South Head
South Head
4.5
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4.5
18 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
8
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia50,924 contributions
Nov 2020
This is a beautiful area of Sydney to walk around and to enjoy panoramic views. It is best done in a sunny day with clear skies so you can get uninterrupted views all around.
Written 4 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avril L
Sydney, Australia46 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
There is a short(ish) walk from Watson's Bay through Camp Cove to the South arm of the entrance to Sydney Harbour. This walk can be taken slowly and is not too strenuous.But it is well worth the effort. The views back along the sandstone cliffs and across the entrance to Sydney Harbour are magical. Along the way there are terrific views back towards Sydney and down onto Camp Cove. The walk also goes past Lady Jane beach which is a nudist beach. Leave time for a coffee at the kiosk on Camp Cove beach at the end.
Written 6 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael-4551
Caloundra, Australia5,532 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Visited on Friday 26th May. There are great views looking over to North Head, Manly and back towards Sydney CBD. Well work the walk to get there.
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
blackeldo
Kiama, Australia2,235 contributions
Feb 2022
Not sure where famous philosopher YOGI BERA was offering my favourite bit of travel advice for, but in the case of SOUTH HEAD it works – when you come to the split in the track abt 600m from the start of the SOUTH HEAD HERITAGE TRAIL at CAMP COVE, take it – doesn’t matter if you turn right or go straight ahead because this is a LOOP TRACK and no-matter which way, you will see the same.
Like outstanding views of NORTH HEAD*, MANLY*, the open PACIFIC, SYDNEY HARBOUR* entrance/back to the CITY plus historical stuff (they don’t call this the HERITAGE TRAIL ++ for nothing) like HORNBY LIGHTHOUSE (3RD in Australia 1858) and the nearby LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER’S COTTAGE plus newer ruins like 1890 cannon and +WW1&2 gun foundations.
TIPS
- ACCESS
:most scenic - ferry to WATSONS BAY then 1300m/17min walk (keep left) via CAMP COVE BEACH, followed by the HERITAGE TRAIL*. Trail well paved, pretty flat (few stairs), great views
: cheapest/fastest – train to Edgedliff Interchange and then #324.325 bus to WATSONS BAY
: weekends only a ferry runs from/to MANLY*
: #380 bus from/to BONDI BEACH* frequently
: parking is difficult near start of trail
- nearest rest room just short of LADY BAY* (clothing optional) abt 400m from South Head
- nearest food at Camp Cove Kiosk adjacent start of Heritage Trail. Watsons Bay has tucker for all budgets
- don’t visit Boxing Day. South Head is a favoured vantage point to watch racing yachts depart the harbour in the Sydney-Hobart classic. Extremely crowded
SUM UP: a good one but I wouldn’t make the trip just to see this one place. Do it as part of a visit to Watsons Bay. WB is tourist central – you could spend all day here and near.
*TA has a reader review page
++ see my pix
Like outstanding views of NORTH HEAD*, MANLY*, the open PACIFIC, SYDNEY HARBOUR* entrance/back to the CITY plus historical stuff (they don’t call this the HERITAGE TRAIL ++ for nothing) like HORNBY LIGHTHOUSE (3RD in Australia 1858) and the nearby LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER’S COTTAGE plus newer ruins like 1890 cannon and +WW1&2 gun foundations.
TIPS
- ACCESS
:most scenic - ferry to WATSONS BAY then 1300m/17min walk (keep left) via CAMP COVE BEACH, followed by the HERITAGE TRAIL*. Trail well paved, pretty flat (few stairs), great views
: cheapest/fastest – train to Edgedliff Interchange and then #324.325 bus to WATSONS BAY
: weekends only a ferry runs from/to MANLY*
: #380 bus from/to BONDI BEACH* frequently
: parking is difficult near start of trail
- nearest rest room just short of LADY BAY* (clothing optional) abt 400m from South Head
- nearest food at Camp Cove Kiosk adjacent start of Heritage Trail. Watsons Bay has tucker for all budgets
- don’t visit Boxing Day. South Head is a favoured vantage point to watch racing yachts depart the harbour in the Sydney-Hobart classic. Extremely crowded
SUM UP: a good one but I wouldn’t make the trip just to see this one place. Do it as part of a visit to Watsons Bay. WB is tourist central – you could spend all day here and near.
