Comprising six distinct foreshore areas on the north and south of the harbour as well as five harbour islands, Sydney Harbour National Park offers some of the city's best views and natural attractions. Close to the popular suburbs of Manly, Mosman, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay and Seaforth, the park area protects and preserves some of Sydney's most prized real estate.
Made up of 388 hectares, the park area south of Sydney Harbour contains South Head and Nielsen Park and to the north: North Head, Dobroyd Head, Middle Head and Ashton Park. The five islands are Clark Island off Darling Point, Shark Island off Rose Bay, Rodd Island in Iron Cove, Goat Island off Balmain and Fort Denison off Mrs Macquaries Point. These park destinations each offer a range of historic, natural, indigenous and outdoor attractions.
Go to Bradleys Head for views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, or walk to The Gap lookout at South Head or swim at Camp Cove. Dobroyd Head is where you can view ancient Aboriginal sites, or head to Middle Head and Georges Head to take a tour of the military fortifications. On the islands, Fort Denison is a former military site which housed criminals and Goat Island was also once a convict outpost. Consider one of the many inspiring walking trails such as the Manly Scenic Walkway, a 9.5km track which winds its way from the Spit Bridge in Mosman to Manly around sandstone headlands, small beaches, Aboriginal sites and the historic Grotto Point Lighthouse.
Some of the sites within Sydney Harbour National Park attract vehicle entry fees, landing fees or are only accessible by tour. Carpark fees for Bradleys Head are AU$7 per vehicle per day, AU$3 per vehicle per day at North Head carpark and a maximum daily rate of AU$16 to park at Chowder Bay or AU$20 on weekends. Day tours to Fort Denison and Goat Island depart from Cadman's Cottage in The Rocks where you can also pay the landing fees to visit Clark, Shark and Rodd Islands. To get to Cadman's Cottage, take a CityRail train to Circular Quay Station and walk six minutes down George Street.
