August 1 - 31, 2025: Issue 645

 

Manly to Spit Walk 

photos by Joe Mills

I had an opportunity to meet up with my brother Alec, and his mate Steve, for a walk from Manly to The Spit on Tuesday, July 29, before the wintry and wet weather set in.  We were fortunate also that we experienced all the recent upgrades by NPWS to the track.  

The track is in tip top condition, but we felt the approximately 10 km of walking we did, including the 8.5 km of the track.  We all slept well that night.

There is so much to see and explore on this well used track, popular with the public and visitors.  

Spring (around Fathers Day) is a great time to these NPWS tracks, as the native flowers are in full bloom, and nature is alive.  Put it in the calendar.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. - John Muir 

As always, enjoy nature.

Joe Mills

If you start at Mosman’s Spit Bridge, this classic Sydney coastal walk shows you some of the most picturesque parts of Middle and North Harbours.

Follow the shoreline to Fisher Bay, Sandy Bay and Clontarf Beach then enter the Sydney Harbour National Park at Castle Rock. Make your way around Dobroyd Head and don't miss the Aboriginal rock engravings at Grotto Point or the amazing views from Arabanoo lookout. Pass by or take a dip at Reef Beach or Forty Baskets on your way to Manly.

To find out more about the History of the Spit Bridge, officially opened Tuesday December 23rd, 1924, visit: Roads To Pittwater: the Sandspit Punt and Spit Bridge

Manly wharf: kayaks ready for tourists

Manly Cove - view towards the wharf

View to North Harbour Reserve from footbridge

Rock patterns on 40 Baskets Beach

On 40 Baskets Beach ()Steve and Alec); named after a catch of 40 baskets of fish sent to a contingent of New South Wales troops detained at the North Head Quarantine Station after returning from Sudan in 1885.

40 Baskets Beach rock formations near track

Grevillea sericea, commonly known as the pink spider flower, 40 Baskets Beach

Hardenbergia violacea - False Sarsaparilla - flowers in abundance in late winter

View through trees and ferns alongside track

Grevillea - endemic to Manly to Spit walk

Bee on native Thryptomene - a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae endemic to Australia (and Manly to Mosman!)

Dobroyd Head, Crater Cove and Quarantine Station opposite us

Banksia serrata, Old Woman Banksia cone (also called 'Old Man' banksia but as this was/is medicine for indigenous women...

Xanthorrhoea, Grass tree, core

dead fern leaves patterns

Grevillea buxifolia, commonly known as grey spider flower

dappled light through this cathedral of trees and ferns

Epacris longiflora - Bush Fuchsia - has a very sweet nectar loved by local birds

Pause to enjoy the view and sunlight

View downwards - Sydney Harbour National Park at Castle Rock

Brush Turkey paradise

Mossy rocks

Mossy rocks and Alec

dried lichen patterns on the rocks

new growth on old tree

Clontarf Marina Cafe

Clontarf beach at low tide

Ferns alongside the track

View towards The Spit Marina

Steve on the Manly to Spit track, towards The Spit end, to show size compared to fig tree to right of frame

Spit Bridge view

Spit Bridge view 2

Spit Bridge view 2

The Spit Marina - view from The Spit Bridge

The Spit Marina - view from beach level