Sydney · Route card
Balmoral to Taronga Zoo
Harbour bushland, quiet beaches and the best skyline view in Sydney
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Distance
10.04 km
Elevation
156 m
Time
60–80 min
Type
Point to point · Moderate
Course overview
Ten kilometres from Balmoral Beach out to Middle Head, down to Chowder Bay and Clifton Gardens, then along the foreshore track to Bradleys Head and the Taronga Zoo wharf. Bush singletrack, harbour beaches, gun emplacements and a skyline view that stops you dead.
- 0 kmBalmoral Beach — Start on the esplanade and climb toward Middle Head Road.
- 3.4 kmMiddle Head — Out to the fortifications and the harbour-mouth lookouts.
- 5 kmGeorges Head — Back west along the clifftop with the city ahead.
- 6 kmChowder Bay — Down to the wharf, cafes and the beach.
- 6.8 kmClifton Gardens — Netted swimming, taps and toilets.
- 8.8 kmBradleys Head — The mast, the amphitheatre and the skyline.
- 10 kmTaronga Zoo wharf — Finish at the ferry — twelve minutes to Circular Quay.
Photo stops on the map
- AMiddle Head gun emplacements — Sunrise
- BBradleys Head point — Sunrise, or the last hour of light
Local knowledge
- Best time
- Early morning — the bush sections are cool and the skyline is lit from the east.
- Transport
- 238 or 233 bus to Balmoral, ferry home from Taronga Zoo wharf to Circular Quay.
- Water
- Balmoral, Chowder Bay and Clifton Gardens.
- Toilets
- Balmoral, Chowder Bay, Clifton Gardens and Taronga wharf.
- Parking
- Free parking along Balmoral's Esplanade fills by 8am; Clifton Gardens has a paid car park.
- Safety
- Mixed trail, steps and short road sections. Watch for cyclists and loose sandstone after rain.
Local tip: Time the finish to the ferry timetable and ride back past the whole route from the water.