Short and spectacularly scenic, this 4 km trail hugs Sydney’s lower North Shore, taking roughly an hour and a half, to two and a half hours one way. Hike your way through the bush track as you weave between the bays, catching glimpses of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at Bradleys Head Amphitheatre, before discovering the tranquillity of Taylors Bay, where small boats gently sway with the tide. From there, make your way to Clifton Gardens – a classic Sydney picnic spot – then finish in Chowder Bay for a bite to eat at one of the cafes.

Not for the faint hearted, this walk is about 10 km one way, generally taking a good four hours to complete. Starting at the Spit Bridge, hike up the hill to Clontarf Reserve, then Castle Rock Beach and Grotto Point Lighthouse. Depending on the tide, you might catch the ‘secret’ Washaway Beach – a little patch of beach that vanishes at high tide. You’ll need to climb down a cliff so make sure you’re confident off terrain. Enjoy the view from Dobroyd Head Lookouts – this is where Sydneysiders catch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race – before passing by Reef and Forty Baskets Beach. Finish in Manly in time for sundowners at 4 Pines for a refreshing reward of alcoholic ginger beer as you enjoy views of the harbour.

This easy stroll packs stunning views. Start at Bayview Hill Road in Vaucluse, and follow the shoreline to discover Queens Beach and Hermit Bay Beach. Once you make it to Milk Beach, hike up the hill to explore Strickland House, a 19th-century with one of the most magical harbour views. Finish the walk at Nielsen Park and Shark Beach where there’s plenty of grass for a picnic with a gorgeous bay (complete with a shark net) for a swim. One way, this easy walk is about 2 km and takes between 30 minutes to an hour.

It’s perhaps one of the most touristy walks, but also one of the most beautiful. Start in Bondi as you hug the coastline, watching the waves crash into the different bays and beaches from Tamarama, Bronte, Gordon’s, Clovelly, then finally Coogee. The walk is about 6 km one way and takes two to three hours depending on your pace and pit stops. With beaches, rock pools, cafes and parks, you can take your time and stop for a dip and a coffee along the way. Most of the walk is paved walkways, but you’ll have steep gradients as you walk up and down into the bays.

Within arm’s reach of Sydney is the bushwalk-laden Royal National Park. But while it has no shortage of sweat-inducing hike, the Forest Path Walk is a great option for those craving something a little less arduous. The Forest Path is one of the oldest walking tracks in the path, a 4.4km loop that takes around 1 hour to wander. The looped trail beings at the stone gates on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and winds up and down hills, through protected rainforest, eucalypt forest, and passes by Bola Creek picnic area (a great place to enjoy lunch). If you’re not yet satisfied, this walking track conveniently links to Couranga Walking Track.

Stretching across the city centre and out into the Inner West, the Glebe Foreshore Walk offers stunning views of the Sydney cityscape, especially at sunrise and sunset. A 4km trek that links 27 hectares of public green space, this track reaches from Pyrmont’s bustling Sydney Fish Markets to Bicentennial Park, taking in the likes of Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay along the way. It’s a dog-friendly trot that greets a handful of parks along the way, including Federal Park, Bicentennial Park and Blackwattle Bay Park which each have off-leash options. But it doesn’t just appeal to dog lovers, but bike enthusiasts too thanks to a shared pedestrian and cycling track.