3.4 km
Middle Head
1870s gun emplacements cut into the cliff, looking straight out through the heads to the open ocean.
-33.8270, 151.2676Sydney, Australia
Balmoral to Taronga Zoo
Harbour bushland, hidden beaches and the best skyline view in Sydney
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.
- Distance
- 10.04 km
- Elevation
- 156 m
- Time
- 60–80 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Type
- Point to point
HarbourTrailSunriseModerate
Route map
Every stop, mapped
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StartFinishWaterToiletsTransportCafeBeachLookoutLandmark Photo stop
Route timeline
Kilometre by kilometre
0 km
Balmoral Beach
Start on the esplanade and climb toward Middle Head Road.
3.4 km
Middle Head
Out to the fortifications and the harbour-mouth lookouts.
5 km
Georges Head
Back west along the clifftop with the city ahead.
6 km
Chowder Bay
Down to the wharf, cafes and the beach.
6.8 km
Clifton Gardens
Netted swimming, taps and toilets.
8.8 km
Bradleys Head
The mast, the amphitheatre and the skyline.
10 km
Taronga Zoo wharf
Finish at the ferry — twelve minutes to Circular Quay.
Route highlights
The parts you'll remember
6 km
Chowder Bay & Clifton Gardens
Old naval buildings, a working wharf and a netted harbour beach with a jetty — the halfway swim stop.
-33.8390, 151.25458.8 km
Bradleys Head
The mast of HMAS Sydney on the point, and the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city lined up across the water.
-33.8510, 151.2447Photo stops
Where to stop and shoot
Middle Head gun emplacements
Sandstone tunnels and cannon platforms hanging over the harbour entrance.
- Best time
- Sunrise
- Photography tip
- Frame the ocean through one of the tunnel openings for a natural vignette.
- GPS
- -33.8270, 151.2676
Bradleys Head point
The cleanest skyline view in Sydney — bridge, Opera House and city in one frame.
- Best time
- Sunrise, or the last hour of light
- Photography tip
- Use the HMAS Sydney mast in the foreground to give the skyline scale.
- GPS
- -33.8512, 151.2450
Local knowledge
Before you go
- Best time to run
- Early morning — the bush sections are cool and the skyline is lit from the east.
- Sunrise
- 6:00am summer / 6:50am winter — best seen from Middle Head.
- Sunset
- Behind the city skyline; Bradleys Head is the spot for it.
- Parking
- Free parking along Balmoral's Esplanade fills by 8am; Clifton Gardens has a paid car park.
- Public 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.
Safety
Mixed trail, steps and short road sections. Watch for cyclists and loose sandstone after rain.
Getting there
- • Balmoral bus (238 / 233)
- • Taronga Zoo ferry
2 water points · 2 toilet stops on route
Local tip
Time the finish to the ferry timetable and ride back past the whole route from the water.
- Bathers' Pavilion, Balmoral — Breakfast before you start.
- Ripples, Chowder Bay — Halfway coffee on the water.
- Taronga ferry — The best possible finish line.
Route pack
Download the Balmoral to Taronga Zoo pack
The GPX file plus everything on this page, ready for your watch and your pocket.
- GPX file
- Route map
- Route summary
- Elevation profile
- Route highlights
- Photo-stop guide
- Public transport info
- Local recommendations