5 km
Fairfax Lookout
A boardwalk loop on the cliff edge, 80 m above the ocean, looking back down the harbour.
-33.8233, 151.3003Sydney, Australia
North Head Circuit
Incredible sunrise and sunset views
- Distance
- 10.34 km
- Elevation
- 119 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
60–80 min Loop
A loop around Sydney's northern gateway — military history, dramatic sandstone cliffs, whale-watching lookouts and a vantage point that stares straight down the harbour to the Opera House. Options from 8 to 15 km.
SunriseHarbour ViewsTrail RunningVisitorsModerate
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Run North Head Circuit with confidence
Get the complete route on your watch, plus the local detail that turns it into a memorable morning.
- GPX + Garmin download
- Elevation profile
- Printable terrain map
- Public transport info
- Photo-stop guide
- Coffee + brunch suggestions
The experience
Why you'll love this run
- Dramatic cliff-edge views over the Pacific
- Harbour skyline views from Sydney’s northern gateway
- Military history and whale-watching lookouts
- A rewarding loop from Manly
At a glance
- crowds
- scenery
- adventure
- technicality
- accessibility
Route map
Every stop, mapped
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Printable illustrated route card
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StartFinishWaterToiletsTransportCafeBeachLookoutLandmark Photo stop
Route timeline
Kilometre by kilometre
0 km
Manly Beach
Head south along the Marine Parade boardwalk.
1.4 km
Shelly Beach
Climb the stairs to the headland.
3 km
Blue Fish Track
Trail through banksia heath along the cliff edge.
5 km
Fairfax Lookout
Boardwalk loop — the money shot.
7 km
Quarantine Station
Long descent past the historic buildings.
9.5 km
Manly Beach
Back along the Corso end for coffee.
Route highlights
The parts you'll remember
7 km
Quarantine Station
Nineteenth-century buildings tucked into the hillside where new arrivals were once held.
-33.8184, 151.29051.4 km
Shelly Beach headland
The only west-facing beach on the east coast, with a marine reserve just offshore.
-33.8010, 151.2955Photo stops
Where to stop and shoot
North Head Lookout
Sydney Harbour and the city skyline framed by 80-metre sandstone cliffs.
- Best time
- Sunrise
- Photography tip
- Shoot from the eastern side of the lookout so the harbour and skyline sit together in frame.
- GPS
- -33.8233, 151.3003
Blue Fish Track clifftop
Raw, undercut cliffs and the open Pacific with nothing between you and New Zealand.
- Best time
- First light
- Photography tip
- Include a slice of the heath in the foreground for scale against the cliffs.
- GPS
- -33.8055, 151.3005
Local knowledge
Before you go
- Best time to run
- Sunrise. This is the best place in Sydney to watch the sun come out of the ocean.
- Sunrise
- 6:00am summer / 6:50am winter. The gates at North Head open at 6am.
- Sunset
- Good light on the city skyline from Fairfax, but the loop is unlit — finish before dusk.
- Parking
- Free parking at North Head Scenic Drive, or paid parking in Manly.
- Public transport
- Ferry to Manly then run from the wharf — no bus goes to the headland.
- Water
- Taps at Shelly Beach and North Head Sanctuary only.
- Toilets
- Shelly Beach and North Head Sanctuary.
Safety
Cliff edges are unfenced away from the lookouts. Stay on marked track.
Getting there
- • Manly Ferry
1 water point · 2 toilet stops on route
Make a morning of it
Time the loop so you finish at The Boathouse Shelly Beach for breakfast on the sand.
- brunchThe Boathouse Shelly Beach — Breakfast right on the water.
- swimManly Ocean Pool — Free saltwater pool at the north end of Manly Beach.
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