Sydney Outdoors Meetup Group

Manly - North Head - Manly!

Whale Watching! History! 13.5KM Medium

We meet at Circular Quay Ferry Wharf 3, Side B to catch the 10:30AM Ferry to Manly, arriving 10:52AM. Quickly underway we skirt East Cove, Little Manly Beach and Little Manly Point, before hitting a bush track through to Collins Beach.

We avoid the security at the Australian Police management training institute and walk up to North Head Scenic Drive which takes us to the historic Quarantine Station, its museum, Café, and toilets where we take lunch 5KM into the walk.

Lunch Options: Eat your packed lunch at the Q Station foreshore park where there is seating and a bathroom. Or members can buy a light lunch at the Q Station Café. The coffee is good, but I recommend bringing food!

After lunch we head for Fairfax Lookout and some of the most stunning views of Sydney Harbour; it is very striking.

We then traverse the seaward side of North head, with a Hanging Swamp along the way and opening up to spectacular views north to the Central Coast; Norah head Lighthouse - 60KM away - is in view on a clear day. Expect to spot Humpback Whales on this section of the walk.

We finish our day walking through Shelley Beach and Fairy Bower on our way to the Corso and the Ivanhoe Hotel for a refreshment.

What to Bring: Snacks and lunch, hat, sunscreen, plenty of water. Members may purchase lunch (see above options) or eat your own food at Q Station.

Pub: Ivanhoe Hotel, Manly Corso

Suggested Donation: $10

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:

Wondabyne to Woy Woy via Pindar Cave and Kariong Brook Falls! 23KM Hard

We catch the Central Coast Train departing Central Station at 7:48AM, arriving Wondabyne Station 8:57AM.

MEMBERS MUST TRAVEL IN THE REAR-MOST TRAIN CARRIAGE, IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. AS THE TRAIN STANDS AT PLATFORM 8, CENTRAL STATION, THIS IS THE FIRST CARRIAGE THAT YOU WILL SEE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TICKET BARRIER.

WONDABYNE IS A REMOTE TRAIN STATION AND ACCESSIBLE ONLY FROM THE REAR-MOST TRAIN CARRIAGE.

From Wondabyne Station we climb up to the local ridge and make our way to Pindar Cave and check out this amazing location. We then head to Kariong Brook Falls and Tommos Campsite where, 12.5KM in, we stop for lunch. These scenic bush locations deep within Brisbane Waters National Park, are not to be missed!

After lunch it is an 11KM walk via Mount Wondabyne itself, through to Woy Woy Train Station and the Bayview Hotel for a refreshment, if desired. Only the final 3KM of this walk is urban.

Distance: 23 kms

Type of Walk: This National Park adventure is not to be missed. We commence at the only train station in NSW which has no road access; it is this remote!

Difficulty: Hard, because of the distance. There are some moderate climbs, which we will manage at a reasonable pace to enjoy the environment.

Walking Pace: We will average 4.5 km per hour. A bit slower on the climbs and a bit faster on the flat parts.

Meeting Place and Transport: Meet at Central Train Station as set out above. CHECK THE DEPARTURE BOARD ON THE DAY, IN CASE OF DEPARTURE PLATFORM CHANGE.

If joining the train from another station, remember to ride in the rear-most carriage in the direction of travel. PLEASE PLAN TO BE EARLY RATHER THAN 'JUST ON TIME' FOR THE START.

Transport out is by train from Woy Woy Train Station.

What to bring: Good walking shoes/trail runners; 2-3 liters of water, no refills at both breaks; hydrolytes; one snack and lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim. MEMBERS MUST BRING ALL FOOD AND WATER; THIS IS A WILDERNESS WALK!

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: Bayview Hotel

Suggested Donation: $10

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:

Classic Harbour Walk - Taronga Zoo to CBD – 12km Easy

We start with a ferry ride from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo, from where we work around to Mosman and Cremorne, stopping here and there to check out the harbour and stuff like that!

Some interesting back street get us to Kirribilli where we stop for lunch at one of the harbour's newest parks, based at the old Submarine Base Platypus, which has an excellent location and a clean bathroom. NO SHOPS AT THIS LOCATION, SO MEMBERS MUST BRING YOUR LUNCH.

After lunch we check out the very posh Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and drop in on the Prime Minister at Kirribilli House plus the Governor General at Admiralty House. Who knows, they might invite us in for a toasted sandwich?

Before leaving Kirribilli, we stop at a hidden park for some epic pictures of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its then up onto the Harbour Bridge deck and walk across to the CBD. We exit the Bridge via Cumberland Street, to avoid the crowds in Circular Quay.

Wynyard Train Station is 100 metres away.

We should complete the walk by about 3:00pm.

Distance: 12 km

Type of Walk: This walk is a relaxed harbour walk.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium. Plenty of get-out points.

Walking Pace: We will maintain a steady pace and average 4 km per hour.

Meeting Place and Transport: Meet at Circular Quay; Wharf 4 Side A, ferry departs at 10:12am.

What to bring: Good walking shoes/boots or trainers; 1.5 litres of water, refill available along the way; hydrolytes; snacks and lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim. WE WILL NOT BE STOPPING AT FOOD VENUES, SO DO BRING YOUR FOOD AND DRINKS.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: TBA

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:

Cowan To Berowra with a Classic Fish & Chips Lunch 14KM Moderate/Hard

We meet at Cowan Train Station by no later than 9:50AM, with the train arriving from Central Station at 9:45AM. MEMBERS MUST TRAVEL IN THE LAST TWO CARRIAGES IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE FORWARD TRAIN CARRIAGE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN AT COWAN, WHICH IS A SHORT PLATFORM.

We commence with a short walk to Muogamarra Rural Fire Station which is the beginning of the former Sydney Oxfam Trail Walker Section Two. This is the only grade 5 (highest) section in the entire Oxfam 100KM endurance marathon, so we will be proceeding at a moderate pace so all interested members can come along and enjoy this amazing bush experience!

About halfway through we stop at beautiful Berowra Waters, where the (free!) ferry take us to the opposite side of the river and one of the best fish cafes in Sydney, Berowra Waters Fish Cafe. Members can purchase lunch here or eat your packed lunch.

Following lunch, we ferry back across the river and tackle a tough climb out to Berowra Waters Lookout and engage fire trails which lead to a final assault up and into the village of Berowra itself!

Distance: 14 km

Type of Walk: Rugged bush tracks, fire trails, cumulative climb and descent of approximately 1,000 meters.

Difficulty: Moderate/Hard

What to bring: Good walking shoes/trail runners; 1.5 – 2 litres of water, refill available along the way; hydrolytes; two snacks and one lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions, torch.

Suggested Donation: $10.

Pub: Berowra RSL.

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: