- Duration
- 5 km on foot, ~4 h (≈ 2 h 32 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- walk
- Start
- Frenchmans Bay
- Finish
- Henry Head
- Pace
- moderate pace
- Best time
- a weekday morning, while the park is quiet
- Budget per adult
- free, plus the L94 or 394 busPrices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026
Getting there
Bus to the La Perouse terminus. Pay with a bank card.
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. Frenchmans Bay~30 min at the stop
A quiet bay by the La Perouse museum. Bare Island and its 1880s fort are in view, but since 24 August 2026 the whole island is closed while the 1887 timber bridge is rebuilt, until about late 2027, and NPWS tours are suspended.
Tip: The bus terminates at La Perouse. Do not cross to the island. The fence is there for the works.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 12 min · 0.6 km
2. Congwong Beach~40 min at the stop
The sandy bay past the headland. Steps down from Cann Park. This is the swim after the walk, when the water is calm.
Worth knowing: Right behind the beach stood Happy Valley, a camp for the unemployed during the Great Depression. The bay itself is Kamay, its Dharawal name long before Cook arrived in 1770.
Tip: Check Beachwatch. For a day after heavy rain, stay out of the water.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 30 min · 1.8 km
3. Henry Head~40 min at the stop
A heath track out to an old gun emplacement above the ocean. This is Kamay country. Stay with the path.
Tip: Stay on the track. Return the same way to the bus. The vehicle gate shuts in the evening.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.