We catch the 0825 ferry to Neutral Bay. Having rained heavily all week, today is a beautiful day with the sky so blue it makes your heart stop. The harbour looks sensational, picture perfect, what a joy to live in Sydney.
The view from Neutral bay back to the city is sublime
We walk along a few roads from Neutral bay to Shell cove, then to the start of the Cremorne peninsular which extends a long way into the harbour. A very picturesque walk along a well kept path, first through a wooded area and then out in the open in Cremorne Reserve, out to the little light house at Robertson point.
From Robertson point we turn towards Mosman Bay. We pass some wonderful “arts and crafts” and Federation houses. Alex and I are talking about the early Popes, especially St Peter. This morphs gradually in to a discussion about the origin of wars.
Then walking through some quite dense forest areas. It is interesting how the vegetation varies along the North Shore. Then finally to the head of Mosman Bay. There is a small monument here explaining that the Ship Sirius was careened here following her voyage to bring food back to the early colony.
From Mosman Bay, we cut through, up some steep streets and down again to Little Sirius Cove (a secluded beach and park).
From Sirius Cove, we track around the water side of Taronga Zoo, passing Little Sirius Point and Whiting Beach. Great views back to the City
Then around the lower entrance to the zoo with its rather elegant frontage.
There is then a really lovely section of walk up and around Bradleys Head. This is well laid out and very secluded given the vistas through the trees of the City and Bridge.
Along the way we see a number of frill-neck lizards.
At Bradleys Point is the mast of HMAS Sydney, a small beach and an amphitheatre. This is also the furthest point south on the North Shore, meaning that this is our last view back to the city.
It is about 2km walk back from the point towards Taylors Bay. There is quite different, more bush-like, vegetation on this side of the point. Taylors Bay has a small very secluded beach. Interesting to feel that you are out in the bush and yet so close to the city.
From Taylors Bay we make our way around Chowder Head to Chowder Bay.
Chowder Bay is site of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) and also has an small old navy base. There is a small but nice beach, a bathing area and a large park extending well back from the beach. There are few roads down to Chowder Bay and it is easy to get confused and go the long way round through Mosman. Eventually we work out that the only way of getting beyond the bay is to walk along the beach. As it is high tide we have to remove our shoes and socks.
Beyond Chowder Bay, we take the road to Obelisk Bay and Middle Head. Next time, we will avoid this. Despite the wooded area along the front, there is no pedestrian path along the water and indeed no pavement along the road. Arriving at Middle Head itself, there is a large car park and a further area cut off by HMAS Penguin. Advice: next time cut through from Chowder Bay direct to Balmoral, despite the green on the map, this is not a good part of the walk. One redeeming feature is the occasional view out to North Head, next weeks target for us.
We have to walk up and around HMAS Penguin on the road, eventually finding the Balmoral Steps which lead down to Balmoral, the first beach on Middle Harbour.
Finally, we arrive at Balmoral beach. It is 1pm, we have walked something like 23km today and are rather hot and tired but it has been a good day. We have lunch at Balmoral. It would have been good to have brought our swimmers. We take the 245 bus back into the city.
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