Sydney Harbour's Secret Beaches - Athol Beach

Athol Beach is a 9 minute walk from the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf. There is no parking, hence no crowds. The crowds from the ferry either queue for the chairlift (to the zoo) or enter via the lower entrance. No one seems to notice the track to the beach (off the Bradley Head trail).

Athol Bay, with Taronga Zoo ferry wharf in the background

The Best (Short) Walk in Sydney? Taronga Zoo Wharf to Bradley's Head

The coastal walking trail starts at the lower entrance to Taronga Park Zoo, winding through Sydney Harbour National Park. There is a picnic ground amongst the fortifications on the hill above the HMAS Sydney I Memorial Mast. 

You can continue on to Chowder Head via Taylors Bay (add an extra 60 minutes including stops).

Wave as the Manly ferry passes Bradley's Head

Found a friend on the trail near Athol Hall

HMAS Sydney I  Memorial Mast

Fortifications date back to the 1840's

The closest beach to Sydney CBD

Lavender Bay is in North Sydney. It is a 5 minute ferry ride across from Circular Quay.
A coastal walking track leads from Milsons Point ferry wharf, past Luna Park to a small beach (Qubaree Park) with spectacular harbour views.

The trail back to Luna Park

Quibaree Park, Lavender Bay - popular with the local bush turkeys

The Best Coastal Walks in Sydney - from Manly or Watsons Bay

If you have done the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, here are three lesser known walks.

1. Manly - North Head National Park
Start at South Manly, continue past Shelly Beach onto North Head trail. Proceed through old artillery stations, barracks to North Fort and Fairfax Lookouts (views to South Head and Sydney Harbour and skyline). Trail loops back via boardwalks to Manly. Total return distance from Manly is 5 - 7 km, depending on the trail you choose and side trips to tour fort and artillery stations.

2. Watson's Bay - The Gap - South Head
Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay (via Rose Bay). Try to ignore delicious smells from Doyle's fish and chips on Watsons Bay ferry wharf.
The Gap is 700 metres west from wharf). If travelling June - September, bring binoculars for whale watching. Follow tourist boats below.
South Head National Park walk is as spectacular as North Head but shorter distance. Follow signs from Watson's Bay ferry wharf. Walk past sheltered Camp Cove and Lady Bay (nudist beach) to get to 470 metre South Head loop. Great place for a picnic on rocks near Hornby lighthouse (bins provided before loop starts).

3. Manly - Freshwater Beach
Walk north, the length of Manly Beach to Queenscliff Beach, cross bridge, climb up, through suburban streets to Freshwater Beach (better surf than Manly).

Sydney public ferries are cheaper than private operators. All leave from Circular Quay

View looking back to Manly and Freshwater Beaches (from North Head trail)

North Head - views of Sydney skyline

Free maps of North Head available in boxes along the trail

South Head and historic Hornby Lighthouse

Freshwater Beach

Helsinki's 5 Euro travel bargain - Suomenlinna Sea Fortress by public ferry

Take the Suomenlinna ferry for Helsinki's 5 Euro travel bargain. Allow at least 2 hours to explore the historic sea fortress and township spread six islands. A free map is available at the ferry terminal ticket office. This means you can take a self-guided tour at your leisure.

The return ticket has a 12 hour travel period

Departs from ferry terminal on Market Square 

Suomenlinna - 18th century sea fortress

10 euros bargain - Ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn

Book on Eckero Line website. 10 euros one -way for 9:00 a.m. departure. Return trip is cheaper!
Print out ticket - no queuing at terminal, just register barcode at turnstile.

A tram (No 7) drops you off at the terminal door.
The morning ferry seemed to be full of 55+ year olds ready to shop, party and buy cheap booze. Nice crowd, though. There was a convivial atmosphere onboard.

Tourist tip: wait near the gates pre-boarding, when ferry is docked (you enter on Level 6), dash upstairs, head for the huge bar area at the bow (Level 8) so you can relax in a comfortable booth (enough room under table for luggage). Free entertainment.

