Bike Riding and Cycleways

Riding a bike around Manly and the Northern Beaches is the perfect way to experience every corner of Sydney’s most beautiful coastal towns. Hire a bike or jump on your own and explore secluded coves, national parks, marine reserves, deserted beaches, lagoons, and breathtaking coastal views.

Cycling offers a great alternative to experience many attractions, ensuring you don’t miss a thing. Many tracks in Manly allow riders to easily get around without the worry of competing with traffic.

Manly and the Northern Beaches cycling tracks and trails cater for all fitness levels from 7km bike paths to 20km off road cycling tracks. Did you know; the upper Northern Beaches, Pittwater, consists of 271km of road and 81km of footpath/cycleway?  Grab your bike and explore all the Northern Beaches have to offer both on and off road.

Reasons to ride around the Northern Beaches:

• Riding is good for you! Have fun while getting fit.
• Cheap to hire - hire a bike from as little as $11p/h
• Free to park - bring a chain and tie it to our designated bike racks
• Saving the environment - Cycling is a zero-emission transport choice.
• See places you usually wouldn’t reach by car.
• Avoid the traffic!
• Meet new people with tips and tricks for the bike trails.

Don’t own a bike?
If you don't have your own bike, you have the option of renting one from bike stores around the Northern Beaches. Many places have bikes to cater to all types of tracks.

If you are new to the area, consider letting Manly Bike Tours take you on a guided tour. Manly Bike Tours are in fact Manly's only local tour operator and can get you exclusive access into some of the area's landmark attractions.

Manly Bike Tracks & Trails

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North Head, Sydney Harbour National Park

Save the parking fees, jump on your bike and take a ride up to North Head. It is Manly's most popular ride where you can immerse yourself in nature within the native bush surroundings. Explore Manly’s most iconic attractions including St Patrick's Estate, North Fort, The Sanctuary, The Quarantine Station as well as access to Collins Beach. All the roads are paved and there is a cycle path that you can follow all the way.

Route

1. Ride up Darley Road from Manly
2. Continue through the archway on the Scenic Drive towards the Sydney Harbour National Park.
3. Last stop is North Head, enjoy the panoramic views of the ocean, harbour, and the city.

Tips:

• Fit riders may choose a steep side trip down Collins Beach Rd at the beginning of Scenic Drive.
• There are no toilet facilities at North Head
• Watch for pedestrian traffic on Fairfax Walking Track at North Head
• Combine this train with ‘Manly Beach Front’ for a great scenic ride.
• Whale sightings between June-July and October-November

Duration: Approx: 2 hours

Difficulty Level:  Moderate

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The Manly Beach Front

Photo: James Pipino: Destination New South WalesCruise around the famous Manly Beach, this track is the ideal place for the whole family as it is level and has dedicated cycle paths.

Route:

1. Just follow the dedicated bike path along the ocean promenade. The stunning ride along the beachfront is flat the entire way.
2. At the north end of the beach is Manly Lagoon. At the south end of the beach is Shelly Beach.

Tips:

• Shelly beach is a great area for snorkelling and is protected from the waves making it a safer alternative for the kids to swim in.

Duration: Approx 1.5 hours, 7km

Difficulty Level: Easy

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Manly Dam

Manly Dam is a dam located only a few kilometres from Manly CBD, the Dam is a popular spot for picnicking or fishing. Best access points for bikes: The King Street entrance, Gibbs St, Manly Vale and Upper Clontarf or Kirkwood St at Bantry Reserve, Seaforth.

Tips:

• Ride in a clockwise direction
• Night mountain bike riding is not permitted
• best to walk your bike in the sections that are beyond your abilities
• For the more adventurous choose the off road trails winding throughout the surrounding bushland.

Duration: Approx 2-3 hours, 20 km

Difficulty Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Manly Cove, Harbour-side

Dedicated cycle paths will take you from Fairlight to Little Manly. Stop with the family at the old Gas Works site, a popular place to picnic.

 

Northern Beaches Bike Tracks & Trails

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Narrabeen Lakes to Manly Lagoon

This walk or ride features amazing coast views separated by several headlands, surf life saving clubs and aquatic reserves.

Route:

Commence at Narrabeen shopping centre and proceed north along the lagoon foreshore turning down Albemarle St to the beach. This walk or ride features amazing coast views separated by several headlands, surf life saving clubs and aquatic reserves. Narrabeen and Collaroy beaches form the longest stretch of sand on the Northern Beaches.

Duration: Approx: 1-1.5hours, 12km

Difficulty Level: Easy- Medium

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Palm Beach

This ride from Dee Why to Palm Beach shows off what the Northern Beaches has to offer. Leave early to mid-day to keep traffic to a minimum as you will need to share the road with vehicles.

Duration: Approx. 50km return

Difficulty Level: Medium

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Narrabeen Lakes Foreshore Walk

Start at Berry Reserve behind Narrabeen shops and proceed along the foreshore to the Jamieson Park picnic areas and bushland. Follow the track to where South Creek meets the Lakes.

Duration: Approx. 1.5hours (walking), 5km

Difficulty Level: Easy

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Bobbin Head

Start at Dee Why and continue on to Akuna Bay or go up Warringah Road which will take you through Forestville and Terry Hills. This track will take you all the way to Ryde. 

Duration: Approx. 60-80km

Difficulty Level: Medium- Hard

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Jamieson Park

Jamieson Park reserve is located along the southern foreshores of Narrabeen Lagoon. The park is on the route of the Narrabeen Lagoon Multi-use Trail. Great place to picnic with the family and teach the little ones how to ride.
Access: The Esplanade, Narrabeen

Difficulty Level: Easy

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Red Hill

Red hill ranges from easy open tracks to technical rock climbs and drop-offs. Red Hill can be tough, climbing Red Hill has reduced strong mountain bikers to tears. However this track is a fantastic place to learn and practice technical skills for mountain biking.
Access: Enter from Willandra Rd, Wakehurst Parkway or Narrabeen Fitness Camp.  

Difficulty Level: Easy- Hard

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Passmore Reserve

The bike circuit at Passmore Reserve is perfect for teaching young children to ride. Located in Manly Vale, the circuit loops around the playing fields around the playground and joins up with the bike track at Nolan Reserve.

Difficulty Level: Easy

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Centre Track

Enter the track from top toll gate Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to West Head turn off. The North End is almost exactly 2km from the North end of Duck Hole, combine with Duck Hole track to make a round trip.

Duration: Approx. 6.6Km return

Difficulty Level: Medium 

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