Clifton Gardens to Georges Heights
Borogegal & Cammeraigal Country

40 min to 1 h

1.6 km
return

↑ 100 m
↓ -100 m

Moderate track
The walk up to Georges Heights is a very scenic one, with the climax being the view from Georges Heights lookout. The walk is also surrounded by old military buildings. Within these buildings is the Bacino Bar and Cafe, worth a drop-in for a coffee or lunch. Let us begin by acknowledging the Borogegal & Cammeraigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Clifton Gardens. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Waterfront at Chowder Bay. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Heritage buildings at Chowder bay. | Photo by admin, 2008.
View from Chowder Bay. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Track on hill behind buildings at Chowder bay. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Track down to Chowder Bay. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Georges Heights. | Photo by admin, 2008.
View from Georges Heights. | Photo by admin, 2008.
View from Georges Heights. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Downloads GPX PDF
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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-33.8387246,151.2533195)
Mode Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
DirectionsFrom Bradleys Head Road
  • Turn on to Thompson Street then drive for 285 m
  • Turn left onto Burrawong Avenue and drive for another 590 m
  • Turn sharp left onto Access Road to Clifton Gardens Reserve and drive for another 280 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the wharf, this walk heads towards the playground-end of the beach. The walk leads along the beach, passing the playground and rocky outcrop on the left to tend right onto a boardwalk. The boardwalk takes the walk to the lower gate of Chowder Bay.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
There is water tap (about 70 m back from the start).
Clifton Gardens Reserve (about 70 m back from the start).
Clifton Gardens Reserve
Clifton Gardens Reserve

Clifton Gardens was developed as a picnic spot in the late 1800s, with a local hotelier building a wharf and dance pavilion. In 1909, Sydney Ferries Ltd purchased the estate, and further developed the area, including a large swimming enclosure. The structure burned down in 1956. Today, Clifton Gardens is touted as 'remnant bushland', offering birdwatching, a netted swimming enclosure, change rooms, a fenced playground, and of course, spectacular views over Chowder Bay. A short bush track leads through to Rawson Oval.
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Clifton Gardens was developed as a picnic spot in the late 1800s, with a local hotelier building a wharf and dance pavilion. In 1909, Sydney Ferries Ltd purchased the estate, and further developed the area, including a large swimming enclosure. The structure burned down in 1956. Today, Clifton Gardens is touted as 'remnant bushland', offering birdwatching, a netted swimming enclosure, change rooms, a fenced playground, and of course, spectacular views over Chowder Bay. A short bush track leads through to Rawson Oval.

Find the Clifton Gardens Reserve at the start.
Find the toilet at the start.
This toilet is wheelchair accessible.

sunrise-sunset
Then pass the playground (30 m on your left).
After another 6 m turn right.
After another 130 m find the "Bacino Kiosk" (on your left).
Bacino Kiosk
Bacino Kiosk

The Bacino Kiosk, just next to Clifton Gardens, is a smaller version of the Bacino Bar above at Chowder Bay. This kiosk supplies passers-by with a home-blend coffee and sandwiches, and all at a reasonable price ($5-12). The Kiosk is open from 7am-4pm every day, except Christmas and bad weather.
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The Bacino Kiosk, just next to Clifton Gardens, is a smaller version of the Bacino Bar above at Chowder Bay. This kiosk supplies passers-by with a home-blend coffee and sandwiches, and all at a reasonable price ($5-12). The Kiosk is open from 7am-4pm every day, except Christmas and bad weather.

After another 85 m head up the steps (about 9 m long)
Then pass the "Ripples at Chowder Bay" (20 m on your left).
After another 15 m veer right.
After another 80 m turn left.
After another 5 m turn right.
After another 10 m find the "Chowder Bay" (on your left).
Chowder Bay
Chowder Bay

Chowder Bay looks over Sydney Harbour, to Vaucluse and Rose Bay. The bay is named after the food of the American whalers stationed at Clifton Gardens, 'clam chowder'. Chowder Bay then became a Submarine Mining Depot in 1889. Today, Chowder Bay still has great views from the remaining military buildings on the hillside. One of the newer buildings houses a cafe, and other buildings stand as monuments to their former use. Chowder Bay offers great views with easy access to Clifton Gardens for a swim.
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Chowder Bay looks over Sydney Harbour, to Vaucluse and Rose Bay. The bay is named after the food of the American whalers stationed at Clifton Gardens, 'clam chowder'. Chowder Bay then became a Submarine Mining Depot in 1889. Today, Chowder Bay still has great views from the remaining military buildings on the hillside. One of the newer buildings houses a cafe, and other buildings stand as monuments to their former use. Chowder Bay offers great views with easy access to Clifton Gardens for a swim.

After another 4 m turn right.
After another 15 m pass the car park (20 m on your right).
This car park is wheelchair accessible.
Turn left.
After another 25 m find the "Bacino Cafe" (30 m on your right).
Bacino Cafe
Bacino Cafe

The Bacino Bar is in Building No.2 at Chowder Bay, with great views across Sydney Harbour. The bar sells pastas, panini, arancini, tramezzini, stuffed eggplant and biscotti, along with homemade sandwiches and treats. The Bacino Bar prices are reasonable, ranging between $5-12 for the delicacies, and their coffee is made of their own blend. The bar is open every day from 7am- 4pm except for Christmas. A public toilet is available at the Eastern end of the building.
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The Bacino Bar is in Building No.2 at Chowder Bay, with great views across Sydney Harbour. The bar sells pastas, panini, arancini, tramezzini, stuffed eggplant and biscotti, along with homemade sandwiches and treats. The Bacino Bar prices are reasonable, ranging between $5-12 for the delicacies, and their coffee is made of their own blend. The bar is open every day from 7am- 4pm except for Christmas. A public toilet is available at the Eastern end of the building.

After another 250 m turn sharp left.
After another 20 m turn right.
After another 70 m pass the "The Gunners Barracks" (10 m on your right).
After another 60 m come to "Georges Heights".
Georges Heights
Georges Heights

Georges Heights is a gun emplacement with a commanding 180-degree view over the entrance to the harbour. The old gun emplacements are still in position, with their arcs of fire explained in the signs nearby. The view from this lookout is magnificent.
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Georges Heights is a gun emplacement with a commanding 180-degree view over the entrance to the harbour. The old gun emplacements are still in position, with their arcs of fire explained in the signs nearby. The view from this lookout is magnificent.

Turn around here and retrace the main route for 800 m to get back to the start.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Clifton Gardens to Georges Heights


Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length 1.6 km
Time 40 min to 1 h
Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required No experience required (1/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Toilet: There is one 65 m from the start.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Toilet
65 m[toilet]
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