Spit to Manly

On my last full day in Sydney, I was going to take buses and ferries to the Royal National Park for a beach/headlands hike that had been recommended in my guidebook. I'd considered other possibilities, such as Manly, about which all the guidebooks consider a must-see because of the great beaches and shops and restaurants. I'm not much for beaches and shops, though, and I can only eat so much in a day, so this didn't appeal much.

So I hopped on IRC a little before I was set to leave, and asked for recommendations on a walk. Sara said, "Spit to Manly. Best walk in Sydney." I couldn't really pass up a recommendation like that.

Sara said to take a bus from Circular Quay to the Spit, then walk from there to Manly. I thought I knew better, though -- taking a ferry to Manly sounded more fun than a long bus ride, and besides, walking toward a bridge gets you the scenic view of the bridge, right? Walking away from the bridge didn't make any sense. So I hopped on the ferry for the scenic ride to Manly.

At the ferry terminal, there's a Manly Information Center, fortunately, where the nice gentleman found out I wanted to do the Spit-Manly walk. He whispered conspiratorially, "You know, the experts tell me that the best direction is to start at the other end, at the Spit, and walk back." Hey, just like my expert had told me already! The Info Center gent told me where I could catch a bus to the Spit. (It still worked out well to take the ferry initially, since I got a nice map at the Info Center that I couldn't have gotten at the Spit end.)

The Spit-Manly walk is phenomenal, and definitely goes on my short list of all-time greatest city parks (though it actually spans quite a few parks). I can't believe I almost left Sydney without seeing it. Thanks, Sara!

I ran out of time and didn't finish the whole route, which is another good reason for starting at the Spit end: most of the Manly end looks like fairly conventional beach, whereas from the Spit at least to Forty Baskets Beach is all continuously amazing.

Top: Sydney 2007.

Top: Sydney 2007.