Sydney Outdoors Meetup Group

Let's Conquer West Head in Springtime! - Epic Views, Hidden Beach, Friendly Kangaroos! 12KM Medium/Hard

Early Springtime is THE TIME to conquer the majestic West Head wilderness parks and snoop around some of Sydney's most amazing hideaway destinations!

We meet at Palm Beach Ferry Wharf in time to catch the 10:00AM ferry ($9,70 - no cash; Tap your Card) to Great Mackerel Beach from where we take a wonderful bush walk to newly built West Head Lookout for views across to Barrenjoey Lighthouse.

We then descend West Head Army Track for a close up look at military ruins and the pristine waters of Broken Bay. The Red Hands Track then gets us to our lunch stop at Resolute Picnic Area where there are clean bathrooms. NO SHOPS HERE; BRING YOUR LUNCH.

After lunch we use West Head Road to access the Flint and Steel Track, down to the wonderful hidden Flint and Steel Beach, taking 15 minutes to soak up this amazing location. It is then a further 4.5KM of easy walking to The Basin where we hang out with the very friendly local Kangaroos as we wait for our ferry back to Palm Beach ($9,70 - no cash; Tap your Card) and a refreshment at Club Palm Beach if you wish.

Regular buses (every 20 minutes or so) run back towards Sydney via Mona Vale where the B1 can be joined.

Distance: 12.5KM

Type of Walk: This is a ridiculously scenic adventure with lots of friendly Kangaroos in the mix. How Australian! Not to be missed!!

Difficulty: Medium/Hard, because of the up and down. There are no get out points.

Walking Pace: We will maintain a steady pace all day and average 4 km per hour. We will take our time on the climbs, to enjoy the environment.

Meeting Place and Transport: Meet at Palm Beach Ferry Wharf in time for the 10:00AM ferry departure. From the City, members would catch the B1 Bus through to Mona Vale and change to the 199 Bus Service through to Palm Beach.

PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY AT PALM BEACH IN THE MORNING: there is coffee and breakfast available close by. The transport sections, buses and ferry rides are one of the highlights of this great day out!!

What to bring: Good walking shoes/trail runners; 2.5 litres of water, (no refill available); hydrolytes; two snacks and one lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim. NO FOOD SHOPS ON THIS WALK, SO MEMBERS MUST BRING ALL FOOD/SNACKS/WATER.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: Club Palm Beach

By RSVPing to this event, you (and your guests) agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of SOMG which you can view here:

Saturday Fitness Walk: St Leonards - Circular Quay via North Shore Magic! 12KM

We meet at St Leonards Train Station exit by 10:30AM on the day and head off through Royal North Shore Hospital Precinct and the historic Gore Hill Cemetery before crossing the Pacific Highway and dropping into a bush track that takes us through to Northwood, and Sydney Harbour.

More bush tracks lead through Greenwich to Berry Island and on to the historic Coal Loader at Waverton where we stop for lunch and to use the bathroom. Yay! MEMBERS SHOULD BRING YOUR FOOD; THE CAFE IS USUALLY VERY BUSY.

After lunch we hit more trails through Berry's Bay and Saw Millers Reserve before joining backstreets for a grand-stand finish including Blues Point, Lavender Bay, a Secret Garden, a stroll through the wild colour of Luna Park and a great little ferry ride under that big Bridge back to Circular Quay for a train or a tasty beer at the newly refurbished Jacksons On George!

Distance: 12KM

Type of Walk: This classic lower North Shore Walk has amazing variety but no Kangaroos.

Difficulty: Moderate

Walking Pace: We will maintain a steady pace and average 4.5 km per hour.

Meeting Place and Transport: Meet at St Leonards Train Station exit by no later than 10:30AM on the day. Transport back is by trains or buses from Circular Quay.

What to bring: Good walking shoes/boots or trainers; 1.5-2 litres of water; hydrolytes; snacks and one lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: Jacksons on George

By RSVPing to this event, you (and your guests) agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of SOMG which you can view here:

Sunday Fitness Walk: Parramatta - Lake Parramatta - Parramatta 18KMs (Medium)

We meet at Parramatta Railway Station and stroll through town, checking out architecture, parks and friendly locals. At Parramatta River, we head West and begin a classic river walk, through beautiful parks. There's a spectacular bat colony. Lots of ducks and swans. And many points of history to note. This is one of the very best river walks in Sydney - no doubt about it.

