This article is from Sydney WeekendNotes for Thursday the 26th of March 2009

The Hermitage Foreshore Walk meanders along a thin strip of bushland located betwixt the houses of Vaucluse and the harbour, and running from Rose Bay to Nielson Park.

On accepting this mission you will see some of the most pristine bushland in inner Sydney, quaint harbour beaches (great for swim on a hot day), amazing views of the harbour, Opera House and Bridge, the historic Strickland House, along with a number of pleasant parks and reserves.

The walk is nearly 2km long and should take about 1 hour (one way) depending on how long you stop for breaks or to take in the view. It's also quite flat for most of the walk and suitable for most levels of fitness.

A few pictures of the walk:

Going up the steps
Vaucluse Bay
Shark Bay
Milk Beach

You can begin the walk at either end. I prefer to start at Rose Bay and stop in Nielson Park for lunch before heading back by foot or on a bus.

The walk starts at the bottom of Bayview Hill Road. Follow the sign-posted track out from the cul-de-sac toward the harbour.

Enjoy the views while you meander your way along to the Hermitage Reserve which is a good spot for a break if required.

From there it's about 600 metres to Strickland House which is described by Heritage NSW as:

"...of exceptional historical significance as a remarkably intact 1850s villa with a largely unaltered landscape setting ... an exceptional example of an early Victorian Italianate style marine mansion designed for a picturesque setting."

It's also a great spot to have another pause or even break out a picnic.

The final section of the walk to Nielson Park and Shark Bay is about 800m and takes you through some pretty regenerated native bushland along with even more beautiful harbour beaches.

Once you reach Nielson Park (which I wrote about previously) you can enjoy some fish and chips, explore the park, or go for a swim.

If you parked at Bayview Hill Road you can then either walk back again or catch the 325 bus from Vaucluse Road.

There is parking available at both Bayview Hill Road and Nielson Park, and both can be reached by bus. Consult 131500.info for your best route.

If you would like a map to follow then The Hermitage Foreshore Walk is marked on Google Maps, beginning at Bayview Hill Lane as shown here.


Why? One of the prettiest walks in the Eastern Suburbs.