*TA has a reader review page
++ see my pix
Written 10 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia29,084 contributions
Jun 2022
South Head is quite spectacular and beautiful but access and the way in is poorly signed and maintained.Once there is it great with views to North Head and back into the city.
Written 26 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nick164
Sydney, Australia2,373 contributions
Sept 2019
For me, the North Head has the edge in terms of lookouts and history (including the Quarantine Station and The North Fort), however the South Head still has an enjoyable clifftop walk and the impressive Macquarie Lighthouse.
Written 8 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ogi0
Sofia, Bulgaria22,812 contributions
Aug 2019
A great place to walk and see the beauties of Sydney. From here passes the South Head Heritage Trail from which there are wonderful views of both Sydney and the Ocean.
Written 22 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William B
Perth, Australia928 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Sydney Harbour is a magnificent sight and encompasses exceptional scenery all the way up to the ''Sydney Harbour Bridge'' and the step off to the city once you enter through the ''Heads''. The harbour entrance is protected by South Head and North Head. Both provide magnificent views looking back down the harbour towards the city. South Head is a lot more developed and you can drive or walk out to the extremity with tons of photo ops along the way. You drive out through all the upmarket suburbs which in themselves are a great drive, and worth a gander. (Rose Bay, Vaucluse etc). At the end there are a number of great walks, a monument to hero Don Richie and an ancient lighthouse at Pt Dunbar.. The famous feature of these limestone cliffs, is the infamous ''Gap'' which has had a dreadful past for those choosing to end their lives. This has been well and truly safeguarded now with secure protective fencing. Still great views out over the Pacific and tons of colonial heritage buildings to whet your interest.
Written 15 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Junior D
Sao Paulo, SP50 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
This place is so beautiful is great to walk and take photos everywhere, the sky, the sea, the lighthouse is just amazing.
Written 15 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
Rayong, Thailand9,493 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
South Head is the opposing high cliff to North Head that forms the entrance to Sydney Harbour from the Pacific Ocean.
From it you can look out across the Pacific Ocean, and if you are lucky sometime between May and November, you may catch sight of migrating whales heading back to their Antarctic breeding grounds with their new born calves.
Look the other way and you can see all the way down Sydney Harbour to the skyscrapers of Sydney City.
Unlike North Head, which still has virgin Australian flora, much the same as it was when the first European settlers sailed through the heads to establish the Colony of New South Wales, South Head is largely cleared of native vegetation. This is the result of long-time occupancy of naval and military establishments, which were built on South Head as part of the new colony's defences.
There is a break in the cliff wall facing the Pacific Ocean called The Gap. This has an infamous reputation for a spot where people commit suicide by leaping to their deaths on the rocks a hundred meters below.
From it you can look out across the Pacific Ocean, and if you are lucky sometime between May and November, you may catch sight of migrating whales heading back to their Antarctic breeding grounds with their new born calves.
Look the other way and you can see all the way down Sydney Harbour to the skyscrapers of Sydney City.
Unlike North Head, which still has virgin Australian flora, much the same as it was when the first European settlers sailed through the heads to establish the Colony of New South Wales, South Head is largely cleared of native vegetation. This is the result of long-time occupancy of naval and military establishments, which were built on South Head as part of the new colony's defences.
There is a break in the cliff wall facing the Pacific Ocean called The Gap. This has an infamous reputation for a spot where people commit suicide by leaping to their deaths on the rocks a hundred meters below.
Written 22 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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