[category]
[title]
Spring has officially sprung in NSW, and if the longer days and warmer weather have you fanging to get out into nature, you're not alone. According to AllTrails, hiking navigation was up 12 per cent last spring compared with the year before, suggesting that our appetite for hitting the trails is only on the up. Here in NSW, springtime brings wildflowers, warmer swimming weather and pretty solid whale watching opportunities to our favourite hikes. And to help us make the most of the state’s hiking potential, AllTrails has rounded up some of the top spring hikes across Australia – including four NSW favourites.
Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Walk
There are few walks more textbook Sydney than the Bondi to Coogee. Starting at Bondi Beach and winding its way along the coast towards Coogee, the trail takes in some of the city's most famous beaches, dramatic sandstone cliffs, ocean pools and plenty of prime picnic and swimming spots. It's a walk you can easily turn into a full-day affair, with stops for swims and snacks along the way (Out Of The Blue and Cafe 143 are our top picks – both worth the slight detour). AllTrails lists the route at 12.4 kilometres all in, with an estimated walking time of just under three hours if you smash it out in one go.
Hike distance: 12.4 kilometres
Time: around 2 hours 50 minutes
Drive time from Sydney CBD: around 15–25 minutes
Grand Canyon Track
Just west of the city, the Blue Mountains National Park is home to countless trails and bushwalks, with the most famous (and, yep, sometimes crowded) being the Grand Canyon Track. This beloved trail plunges into the lush landscape of the valley, weaving past waterfalls, ferns, sandstone walls and lots of those wildly spectacular views the region is known for. At 5.8 kilometres, it's relatively short compared with some of the longer walks on this list, but don't mistake that for easy. The loop includes plenty of steps and elevation, making it a solid option if you're after a short but hefty hike. AllTrails estimates it takes around two hours to complete.
Hike distance: 5.8 kilometres
Time: around 2 hours
Drive time from Sydney CBD: around two hours
Spit Bridge to Manly Walk
If you want a gorgeous leg-stretching bushwalk with next-level views of Sydney Harbour, this one's hard to beat. The Spit to Manly Walk follows the harbour through beautiful native bushland and past secluded beaches, Aboriginal heritage sites and some seriously good lookout points before eventually depositing you in Manly for your post-hike feed. The 10.1-kilometre route passes through some of the Sydney Harbour National Park’s highlights, including Clontarf Reserve, Grotto Point, Dobroyd Head and Reef Beach. And, crucially, the finish line is Manly, meaning you can reward yourself with a swim, lunch or waterside Spritz once you've made it there.
Hike distance: 10.1 kilometres
Time: around 2.5–3 hours
Drive time from Sydney CBD: around 15 minutes
Cape Byron Walking Track
Let’s face it: there are a lot of reasons why Byron Bay is on everyone’s NSW travel bucket list, and the Cape Byron Walking Track is one of them. This glorious 3.9-kilometre loop takes you through magical parrot-thronged rainforest, and along spectacular clifftops to Cape Byron Lighthouse, with views across the sparkling shores of Wategos and out across the sparkling waves. The track sits on the lands of the Bundjalung people and reaches Australia's most easterly point on the mainland. Spring is a particularly good time to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – there’s a school of dolphins that call Wategos home, and during whale-watching season you’re almost guaranteed to see some breaches at some point along the trail
Hike distance: 3.9 kilometres
Time: around 1 hour 10 minutes
Drive time from Sydney CBD: around 8 hours
Keen to plan some interstate hikes this springtime? You can check out AllTrails’ full list over here.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.