Manly Dam

Sometimes living just gets in the way of the best intentions. That’s what has happened to our blog over the last few of weeks. Busy work schedules and other stuff meant we just didn’t get around to it. You will be glad to know that we did actually walk, it’s just the blogging that suffered!

Manly Dam Circuit Track

We cannot believe that we have both lived on the Northern Beaches for so many years and neither of us had ever been to Manly Dam before, not even for a picnic! It was such a surprise from the UNSW Hydraulics lab at the entrance, the lovely picnic grounds, the waterski jump, the waterfall and of course the tracks. We both wanted to rewind our lives quite a few years and bring our young families for a picnic…. Oh how I wish I could hit the rewind button!

We used the King Street, Manly Vale entrance to the Dam and parked inside the gates. From there we headed away from the dam wall, past the first few picnic areas and the boat ramp. We followed the road, turning right at the turning circle, past some more picnic areas, and more still until you reach ‘Section 4’ picnic area with a toilet block. Here we picked up the ‘circuit track’ which took us through the bush, over rocks, on a boardwalk past the waterbird area and then to a great waterfall. And that’s just the first few of kilometres.  

The night before there had been quite a bit of rain and the track was quite muddy in parts and at times hard to avoid treading in. At about the half way point the bike track from Wakehurst Parkway meets the walking track.  Sharing the track with bikes is not an issue as the track widens a fair bit here, you just need to be aware of them. You also have to cross a creek here too. The creek runs across a rock platform and if you are careful you could probably avoid getting wet feet….we were already sloshing in our shoes, so what’s a bit more water anyway….

Once you make it over the other side of the creek the track totally changes to a more of a rubbly, rocky road. There are a few steep climbs which are very tough going for the bike riders. We could feel their legs burning as they pushed up some of those hills. There was one rider that we kept passing on the uphills and she would then whizz past us on the downhills. We wondered if she was smiling on the inside hidden by her exterior of pain and exhaustion.

After another couple of kilometres on this track we came upon some houses and the Allambie Heights tennis courts. It seemed so funny that after walking though all that  bush (probably 5 kms) we simply stumbled back into suburbia. The funnier thing is that we then lost the track. We could not find where the track picked up again to take us the short distance to the end. We tried a few little tracks but it didn’t feel like we were going in the right direction. Feeling hungry and defeated we took the easy option and went the long way down Allambie Road. We were both lamenting how much longer we had made our walk and were at the stage of eyeing of taxis as they drove past us. We were hungry and in need of a break and then we come across the Buzz Stop - a great little café/deli/mini market on Kentwell Street Allambie. The lovely shopkeeper then gave us a huge bonus - directions for a short cut back to our car…..priceless! 

I can hear you asking, and the answer is……no, we didn’t take a map. We also discovered that iPhone maps of bush tracks leave a lot to be desired. What is that saying about tradesmen blaming their tools? I am happy to report that I have now found a good map of the track and recommend that you take it with you (link below). Overall, the walk was fabulous and we highly recommend it. Our one criticism is the lack of signage - they really are few and far between. Despite our misadventure we will definitely do it again, and we will be sure to get the whole way around next time (and take the map)! 

Buzz Stop

It’s not a trendy or upmarket café by any stretch, but it was such a welcome sight and the food was better than we had expected. We both had poached eggs with sourdough: the eggs were cooked just right and the sourdough was really good.

Our reviews
Manly Dam Circuit Track
difficulty:                        moderate
distance:                        7.5 km return
time taken:                    3.5 hours (including breakfast)                  
parking:                          Manly Dam parking area entrance off King Strret Manly Vale
worth doing:                  definitely
dog friendly:                  some areas no dogs allowed - check with Warringah Council first

manly dam map.pdf

water and toilets available at the start and at Section 4 picnic area
Buzz Stop
food:                                good
service:                           very good
ambience:                       pleasant
would we go again:        definitely