A Trip to Manly

Yesterday, I took another sightseeing trip.  I've been meaning to see Manly for the better part of my entire time living here. According to locals, Manly beach is the best in all of Sydney, even better than Bondi, because surfing championships are held there.  I guess it is a bit of a debate among the city, but I won't get involved in the fight.  I think it is pretty cool to have any sort of beach next to a city.  Anyway, I took the ferry to Manly, which was about a 30 minute ride and gave a great view of the harbour.  It was a really nice day yesterday, but the waves were really big from the wind.  Despite the ferry being quite big, it was rocking really far back and forth.  Capsizing did cross my mind, but of course everything turned out fine.   Anyway, I started on the approximately 9km loop that starts right next to the Manly Wharf and goes up to the Fairfax Lookout and back past Manly beach before getting back to the Wharf.

At the start of the walk the route was very clearly marked with signs.  But, shortly after I made it to this cute little beach, which was also a little penguin habitat area (I wish I saw one but they were probably off hunting or out for Friday afternoon drinks), I hit a road and the signs just stopped. I figured I was lost because I thought the walk would wind all the way along the coast until I got to the Fairfax Lookout.  As all great hikers will tell you in these circumstances, you should follow the first people you see.  So that is what I did; a couple of older women passed and I instinctively became their shadow.  The road headed in the opposite direction, but it hit another road that went straight up to the North Fort, where the lookouts and interesting buildings are.  I passed the women once I got my bearings.  When I found my way to the Fort and got myself a map of the area (all my Girl Guide experience went out the window on this hike, I didn't even have a map with me), it turns out that I was mistaken about a trail that worked its way along the coast and the road was the only way to go, so I was never lost, just unnecessarily creepy.  But, in any case, it was a beautifully scenic walk.

Looking south to Sydney Harbour

Good thing I brought my super zoom lens with me

Australia Memorial Walk

It was a very scenic walk with many lookout point and clusters of old military buildings, including barracks, artillery displays, observations posts, etc.  There was also a very cool memorial walk along part of the way that was paved with inscribed bricks for various Australian soldiers.  There were also these beautiful marbled brick areas with information about Australia's input in various colonial wars as well as the world wars.

Third Quarantine Station: For victims of smallpox, bubonic plague and influenza

I ended the walk passing Manly Beach and the few brave souls swimming and/or surfing.  It was a nice day, but not quite nice enough for a dip in the water.  Nevertheless it was nice enough to grab some gelato, after which I headed for the ferry back home.  I must say, the Manly area is definitely something to put on the to do list for anyone visiting Sydney.  I still need to go back because I missed out on seeing Quarantine Station or the hiking trails closer to Spit Bridge, which come highly recommended.  I won't worry about it, I've got some time to check it out at a later date.