Exploring Sydney - Middle Head

MIDDLE HEAD ON SYDNEY HARBOUR is easilyslopes gently down to the old gun emplacements
accessible by car or bus and is located close to thewhich are worth a visit in their own right.
leafy suburb of Mosman on Sydney's north side.Just beyond the gun emplacements are a couple of
There is a makeshift car park located on the corneropen grassy areas which have magnificent views
of Middle Head Road & Chowder Bay Roadfrom the Spit Bridge all the way around to the city
which is only a few hundred metres form the gatesand the skyline beyond. The sweep takes in at least
into Cobbler's Beach Reserve. These gates lead you270 degrees with North Head slightly to the left and
to the headland of Middle Head.the Tasman Sea directly in front of you.
Middle Head is quite a spectacular place to view theAs you swing around to the right you can clearly see
goings on of what is still a working harbour. This isCamp Cove just in from South Head, and follow the
also one of the best places to view the annualharbour all the way back to the Sydney Harbour
Sydney to Hobart yacht race (Boxing Day) as theBridge, the Opera House and beyond.
colourful vessels jockey for position for the run downYou can sit there for hours watching the ferries and
the south coast.pleasure craft, as well as the thrill seekers on the jet
Not the day to visit if you want a quiet picnic!boats that come out from near the Opera House or
The first time I visited Middle Head was only fairlyDarling Harbour.
recently. Even though I have lived in Sydney all myThe day I was there was very peaceful. There was
life my first visit was a bare two years ago.a small group of artists spread out through the area,
Middle Head is a favoured spot of a young friend ofwith their easels and paint brushes, no doubt suitably
mine and she honoured me by inviting me to a picnicinspired by the panoramic vista. Apart from the
there.artists there were only three or four people there.
From the carpark you turn right and walk alongIt is now one of my favoured spots as well and I
Middle Head Road past the old hospital buildings andonly wish I had discovered it earlier in my life.
vacant lots of the old navy base. It's a straight levelSydney will continue to surprise me as I'm sure there
walk to the entrance to the reserve where the trackare many more similar treasures undiscovered by me.