Best Sydney Running Routes and Trails

Top 6 Sydney Routes

Arriving in Sydney, you'll discover one great neighborhood after another. And about all of them are great spots for running. Sydney Harbour, with its countless coves, provides a huge shore full of secluded neighborhoods and parks. And the Pacific coasts north and south of the harbor create a dramatic background for the beautiful coastal trails. Add to that the man-made backdrops of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the CBD skyscrapers, the lighthouses and ferries, and you'll find no more inspiring city to explore with your own two feet.

Panorama shot of harbour and opera house from Domain

Here are six of the top routes to take once you arrive in beautiful Sydney. If you're lucky, you get to try them all, and a lot more, too!

The Best Sydney Running Routes
CBD (Downtown): This run takes you through the city center, including the Opera House, the Botanical Gardens, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and the Rocks. What a great way to get to know the downtown.
Harbour North Shore: From the Harbour Bridge to Taronga Zoo along the north side of the Harbour, with its coves, parks, jungles and tranquil neighborhoods.
South Head: The area south of the mouth to Sydney Harbour, including Watsons Bay and South Head, with its cliffs and vistas, is a great way to view both the harbour and the Pacific. 
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Run: This great trail follows the cliffs between these two famous beaches, heading over sand, rocks, park lawns and quiet neighborhood streets. 
Manly Beach: Even the ferry ride to this great run is inspiring. Then run up and down the beach and along the cliffs above Cabbage Tree Bay.
Centennial Park: This huge park in the Eastern Suburbs, just off Oxford Street, provides a great venue for a run through lawns, woods and past a number of ponds.