| Alan |
Feb 8th, 2003 02:42 AM |
Hi jandb and DawnF!<BR>DawnF, your post was music to my ears... I will die a happy man if I know that I have had some small part in publicising on Fodor's this most magnificent of Sydney walks. I do it twice a year, and, in fact, this summer I did it twice in the same week. Here is a cut-and-paste of an old post I made which gives instructions on what to see and how to find it:<BR>There is a one-day walk which not only takes in rock art and an aboriginal midden, but goes past some of Sydney's best views and some great beaches, too, and is always within sight of water! What's more, there are no admission fees, and the only cost for the day is public transport, totalling around $AUD 8. Further, it seems hardly any Sydneysiders know about this walk, so you will stroll for miles and see only a handful of people. <BR>In Sydney, go to Wynyard Railway Station and find the bus stands in Carrington St. From Stand C take regular bus 180 (about half-hourly, but go before 9 a.m., as this is a full day's walk.) Ask the driver to let you off at the Sydney side of the Spit Bridge. Across the street from the bus stop is a group of shops... anyone there will direct you to cross the bridge and walk down the track to the foreshores on your right. This is the entrance to one of Sydney's best walks. Take drinks, as there are few shops until you get to Manly Beach. It's all signposted, but the rock carvings are a few metres off the path about midway into the walk... right around the time when you'll think it's a good idea to stop for a rest and gaze at the view of the harbour (the aboriginal people knew enough to do their art work where the view, and the sea breeze, is at its very best). <BR>Once you get to Manly, after about four hours of easy walking (a few steps, but our daughters have been doing this walk since they were four years old), you have a choice of transport back to Sydney: a long bus ride, or the terrific Manly Ferry trip (about half-hour, regular departures all day), or the more-expensive hydrofoil which takes only a few minutes (but is not nearly as scenic as the ferry, as you're confined to indoors). Manly is a real tourist trap, but there are some great salt-water swimming pools around the area (you will pass several), so you may want to have an afternoon swim. There's even a nude beach slightly off the track three quarters of the way through the walk (there will be a sign to warn you). <BR>Bet this turns out to be one of the best days you spend in Sydney! <BR>
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