Sydney Outdoors Meetup Group

Bondi to Manly in 7 Stages! - Spit Bridge to Manly 12KM

In this 7-walk series, we cover 90.5KM in total to explore the worlds greatest harbour city at a pace which allows us to enjoy the amazing sights and sounds of Sydney!

In Episode 6, we meet directly outside Grumpys Wharf Café which is 30 metres from the intersection of Spit Road and Parriwi Road by no later than 10:30AM. (Bus service to this location is high frequency) We walk across the Spit Bridge and around to Clontarf Beach for a quick coffee stop and toilet break. A further 2km in we inspect Grotto Point Lighthouse (it is still operational) and the site of Aboriginal rock carvings and pushing along, past magnificent views of the east harbour, to Tania Park, Balgowlah, where we stop for lunch, 6.5KM in.

Lunch Options: Eat your packed lunch in Tania Park, where there is seating and a bathroom. Or, members can buy lunch at Balgowlah Bowling Club which is 300 meters away together with a Café and an Indian Takeout. Spoiled for choice!

After lunch we hit the Dobroyd Headland trail and descend to the lookout for some pictures, no doubt. We then pass Fourty Baskets Beach and Jillings Cove and head for Manly Wharf via the Fairlight Beach walk.

What to Bring: Please bring snacks and lunch, hat, sunscreen, plenty of water. Members may purchase lunch (see above options) or eat your own food at Tania Park.

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:

Cronulla/Cape Solander/Whale Watching!!! - 16 km

We meet outside Cronulla train station by 10,00AM and head out for Cape Solander via the lagoon at Boat Harbour and the stunning Cape Bailey track.

We stop at Cape Solander for lunch. NO SHOPS SO BRING YOUR LUNCH.

EXCELLENT HUMPBACK WHALE SPOTTING ALONG THIS TRACK, SO LET'S GO CHECK THEM OUT!

After lunch, we head into the Botany Bay National Park and through to the site of the landing of the HMS Endeavour, commanded by Captain James Cook on 28 April 1770, and other points of interest at this historic location.

We finish the day with a walk along the Botany Bay foreshore and a refreshment at Kurnell Community Club, before catching a bus back to Cronulla train station.

We should complete this walk by about 3:30PM

Distance: 16km

Type of Walk: Ocean, beaches, history and national parks and --- WHALES!!

Difficulty: Medium.

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

Meeting Place and Transport: Please ensure you are at Cronulla Train Station by no later than 10.00AM. Transport back is by bus to Cronulla Station.

What to bring: Trail runners/joggers; 1.5-2 litres of water; hydrolytes; one snack and lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: Kurnell Recreation Club

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 9:43AM. 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: Trail runners/ trainers; 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:

Winter Epic! Coledale to Wollongong - 23KM (Medium/Hard)

We commence at Coledale Train Station and track the south coast through Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli before we reach Woonona and head away from the ocean to the classic local Woonona Bowling Club for our lunch break and some clean bathrooms!

Filled with food, we hot-foot back to the coast at Bellambi and power on through Corrimal, Towradgi and Fairy Meadow and, finally, we reach Flagstaff Point whereupon sits the iconic Wollongong Light House at the end of our walk. Wollongong Train Station and regular trains back to Sydney is a 2km walk, through town.

Distance: 23 km

Type of Walk: This walk is a full day adventure. The natural beauty of these seaside villages, nestled at the foot of the Illawarra Escarpment, is legendary. The beaches and ocean views are awesome! NOT TO BE MISSED!!

Difficulty: Medium/Hard just for the distance with get-out points (buses/trains). Most of the walk is flat.

Walking Pace: We will maintain a steady pace all day and average 4.5 km per hour. We must finish by 5:00 pm.

Meeting Place and Transport: Catch 7:29am train from Platform 25, Sydney Central, to Thirroul, arriving 8:46am. We change to Platform 1 and train back to Coledale, departing 8:51am arriving 8:56am. Trains back from Wollongong run frequently.

What to bring: Trail runners; 1.5 litres of water, refill along the way; hydrolytes; morning tea; lunch; snacks. GREAT FOOD AVAILABLE AT OUR LUNCH BREAK, Woonona Bowling Club. Pack the light rain jacket, sunscreen and a cap or hat.

Suggested Donation: $10

Pub: The Collegians Club (please bring photo ID); 600 meters from Wollongong Train Station

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: