This article is from Sydney WeekendNotes for Tuesday the 16th of June 2009

For those lucky enough to live in the most beautiful city in the world, there are few better ways to savour Sydney’s charms than to do the Great Coastal Walk.

Running from Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the South, it winds along our beautiful coastline, passing gorgeous beaches, dramatic headlands, expansive lookouts and an array of stunning homes.

The GCW is 100 kilometres long. But don’t worry- nobody expects you to do it in one hit! Practically every part of the route is accessible by public transport, meaning that you can complete it in a series of comfortable stages, over a period of months or even years. And because benches, bubblers and cafes are liberally scattered throughout, the GCW can be turned into the perfect combination of exercising, sightseeing and socialising!

Thanks to the natural blessings for which Sydney is renowned, there isn’t a single unappealing stretch on the entire walk. Some sections, however, are especially striking- and if you only want to explore a bit of the GCW, these are the places where you should focus your attention.

The first highlight is the very north, where you will be captivated by Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Palm Beach, the breathtaking Tongue Lookout and the countless spectacular houses. Another fabulous setting is the area around Manly, with its beaches, promontories and cafes. On the other side of the bridge, prepare to be in raptures as you follow the path that connects Bondiand Coogee Beaches, which surely must rank as one of Australia’s most dazzling urban strolls. The sun, the sand, the rocks, the waves, the surfers, the seagulls, the heads- and as if all of that wasn’t enough, there’s also Waverley Cemetery, which rests on high ground along the coast, and which is the most beguiling location imaginable to enjoy one’s eternal rest!

Here are a few pictures:

Tongue Lookout
Manly
Waverley Cemetery