A guide to walking from Rose Bay to Watsons Bay, Sydney
The walk from Rose Bay to Watsons Bay in Sydney shows off unusual bushland, gorgeous cove beaches, historic buildings and superb harbour views.
Sydney’s most exclusive section stretches from Rose Bay to the South Head of the harbour. The Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk is the perfect way to experience this stretch, offering views of the harbour bridge and city, while maintaining an air of wildness.
The ferry to Rose Bay pulls in near the Catalina seafood restaurant.
The walk starts with blue bell-shaped flowers blooming amongst waxy banana-esque leaves and striking silver-trunked gum trees.
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Skip the queues – and get the best prices – with mobile-friendly advance tickets for these top Sydney attractions.
- Taronga Zoo – the zoo with harbour views (and plenty of cute Aussie animals)
- Sydney Opera House – official walking tour. See behind the scenes!
- Wild Life Sydney – Aussie animal favourites in convenient Darling Harbour location. Perfect if on limited time.
- Sydney Cricket Ground – behind the scenes secrets tour.
- Sydney Tower Eye – 360 degree views from 250 metres above the city.
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Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk: Unexpected discoveries
The walk provides unexpected discoveries, such as Queen’s Beach a tiny pandanus-backed cove beach that can only be reached on foot by taking on steep sandstone steps.
A wooden boardwalk snakes past some stout, noble Moreton Bay fig trees towards Hermit Point, where yachts are moored and picnic benches invite a pause for a swim and a snack. The sandstone coastline puts on a show with a series of smooth, milky-white cave-esque overhangs.
Milk Beach offers another delightful cove to enjoy almost all to oneself while taking in views of the Opera House.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
Strickland House in Vaucluse, Sydney
Behind Milk Beach, Strickland House, a 19th century effort in the wealthy suburb of Vaucluse, is one of the finest buildings in Sydney. Made in the Victorian Italianate style, with showy columns, it has been used as a convalescent home and a hospital. The grounds are open and free to wander.
Nielsen Park and the Nielsen Park She-oak
The Hermitage Foreshore Walk has the largest remnant tract of intact bushland on the south side of Sydney Harbour, and there are some rare species in the mix. The Nielsen Park She-oak and subspecies of the sunshine wattle are very hard to find anywhere else. Nielsen Park behind Shark Beach is home to a 20-hectare recreation reserve and a kiosk that dates back to 1914.
Parsley Bay on the Rose Bay to Watsons Bay walk
Heading north, the walk becomes more about sauntering through quiet neighbourhood streets rather than hugging the coast.
The amble emerges at the striking Parsley Bay, where the harbour juts in sharply, and an adorably cute suspension bridge spans over the shallow, paddler-perfect water. It’s one of the most underrated scenic spots in Sydney, with plenty of picnic tables for a leisurely lunch.
Arriving at Watsons Bay
The last major stop before the National Park resumes at the South Head is Watsons Bay, one of the most popular destinations for those exploring Sydney by ferry.
The Watsons Bay ferries from Circular Quay drop off, and Doyle’s fish and chip stall is a local institution.
The sprawling green park offers the perfect place to enjoy fish and chips while admiring the views. The Vaucluse Yacht Club sails and massive Moreton Bay figs provide a grand vision of the harbour.
You can go for a swim at the Watsons Bay Baths, but you’re better off extending the walk a few hundred metres to the more attractive Camp Cove.
More New South Wales travel
Where to stop on a Port Macquarie to Brisbane road trip.
Walk the Maitland Bay Track on the Central Coast.
Who was colonial architect Francis Greenway?
Learn some history on a Rocks ghost tour.
What is Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney?