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South Head and Watsons Bay Walk

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matttan
matttan
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5 out of 5
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3
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Editor Pick

South Head - daring beaches and fish 'n chips

  • May 1, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by actonsteve from London, United Kingdom
South Head - daring beaches and fish 'n chips

Sydney wasn't built as other cities. It wasn't built around crossing points on rivers like the medieval cities of Europe and Africa, it wasn't built on trading posts like North and South America—it was built almost from new. The advantage of this is that vast swathes of the harbour and the Sydney metropolitan area are still in a pristine state. Forests roll down to the sea, waves batter cliffs, and beaches and coves are a stone-throw from the city centre. The city has taken advantage of this by building its suburbs in some pretty impressive areas. Yacht basins, seafront restaurants, and golf courses are the norm, and property prices are pretty high. Sydney has jumped from nowhere to the 20th most expensive city on the planet. A million dollars will still get you an ocean-side mansion, but it wont get you what it used to.

A good example of this is Watsons Bay. This whole area is extends along the southern arm of Sydney harbour and culminates in the finger of land called South Head. On its seaward side are colossal spume bashed cliffs, and on its harbour side are little coves and beaches. The best of these are Watsons Bay and the daring Lady Bay/Camp Cove. Watsons Bay is of course famous for its fish restaurant Doyles, where ferries bring people straight from Circular Quay. And Lady Bay? Well, lets put it this way—anyone viewing the bathers from the tourist boats would certainly get an eyefull.

My friend Milton, who moved from Stockholm to Sydney two years ago, took me to this area one hungover Sunday morning. We could have taken the expensive ferry from Circular Quay directly to Watsons Bay for $12, but opted for the L32 bus, which picks up at Hyde Park and whizzes through Rushcutters Bay, Edgecliff, and Vaucluse—finally terminating near the lawn at Watsons Bay. Doyles Restaurant is the big attraction. The seafood here is meant to be exceptional, and needs at least a weeks reservation. There is a nice beach and lawn where families can play. And for those of us who are not millionaires, a fish and chip shop is nearby that sells big portions. So you can sit on a bench and watch seagulls fight over the leftovers.

But up from Watsons is the appropriately named Camp Cove—Sydney's gay beach. It looks onto the harbour and is bookended by rocky headlands. There are numerous places to lose yourself amongst the eucalyptus groves or rockpools. But, I must warn you—if you do decide to bare all, the tourist boats on their way to Manly come awfully close, definitely within telescopic lens range.

But then, to you that may be part of the attraction.

From journal The watery city of Sydney - Gleaming, Glittering and Gigantic

Editor Pick

Watson's Bay via the ferry

  • July 9, 2003
  • Rated 5 of 5 by samepenny from Fort Worth, Texas
Watson's Bay via the ferry

The ferry goes out from Circular Quay, past the Sydney Opera House and then in the opposite direction from the Harbour Bridge. You can also get there on the Explorer and other harbour sightseeing boats, but the ferries are cheaper and every bit as nice.

On sweet summer days, you can take along your swimwear and swim off the public beach.

There are many restaurants to choose from, including two Doyle's and many bars and pubs.

Lovely hikes up to the Gap and the Heads for those who want to see what's on the other side of the hills.

Mostly family entertainment at reasonable prices.

The beautiful park down at the bay is an incredible shade of green with huge fig trees and lovely flowering plants. A pure bit of pleasure for very little cost.

From journal Australia on Top -- Sydney

Editor Pick

Watson's Bay

  • December 12, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by matttan from Chiang Mai, Australia
Watson's Bay is at the peak of the South Head of Sydney Harbour. It is a beautiful, peaceful suburb with plenty of things to see and do. On the coastal side, the main attraction is the walk around The Gap. The rockface along here is spectacular - sandstone crevaces dropping anywhere from 30-60 metres into the ocean below.

You can continue walking along this path all the way to the lighthouse on the Head.

On the harbour side, Watsons Bay is a very scenic beach front, with a number of great fish and chip shops (Doyles, which is an exclusive Sydney fish restuarant, runs a 'take-away' shop here that is high quality and very reasonably priced), as well as the Watsons Bay hotel, a predominantly open air pub, that serves great seafood lunches looking across the harbour toward the city.

Getting to Watsons Bay is very easy by ferry from Circular Quay, or by bus - catch the 324 or 325, or the L24 or L82 (faster) from Circular Quay.

From journal Sensational Sydney

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