Best swim spot: Obelisk Beach or MacCallum Seawater Pool on Cremorne Point.

Instagram moment: Get a wine or beer at Opera Bar at sunset.

Dinner: Get a cheap dinner up in Chinatown, stay local and grab some pub food in the Rocks, or head to The Squire’s Landing, a James Squire pub just past the cruise ship terminal, with good beer, food and views.

People out at the Opera Bar in Circular Quay. A good spot to watch the sunset. Picture: Damian Shaw

Accommodation: There’s a wide range of accommodation in Sydney CBD, but if you want to treat yourself to a room with a view you can’t go past the Shangri La or the Four Seasons. There’s some great last minute bargains to be had through booking.com or trivago.com.au with double rooms going for just over $200.

Four Seasons Sydney has some great rooms with views.

Evening Activity: If you’re still feeling energetic there are kayaking and whale watching trips from Circular Quay.

Shannon O'Brien from Sydney Harbour Kayaks. Picture: James Croucher

Blake Horton runs his whale watching business, Ocean Extreme, at Circular Quay. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Day 3: The Rocks to Watsons Bay (21km)

The Rocks to Point Piper. Picture: Google.

Start: 8am

Coffee and breakfast: If you’re not eating at the hotel, there are plenty of choices at Circular Quay.

View from Catalina at Rose Bay. Picture: John Appleyard

Morning Tea: Catalina Rose Bay.

Lunch: Fly Bridge Cafe in Rushcutters Bay.

Afternoon Tea: The Nielsen Cafe at Shark Beach.

Picture perfect. The Calyx in The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a good spot for an Instagram shot. DNSW Supplied

Cultural Highlight: Take your pick, there’s the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden, Aboriginal Heritage Tour with Dreamtime Southern X in The Rocks, Whale Tour from Circular Quay.

Views: McKell Park, Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the entire Hermitage Foreshore Walk is stunning, Parsley Bay Bridge.

General view of Redleaf Beach, in Sydney. Redleaf Beach, also known as Murray Rose Pool. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Swim: Redleaf Pool (aka Murray Rose Pool), Queens Beach, Milk Beach, Shark Beach.

Instagram moment: Take a detour through the Royal Botanic Garden where there are often flower installations.

Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. Picture: Mark Dalgleish.

Dinner: Watsons Bay Hotel or Doyles on the Beach with the sun setting behind the Bridge. If you get there before 5pm, you can got for the cheaper option from Doyles Fishermans Wharf Takeaway and sit in the reserve.

Exterior of Doyles Fishermans Wharf Takeaway in Watsons Bay, Sydney.

Accommodation: Watsons Bay Hotel

Evening Activity: SUP or Kayak around the Harbour

Day 4: Watsons Bay to Bondi (13.4km) including the loop around South Head

The last stretch to Bondi. Picture: Google.

Start: Early start will give you sunrise over the ocean from South Head.

Camp Cove Kiosk. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Coffee: Camp Cove Kiosk.

Morning Tea: The Grumpy Baker off Christison Park.

Lunch: At Bondi, there are so many choices, including the famous Bondi Icebergs Club.

Bondi Icebergs, in Bondi Beach, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Best coffee at Bondi: bRU Coffee Bondi.

Cultural Highlight: Aboriginal Rock Engravings at Bondi Golf Course are probably the most significant rock engravings in Sydney.

View from Gap Park Old South Head Road Watsons Bay looking toward North Sydney. Picture: Monique Harmer.

Views: South Head, The Gap, the whole cliffline here is amazing through Dover Heights to Bondi, called the Federation Clifftop Walk.

Instagram moment: A selfie at the world-famous Bondi Beach, you made it!

Bondi Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

BONDI TO MANLY:

Day 1: Bondi to Watsons Bay (13.4km) including the loop around South Head

Bondi to Watsons Bay. Picture: Google.

Start: Short day allows for a later start so you can reach Bondi.

Coffee: bRU Coffee Bondi.

Coffee pit stop at bRU Coffee Bondi. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL

The Grumpy Baker at Vaucluse is another recommendation. (AAP Image / Monique Harmer)

Lunch: The Grumpy Baker off Christison Park.

Afternoon Tea: Camp Cove Kiosk.

Cultural Highlight: Aboriginal Rock Engravings in Bondi Golf Course are probably the most significant rock engravings in Sydney.

Gap Park Watsons Bay. (IMAGE MONIQUE HARMER)

Views: South Head, The Gap, the whole cliffline here is amazing through Dover Heights called the Federation Clifftop Walk.

Swim: Camp Cove.

Instagram moment: You can’t go wrong with a photo at The Gap or South Head.

Sydney’s famous fish restaurant Doyles, Watsons Bay. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Dinner: Watsons Bay Hotel or Doyles on the Beach or before 5pm grab a takeaway from Doyles Fishermans Wharf Takeaway and sit in the reserve.

Accommodation: Watsons Bay Hotel.

Evening Activity: SUP or Kayak around the Harbour.

Day 2: Watsons Bay to The Rocks (21km)

Start: 8am

Dunbar House in Watons Bay.

Breakfast, coffee: Dunbar House or the Baithouse in the Tea Garden.