Eckero Line's "Finlandia"

Live band and dancing . Note: the seating booths have plenty of room for you and your luggage.

TV style game show with host celebrity

The bar opens straight after departure (9.00 am.). Cheap booze.

Queensland's cheap public transport - Go Card Senior

It even comes with a card wallet and instruction leaflet

Our Senior Go Cards just arrived in the mail. Couldn't have easier.
My wife and I are living in Melbourne, Victoria. We plan to use public transport in Brisbane when we visit next month. We applied online, citing our Victorian Seniors Card numbers. The system in Sydney is more complicated and your Opal Card (Senior) only last 2 months for interstate visitors.
The card is free (you pay $10, but the $5 deposit is refundable and the card comes with $5 of pre-stored value).
You can use the card for 50% off travel on trains, buses, light rail (new Gold Coast link) and Brisbane River ferries/Citycats. If you travel off-peak ( between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., after 7 p.m. on weekdays and all on weekends) it is a further 20% discount.
You can use the card in Queensland tourist areas (Sunshine Coast and Cairns). Once you get your card (posted to any state or territory in Australia within 10 business days,) you can register online for auto top-ups. Validity of the Go Card Senior is 10 years. Queensland is certainly tourist-friendly.

Go to translink.com.au

Comfortable train journey to Brisbane from Varsity Lakes (closest station to Gold Coast Airport). Easy bus transfer from airport (Route 760).

City Cat ferry - great way to explore Brisbane 

You can travel to all stops on the Brisbane River for around $1.30 (round trip, if you stay on board). The red "City Hopper" ferry (limited stops) is a free service.

City Cat interior

Forget Sydney's Bondi Beach, Manly Beach is the place to go

Only 30 minutes from Sydney, Manly is a unique destination. A world class beach with consistent waves, towering Norfolk pines and two kilometres of white sand. Surf Lifesaving has its origin on Manly Beach.
Once off the ferry, stroll down The Corso (pedestrian mall) to the surf beach. Manly's plazas and laneway give it a village atmosphere, unlike Bondi's rather tawdry and touristy environs.

Manly Beach 1900
Source: Powerhouse Museum

Only a few minutes walk from the bustling Manly Beach is Shelly Beach. You could be on a deserted island, not suburban Sydney. Great snorkelling spot.

The view from Queenscliff, looking back towards Manly Beach

The best way to get to Manly is by the ferry (30 minutes from Circular Quay - adjoining Sydney Opera House and the International Passenger Terminal. A perfect day trip if you only have one day in Sydney.

The historic quarantine station on North Head is a 40 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride from Manly Village (featuring colourful plazas and interconnecting laneways)

Sunset, looking back across the harbour to Sydney.

Unique accommodation in Sydney - Q Station

The Quarantine Station dates back from the 1880's. Situated in a National Park, it's part museum, part hotel and conference centre. Because of the heritage-listed buildings, not all rooms have bathrooms but the private bathroom is next to your room. These are termed Heritage rooms and suites. Deluxe rooms have connected bathrooms. Most rooms have spacious verandahs with water views. There are numerous public lounges spread throughout the property, decorated out in furniture and fittings from the period.

Less than a 10 minute bus ride from Manly Ferry Terminal (Sydney Ferries)

If you don't want to take the ferry and the bus, a privately run ferry delivers visitors directly to Q Station's pier (adjoining the private beach).

The sunset view from Room 27's verandah - probably the pick of the views. Ask for a room near Views Restaurant (used for breakfast). These 2 wings are the most central.

Take the 135 Bus from Manly Ferry Terminal, ferries run every half hour. (Sydney CBD is only 30 minutes on the ferry)

Q Station is divided into various precincts. A 24 hr shuttle bus is available but it is possible to walk around the grounds

Walk to dinner at the Boiler House Restaurant - over 200 steps (once a funicular railway)

The trip to Manly by ferry is spectacular, and a bargain to boot.