Sydney’s Northern Wilderness and Coastal Adventure

8.00AM This unique small group tour will take you away from mainstream tourism and allow you to experience some of Sydney’s most remarkable natural regions as a “local” would.

Departing from the hotel, travel out to Sydney’s Northern Suburbs and our first stop of the morning at Ku-ring-gai National Park, approximately 1 hour from your city hotel.  This spectacular 14,928-hectare park forms Sydney’s northern boundary with a mix of sandstone, bushland and water vistas of Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River.  Ku-Ring-Gai, declared in 1894, takes its name from its original inhabitants, the Guringai people, who once lived in this haven for thousands of years.  Remnants of Aboriginal life are visible today thanks to the preservation of art sites, including rock paintings, middens and cave art and engravings. 

We will enter the park and travel alongside the tranquil waterways of Akuna Bay. A short break for morning tea and time to stretch the legs, before continuing towards West Head. Your guide will escort you on a short walking track to explore some Aboriginal rock art, with the option of continuing the short walking track to reach West Head Lookout.  Here the views from the lookout vantage point are simply breathtaking across Pittwater to Barrenjoey Headland, the Hawkesbury River and beyond to the Pacific Ocean. You will possibly have a chance to see wallabies and goannas and an extensive range of native birds and wildflowers (seasonal).

From West Head, we then drive a short distance to explore areas with vivid Aboriginal Rock Engravings that are believed to be 1,000’s of years old. Ku-ring-gai National Park has one of the highest concentrations of art sites found in Australia. Primarily these are engravings in the sandstone and relate to hunting and initiation stories . An explanation of their significance, meaning and how the art was created is given. 

Departing the National Park, we head down to the spectacular coast enjoying the Pittwater views as we travel through the picturesque suburb of Church Point with its million-dollar homes. Wilder and more distant than Sydney’s eastern strands, the Northern Beaches are a must-see, especially for surfers. Although you’ll most likely approach them as part of a day trip, they’re very much a part of the city, with the suburbs pushing right up to the water’s edge. Some neighbourhoods are ritzier than others, but what they all have in common is a devotion to the beach. 

A delicious 2-course lunch will be at a local seaside restaurant. Beverages are at own expense. On conclusion of lunch, we continue along the beach peninsular towards Manly, famous for its surf culture and laid back locals. An optional 15 minute walk will take you to Shelley Beach, where your guide will collect you, before continuing to North Head for stunning views back across the harbour entrance to Sydney city. 

Clients will have the option to return to the city via ferry at own expense, or return with the tour bus and hotel drop off.

Inclusions: hotel pick up and drop off, morning tea, 2 course lunch, National Park fees, bottled water.

Departures: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays : October – March from Sydney City Hotels. Recommended pick up at 8 – 8:30am and returns to hotel at approximately 4:30pm.