At Cumberland Hospital, we hit a fresh trail which leads to the headwaters of the Parramatta River, the confluence of Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek after which skirt around the boundary of Westmead Hospital and follow Darling Mills Creek to Windsor Road which we cross, at North Parramatta, and climb to the entrance of Lake Parramatta Reserve.

Who knew there is a lake at Parramatta? Not me! And its not just any lake. It is spectacular! We stop for a 30-minute lunch and soak up the atmosphere of this hidden Sydney gem.

Following lunch, we take on the 4.5km Lake Parramatta Circuit, a grade 1.5 track through truly unique bush, shadowing the lake foreshore before walking local backstreets to Parramatta CBD.

This walk is a real surprise packet, not to be missed. It always puts a smile on members face. After a tasty beer we head to Parramatta Train and Bus interchange.

Distance: 18kms

Type of Walk: This Sunday Fitness Walk is filled with great natural beauty, river walks, a surprise lake and points of historical interest.

Difficulty: Medium. Plenty of get-out points.

Walking Pace: We will average 4,5 km per hour.

Meeting Place and Transport: Meet at Parramatta Railway Station, by 10:00am. Please gather outside the ticket barrier near Woolworths Metro/Pie Face.

What to bring: Good walking shoes/boots or trainers; 1.5 litres of water, refill at Lake Parramatta; hydrolytes; one snack and one lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim. MEMBERS SHOULD BRING LUNCH AS LAKE PARRAMATTA KIOSK, IS NOT ALWAYS OPEN.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: Club Parramatta - BRING PHOTO ID

By RSVPing to this event, you (and your guests) agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of SOMG which you can view here:

Saturday Fitness Walk: Manly Ferry Wharf to Taronga Zoo Ferry Wharf – 21 km

From Manly Ferry Wharf we head west, skirt around the Manly foreshore and enter the scenic Manly-to-Spit walk. On gradual ascent, we head for the rugged beauty of Dobroyd Head, passing through Manly Cove, Key-Ye-My Point, Jilling Cove, Wellings Reserve and Forty Baskets Beach. After traversing the Headland, and enjoying the spectacular views into Middle Harbour, we descend to Clontarf Beach for a late morning tea break and bathroom stop.

Leaving Clontarf we follow local pathways to the Spit Bridge then go high on Parriwi road, before dropping into Rosherville Reserve and passing the little hidden gem that is Chinaman’s Beach. Another climb and we drop into Balmoral Beach where, now 15KM into our walk, we take a 45 minute lunch break, to relax and enjoy Balmoral Beach. If the weather is nice, we may extend our break to let the keen swimmers go for a dip!

After lunch the walk out of Balmoral Beach is a challenging set of stairs, leading to the Sydney Harbour National Park, George’s Head, Chowder Bay and Taylor’s Bay. There is much to see! The harbour is so photogenic and soon, the majesty of the Sydney CBD architecture, a certain well-known bridge and an opera house come into frame.

Pressing on we can hear the lively animals of Taronga Zoo, where we stop and wait for the ferry back to Circular Quay to conclude our day with a tasty beer!

We should arrive at Circular Quay by no later than 5:00pm.

Distance: 21 km

Type of Walk: Full day adventure of rich variety, from the beauty of our Emerald Harbour to pristine national parks and beaches. About one third is along local roads, two thirds through national park and harbour side trails.

Difficulty: Medium. If you are unsure about the distance but would like to test yourself this is a walk for you: there are plenty of get-out points.

Walking Pace: Steady pace all day and average 4.5 km per hour.

Meeting Place + Transport: We meet at Circular Quay, Wharf 3, Side B to catch the 9:30AM ferry to Manly. Or meet at Manly Ferry Wharf by 9:52AM. The ferry, from Taronga Zoo to Circular Quay, runs every 20 minutes.

What to bring: Walking shoes/boots; 1.5 litres of water, refill available; hydrolytes; snacks; lunch light rain jacket; sunscreen, cap/hat.

MEMBERS CAN BUY LUCH AT BALMORAL, IF DESIRED.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: Paragon Hotel, Circular Quay.

By RSVPing to this event, you (and your guests) agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of SOMG which you can view here: