The Bay Run
A largely level loop walk In Sydney’s Inner West
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A flat, accessible loop around Iron Cove linking parks, mangroves and inner-west waterfront suburbs.
Distance: 7 km Time: 1.5 hrs
Steps: 9,000
Level of difficulty: Easy -
Native and exotic birdlife among the mangroves and tidal mudflats (especially at low tide)
Fishtraps sculpture (Edwards Clarke, Gadigal-Wangal Wayfinding Project)
Callan Park heritage grounds and waterfront lawns
Leichhardt Aquatic Centre and Drummoyne Pool
Playgrounds at Timbrell, Leichhardt and King George Parks
Bay Run cafés and kiosks (Haberfield Rowers, Le Montage, Nield Park Pavilion)
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The Bay Run can be very busy, especially on weekends and mornings/afternoons
There is very little shade - sun protection is recommended
The path is shared - walkers, runners, cyclists and pram-pushers
Bubblers and toilets are located at several parks along the route
Easy to start anywhere; street parking available around the bay
The Bay Run is one of Sydney’s most popular foreshore walks. It traces the edge of Iron Cove and weaves in and around the inner-west suburbs of Five Dock, Drummoyne, Lilyfield and Rozelle. It’s particularly pretty in the morning, when the sun is still low and rowers break the otherwise still surface of the water.
Yes, it’s called the Bay Run, but trust me, you don’t have to. The circuit is mostly flat making it wheelchair and pram friendly.
WALKING THE TRAIL
The route for this walk needs little explanation - just follow the crowd. You can begin and end at any point and there is usually plenty of parking in the nearby streets. We began in Nield Park in Five Dock, parking in Nield Avenue and heading in an anti-clockwise direction around the water.
Nield Park to Leichhardt Park
From Nield Park the path winds around Iron Cove and Canada Bay, past mangroves, parks, picnic grounds and playgrounds. Keep an eye out for wading birds feeding among the mangroves, especially at low tide, and for the Fishtraps sculpture by artist Edwards Clarke beside the path.
There are bubblers and toilets dotted along this section, and a couple of places to stop for coffee or a snack. Haberfield Rowers has a small takeaway kiosk, and Le Montage, beside Leichhardt Park, also serves food and drinks. Playgrounds at Robson and Leichhardt Parks and the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre make this a popular stretch for families.
Leichhardt Park to Callan Park
Just beyond Leichhardt Park, you’ll enter the grounds of Callan Park, formerly a mental health facility and later home to Sydney College of the Arts. There are a number of heritage listed buildings on the site dating back to the late 1800s.
In plans not quite finalised (when I last checked), these will be preserved while other more dilapidated buildings on the 60 hectare site are removed to make way for public parkland and amenities including a 50 metre tidal pool, with accompanying jetty and pontoon. This could impact access through this area.
Drummoyne to Nield Park
The last section of the walk takes you over the busy Iron Cove Bridge into Drummoyne. On the left you’ll pass Drummoyne Pool whose swimming club has a long history, associated with the likes of Dawn Fraser and Forbes Carlisle. On the right is the popular outlet centre, Birkenhead Point.
As you make your way back to the start you’ll get a good view of Rodd Island, which lies in the centre of Iron Cove. The island is managed by National Parks and is accessible by boat only. It is available to hire for functions or for day trips and picnics, (landing fees apply).
The walk ends where it began, at Nield Park. I can recommend Nield Park Pavilion at the edge of the park as a good place to stop for coffee or breakfast before heading back to the car.
*At the height of the pandemic, when we were all locked down, or locked up, this walk was threatened with closure as there were too many people using it to get as their daily means of exercise and escape. Go on a weekday if you can, outside the peak morning/late afternoon periods.