This was published 4 years ago
'You start at a really, really good beach and you finish at a great one'
By Sian Brain
The 80km Bondi to Manly walking track is officially open after mayors, other officials and the La Perouse and Metropolitan Local Aboriginal councils gathered on Sunday at the halfway mark at Milsons Point to celebrate the moment.
Bondi to Manly Walk Supporters chairman John Faulkner described it as a “story of partnership and collaboration” that “showcases Sydney to the world”.
Avid walker Michael Ward has already completed the Bondi to Manly track, officially opened today. Credit:
“Competition” is another term that the Mayor of Woollahra Susan Wynne used to describe the project, playfully boasting that the section of walk through Woollahra is the most beautiful.
James Griffin, the member for Manly and NSW –Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, said the name Bondi to Manly is fitting because “you start at a really, really good beach and you finish at a great one”.
The walk is signposted with more than 350 waymarks that feature a whale and footprints that are significant to Sydney's Aboriginal community.
Distinctive Aboriginal whale symbols show the way between the two beaches. Credit:
Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive Nathan Moran delivered the Welcome to Country on Sunday and said: “Our local land council sees great value in connecting people back to country. We acknowledge many, many more benefits of people becoming connected and aware of their backyards. It leads to greater outcomes not just for the community but for the individual's health and wellbeing.”
Sydney man Michael Ward has already completed the walk and set the record to beat at 15 hours and 43 minutes.
“I only started walking in 2017, the real reason for it, I just got sick and tired of waking up on winter mornings with creaky knees … my doctor said just start doing slow walks,” he said. “After the first proper walk I did I was laying on Manly beach shot to pieces.''
Mr Ward’s tip to those wanting to complete the track in a day is to do the walk the other way around.
“If you do it Bondi to Manly, if you get to Manly too late the national parks might be closed, but the other way around you’ll have no problem coming into Bondi.”