Running is one of the best ways to experience Sydney. Feet pounding the pavement or sinking into the sand; listening to the unique soundtrack of ferries on the harbour and the hum of a seaplane passing overhead; becoming enveloped in the sights and sounds of everyday life. The city boasts running trails that pass by iconic landmarks, world-famous beaches and through hidden pockets of untouched bushland. Feel connected to the city on one of these eight routes that cover Sydney’s most spectacular spots.
Join thousands of other runners for the 20th anniversary of the
Blackmores Sydney Running Festival on 18 September, 2022. Distances range from a 3.5km Family Run to a 10km Bridge Run, and a half and full marathon. All routes include a crossing of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a bucket-list experience that everyone should tick off their list.
If you’re looking for the kind of views of Sydney Harbour you see on postcards, this is the place to find them. Looping through lush national park around the northern edge of the harbour, the path looks directly out onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The trail is short – just 4km – but you will be surrounded by trees and the sounds of native wildlife, making it feel as though you’ve travelled much further. A number of small paths lead off to deserted sandy coves fringed by crystal clear water; think of them as your own private beach in the middle of Sydney.
At the northernmost tip of Sydney stands the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, a heritage-listed sandstone tower standing 91m tall and dating back to 1881. There are two tracks running to the lighthouse along the Palm Beach peninsula – the easy Barrenjoey Track and the more challenging Smugglers Track. Both offer incredible views back towards Sydney and north to the Central Coast. If you’re running in winter, bring your binoculars to spot the whales that regularly frolic offshore.
The Bay Run
One of Sydney’s most popular routes, The Bay Run is a 7km waterfront loop around
Iron Cove in the Inner West. It may not have the famous views of some of the coast trails, but it’s beloved by locals and you’ll get a peek into their everyday lives, running past busy soccer fields, sailboats bobbing in the water and mums pushing prams. This run is also dog-friendly; pups will need to be on-leash on the track but there are parks and beaches along the way for some off-leash romping. Download a map of the run
here.
Arguably Sydney’s most famous trail, the Bondi to Coogee Walk winds along the clifftops for 6km, passing above six of the Eastern Suburbs’ most stunning bays and beaches. Expect plenty of beautiful people in activewear and selfie-snapping tourists alongside a magnificent backdrop of coastal scenery. There are plenty of opportunities to run down to the water for a swim or stop at a cafe for a caffeine hit. Pause on the headland at North Bondi to catch your breath and admire Aboriginal rock carvings of sea creatures dating back more than 2,000 years.
Bondi to Manly Walk
In theory you could complete the epic 80km Bondi to Manly track in a single day, though it would require about 15 hours of non-stop running. Instead, take your time and tackle it in smaller sections, soaking up Sydney’s most famous beaches, harbourside landmarks and lush national parks. The terrain is varied, with sections of easy flat ground interspersed with stairs and steep climbs, but your hard work will be rewarded with a breathtaking new vista at every turn. At night, rest your weary legs in luxury digs like the
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel,
InterContinental Double Bay,
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga Zoo or
Q Station.
Moonrise Loop
Western Sydney Parklands covers more than 5,000 hectares across the suburbs of Blacktown, Fairfield and Liverpool, making for a vast expanse of green right in the heart of Sydney. There are
more than 60km of tracks and trails to choose from. The challenging 6.2km Moonrise Loop takes in some of the park’s most impressive sites, like the striking
Moonrise Lookout with views all the way to the CBD skyline. There are multiple starting points all along the route and the varied terrain of sealed and unsealed paths gives you the chance to mix up your run. Head out early in the morning or at dusk to feel wonder as you spot kangaroos and wallabies grazing, or marvel at the fields of bluebells that pop up after rain.
Built in 1856, Lake Parramatta was the first major dam constructed in Australia. Decommissioned in the early 1900s, it is now the centrepiece of an area of quiet natural beauty just on the edge of the second CBD. This 4.3km trail loops around the outside of the lake on mostly easy flat ground with some tougher sections that include a river crossing and steep steps. Shy echidnas and tiny sugar gliders can be found hidden among the blackbutt trees, while in spring the area is carpeted in wildflowers. The water is also clean enough to swim in, making for a rejuvenating end to your exertions.
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