Morning Tea: The Nielsen on Shark Beach

A seafood stop at Catalina in Rose Bay. Picture: John Appleyard

Lunch: Catalina Rose Bay

Ice Cream: Redleaf Cafe above Seven Shillings Beach

Redleaf Cafe at Murray Rose Pool. Good for coffee, food and a swim. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Afternoon Coffee: White Rabbit in Double Bay

Cultural Highlight: Take your pick, Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden, Aboriginal Heritage Tour with Dreamtime Southern X in The Rocks, Whale Tour from Circular Quay.

There are plenty of photo opportunities at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. DNSW Supplied

Views: McKell Park, Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the entire Hermitage Foreshore Walk is stunning, Parsley Bay Bridge.

Swim: Redleaf Pool (aka Murray Rose Pool), Queens Beach, Milk Beach, Shark Beach

Shark Beach, Nielsen Park. Picture: Craig Wilson

Instagram moment: Get a shot of the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the Royal Botanic Garden.

Dinner: Get a cheap dinner up in Chinatown, stay local and grab some pub food along George St, in the Rocks, or head to The Squire’s Landing, a James Squire pub just past the cruise ship terminal, for good beer, food and views.

Alfresco dining at the Fortune of War, George St, The Rocks. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Accommodation: There’s a wide range of accommodation in Sydney CBD, but if you want to treat yourself to a room with a view you can’t go past the Shangri La or the Four Seasons. There’s some great last minute bargains to be had through booking.com or trivago.com.au with double rooms going for just over $200.

Location, location, location. The Squire’s Landing – James Squire Brewhouse Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay Way, The Rocks, is a great place to refuel while taking in the view.

Evening activity: Take in one of the world’s most famous views, whether it be with a beer at James Squire or from your hotel room with your feet up, after all you’re only half way. Or, if you want some culture try the Art Galleries (MCA or the Art Gallery of NSW) if you arrive early enough.

Day 3: The Rocks to Balmoral (22.9km)

The Rocks towards Balmoral. Picture: Google.

Start: 8am

Coffee: After you descend the steps from the Harbour Bridge, there’s a cafe called San Antonio Sourdough Bakery. It’s the best bakery in North Sydney, think croissants, cronuts and great coffee.

San Antonio Sourdough Bakery, Kirribilli. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski.

Lunch: Archie Bear at Mosman Bay.

Afternoon Tea: Burnt Orange on Middle Head.

Cultural Highlight: Middle Head Military Fortifications, May Gibbs Nutcote Cottage tour at Neutral Bay.

The view from Middle Head in Mosman. Picture: Richard Dobson

Best Views: Middle Head, Bradleys Head Amphitheatre, Cremorne Point Lighthouse (aka Robertsons Point Lighthouse).

Obelisk Beach in Sydney Harbour. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Instagram moment: It has to be a photo at Obelisk Beach or MacCallum Seawater Pool on Cremorne Point.

Dinner: The obvious favourites – The Pavilion, Boathouse or Public Dining Room, Balmoral.

Sliders at Burnt Orange, Middle Head. Picture: Jessica Ross Photography

The Public Dining Room at Balmoral in Mosman. Picture: Supplied

Accommodation: Airbnb is your best bet in Balmoral, otherwise it’s The Albert Hotel in Mosman (1km off route).

Evening Activity: SUP or Kayak around the Harbour

Day 4: Balmoral to Manly (22.6km) via North Head

Balmoral towards Manly. Picture: Google.

Manly and North Head. Picture: Google.

Start: 8am

Coffee: Plonk Beach Cafe on the Spit or The Sandy Bear on Clontarf Marina

Morning Tea/Coffee: Forty Beans at North Harbour Reserve.

Good breakfast or coffee stop at Plonk! Cafe, The Spit. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Lunch: Half way is Manly Wharf where there are plenty of choices from Hugos, a celebrity favourite, to newcomer Fish and Lemonade for a fish sandwich. Other choices include The Bavarian for good views and a cheeky beer or grab a Betty’s Burger and sit on the wharf.

Celebrate getting to the finish like a celebrity at Hugo's in Manly.

Afternoon Ice cream: Ripples at Little Manly or Bella Vista Cafe on North head

Cultural Highlights: Rock Engravings at Grotto Point which are some of the most significant in Sydney

Best Views: North Head and Dobroyd Head

The newly restored and revamped Little Manly sea pool at Little Manly Beach is a great spot for a swim and a coffee stop. Picture: Facebook

One of Sydney’s secret beaches. Collins Flat Beach, Manly. Photo: Bob Barker.

Best swim spot: Castle Rock Beach, Delwood Beach and Little Manly or Collins Beaches

Detour Trips on the Spit to Manly – couple of detours for walks here: Grotto Point Lighthouse, with the short detour to Washaway Beach. Crater Cove Walking Track. This leads you to those hidden seaside huts everyone talks about. It’s an accessible path, but it’s quite discreet so not many people spot the right path to get there. Google Maps implies that this is accessed at the junction to Beaty St Track. This isn’t correct – it’s further towards Manly.

Fairy Bower pool. Picture: Helen Simpson

Instagram moment: Manly’s most Instagrammable spot is the Fairy Bower rock pool, along the Manly to Shelly walkway.

A great spot to finish the walk, world famous Manly Beach. Picture: Toby Zerna

Note: There are currently some changes to the North Head route due to damage caused by a bushfire. Please check the interactive map at bonditomanly.com.