Sydney's Coastline - Manly Beach to Collaroy Beach

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Route: Manly Beach, Queenscliff Beach, Queenscliff Rockpool, Manly Wormhole, Queenscliff Head, Freshwater Beach, Freshwater Lookout, Curl Curl Boardwalk, South Curl Curl Rockpool, Curl Curl Beach, Dee Why Head, Coles Ledge, Tea Tree Lookout, Gahnia Lookout, Dee Why Rockpool, Dee Why Beach, Dee Why Lagoon, Long Reef Beach, Long Reef Point, Fishermans Beach

Date: 26/09/2020
From: Manly Beach

Parking: N/A
Start Point: Manly Beach
Finish Point: Fishermans Beach
Region: Sydney

Route length: 6.8 miles (11.0km)
Time taken: 03:07
Average speed: 2.1mph
Ascent: 167m
Descent: 166m

Points of Interest: Manly Beach, Manly Wormhole, Freshwater Beach, Curl Curl Boardwalk, Tea Tree Lookout, Dee Why Lagoon, Long Reef Point

While the Bondi to Manly Track seems to have stolen the headlines, it is possible to extend the hike in either direction thanks to the multitude of paths and boardwalks which line the coast and the abundance of easy public transport. Officially, Sydney's north coast extends from Manly to Palm Beach and Barrenjoey and we'd start hiking these parts by exploring the coast between Manly and Collaroy.

Usually, any trip to Manly often means getting the Manly Ferry, the famed service between Circular Quay and Manly which provides a cheap way to see many of the sights of Sydney Harbour. It takes around 40mins and is well worth the $7 fee. It deposits you at Manly Wharf where a short walk down the Corso leads to the huge sweeping bay. Normally, people would stop here for a day on the beach or a dip in the sea but we left, heading north, making our way along the promenade. 

The magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge

The intricated patterns of the Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney

Sydney's CBD skyline

Shark Island

Manly Beach

Manly Beach

It was a beautiful, sunny spring day, as you can see from the photos. At the north end of the bay, Manly Beach becomes Queenscliff Beach at Manly Creek. Queenscliff is famous amongst the Australian surf beaches for its "heavy" waves (bomboras) that break out at sea. In a large swell, this is where you’re likely to find some of Manly’s pro surfers being towed by jet-skis onto towering waves.

Queenscliff Beach and Queenscliff Head

Queenscliff SLC

Queenscliff looking back towards Manly

There is a 50m rock pool at the northern end of Queenscliff Beach, tucked up against the cliffs on the headland and a walk around the cliff edges, through the "Manly Wormhole" and on to the next beach, Freshwater Beach. The tunnel was dug out in the early 1900s by local fishermen to avoid them having to climb around the rocks to get between Freshwater and Queenscliff. The 40m tunnel can be dark so take care. Beyond the tunnel, we rock hopped along the shore to Freshwater Beach - this section should only be done at low tide.

Queenscliff Rockpool

Queenscliff and Manly

Entering the Manly Wormhole

The Manly Wormhole

The tunnel emerges on a shelf below Queenscliff Head

We followed the rocks towards Freshwater Beach

Freshwater Beach

Rocks below Queenscliff Head

Freshwater Beach

Freshwater Beach is a beautiful spot, far quieter than some of the eastern beaches such as Bondi and Coogee, but no less pretty. We walked along the sand to the north end of the beach and another rock pool next to a car park. From the car park, you'll find the Curl Curl Boardwalk.

Freshwater Beach

Freshwater Beach and Queenscliff

The International College of Management building dominates the hills above Manly

The new boardwalk (recently renamed to commemorate local resident Harry Elliffe) is built on top of the rock outcrops between Freshwater Beach and Curl Curl Beach, avoiding having to walk on the road. It wasn't long before we reached the large Curl Curl Beach.

The Curl Curl boardwalk

Curl Curl boardwalk

South Curl Curl Rockpool

Curl Curl Beach

Its interesting name is thought the be the original Aboriginal name for the wider area of Manly Vale. It is perhaps derived from the phrase curial curial meaning 'river of life'. This would be a specific reference to Curl Curl Lagoon, a large creek that drains into the sea at North Curl Curl Beach. We crossed the beach and then climb Dee Why Head which has a fine view across the bay to the south.

Curl Curl Beach

Plenty of splendid colours on display

North Curl Curl Beach

Climbing the steps to Dee Why Head

Curl Curl from Dee Why Head

From Dee Why Head, a path skirts the cliff edge as we made our way north, sandwiched between the back of some affluent houses and the blue of the Pacific Ocean. This is a beautiful section of the walk with numerous lookouts to pause and take in the view. The path ends at a small reserve before we descended to the vast Dee Why Beach.

Remnant bush on Dee Why Head

Tea Tree Lookout

Long Reef

Cliffs at Tea Tree Lookout

The path hugs the cliff top

Dee Why

Dee Why Rockpool

Dee Why Beach

It is likely Dee Why gets its unusual name from James Meehan, a convict who ultimately used his experience as a surveyor to gain a conditional pardon. The first reference to the name is in his field notes from 1815 - 'Dy Beach', becoming Deewhy and then Dee Why. However, it is not known what 'Dy' ultimately referred to.

Dee Why

The large Dee Why Lagoon sits trapped behind the beach, with a path running along the eastern shore of the lagoon. You can choose the walk along the beach or the lagoon, they both reach the same place. The lagoon is a Wildlife Refuge that recognises its high conservation values - it is home to a sequence of coastal ecosystems which are rarely found in an urban setting. Where Dee Why lagoon meets the sea, the beach becomes Long Reef Beach and continues north to the base of Long Reef Point.

A path travels behind the beach, alongside Dee Why Lagoon

Dee Why Lagoon

Dee Why Lagoon

Long Reef Beach

Long Reef Beach looking back towards Dee Why

Approaching Long Reef Point

Views from Long Reef Point

We reached the north end of the beach where there is a concrete path that climbs to Long Reef Point, a notable headland with excellent views to the north and south. It's a perfect spot for some whale watching when they are migrating along the coast.

Long Reef Point

Long Reef Headland

Looking north towards Central Coast

A pillar sits atop Long Reef Point

We finished our hike along the Bicentennial Coast path which took us past Fishermans Beach to the streets of Collaroy, a suburb named after the S.S. Collaroy which ran aground in 1881. It marks the beginning of the enormous Collaroy Beach - the subject for our next hike along the coast. For now, though, we hopped on a bus back to Manly to catch the ferry back to Sydney - a great end to a lovely day hiking.

Fishermans Beach

A curious location for a flag

The return back to Sydney