Long Reef to Dee Why
I love this walk. It used to be a regular Sunday thing we'd do as a family before the kids got older and life got crazy busy.
It’s a great walk to take any time of the year. Even in the full heat of summer, the sea breeze keeps you cool and if you do get too hot, the ocean beckons.
To start…..
You can start off in the car park of Fisherman’s Beach where there is plenty of parking, especially early. Or find a spot in a side street to avoid the parking fee. Make your way up through a pretty path flanked on both sides by gorgeous sea grasses and native shrubs, and continue up to the Long Reef headland. A word of warning: This path runs alongside Long Reef golf course which, though one of the best positioned courses in the country, is completely open and, speaking from experience, the odd stray ball can pack a real punch.
Headland and Aquatic Reserve
The headland is the perfect spot to sit and take in the view. To the left you can see as far as the Central Coast and to North Head and beyond to the right. Up here you can lose yourself watching the seabirds waft on the wind, occasionally joined by mimicking humans in hang gliders. The view is exquisite, especially on a sunny day and at the right time of the year, (May - November), it is also the perfect vantage point to see migrating whales.
A path leads off the headland down to the rock platforms of Long Reef Aquatic Reserve. This area is a delight to explore, especially at low tide. It’s a whole other world down there of shimmering rocks and secret cavities, home to all sorts of sea creatures. It’s important to note that this is an ecologically sensitive area and a strict “No Take” zone.
The Aquatic Reserve is also one of the best places to see birds in Sydney. Here you can regularly spot everything from tiny swallows and wrens to migratory waders and large birds of prey.
Back on the headland, the path runs down alongside the golf course until it reaches the beach. You might want to take your shoes off here for the 2k or so walk to Dee Why,
Long Reef and Dee Why Beaches
This stretch of beach is actually two beaches with Long Reef Beach at the north end and Dee Why to the south.
Both beaches are patrolled from September to April and both have surf clubs with change rooms and toilets.
Dee Why Wildlife Refuge
As you get closer to Dee Why, you’ll come to the lagoon on your right which forms the border between Long Reef and Dee Why beaches. If the tide is high, you might find you have to wade across a narrow spit which reaches out to the sea.
The lagoon and surrounding grasslands and bush together make up the 77 hectares of the Dee Why Lagoon Reserve. The reserve was declared a Wildlife Refuge in 1974 as a means of preserving and conserving the natural environment, which included several listed threatened species.
You can explore the reserve via a pathway which runs between the beach and the lagoon. It’s a pretty place to walk especially in the early morning or late in the day and it offers an alternative route to Dee Why when the tide is particularly high or the wind is up.
The steps up from Dee Why Beach at The Strand signals the halfway/turnaround mark for this walk. This is probably a good time to stop for a rest, and there are plenty of casual eating options up and down the strip.
If you’re with kids, there is a great playground in the beachside park and a wading pool attached to the popular swimming baths at the southern end of the beach.
