New Sydney CBD walking trail planned to connect major tourism locations and attractions

Plans are being developed by the NSW Government to create an urban walking trail stretching along Sydney’s Harbour foreshore from Lady Macquarie’s Chair, past the Opera House and Bridge, through Barangaroo and returning via the CBD.

Dubbed the Sydney Great Walk it will connect major tourism locations and attractions and feature at least two loops with the first designed to be completed in half a day and a longer full-day walk extending into Darling Harbour and back past the Chinese Garden of Friendship and Hyde Park.

The State Government will conduct feasibility studies into the project, including developing routes, exploring physical wayfinding options such as signs, maps and information and undertaking consultation with key stakeholders such as the City of Sydney.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was imperative to find new and innovative ways to improve what was sometimes simply taken for granted noting “this route has the potential to become the greatest and most iconic urban walk in the country.

“It will be something all Australians should do, and the one walk every visitor must do, when they are able to return safely to our shores.”

Minister for Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres said creating an iconic walk around the Harbour front and through the middle of the CBD would build on existing initiatives designed to encourage people to enjoy NSW.

“We recently launched our Renew advertising campaign to encourage people to reconnect with our great state and developing projects such as the Sydney Great Walk fit well alongside other initiatives such as Sydney’s Longest Lunch and the six-day ELEVATE Sydney celebration to be staged on the Cahill Expressway,” Minister Ayres said.

“We want people to get out and enjoy the best NSW has to offer and if this encourages more people to visit and enjoy the city in a healthy way it’s a win-win outcome.”

The NSW Government will also investigate utilising digital platforms as wayfinders to allow people to plan their journey and access key information on the walk about key places, facilities, sights and businesses.

Other ideas include incorporating QR codes at locations which would provide information along the route when scanned and even integrating the recently launched heritage Blue Plaques program.

NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the walk would provide the opportunity to not just showcase the Harbour and some of our most iconic locations, but to incorporate art installations, soundscapes and enhanced infrastructure.

Minister Stokes adds “this walk will help draw people back into the CBD and at the same time connect what are individually some of the most beautiful and recognisable places in Australia.

“Our aim is to enhance the liveability of our city, promote more people actively exploring the city and develop a drawcard which is on everybody’s bucket-list.”

“We will also look at developing special sections of the walk so that people may do a history component in The Rocks or a dining and eating component through the CBD.”

“It could also connect with the great work already underway on the existing Yananurala walk, a project led by the City of Sydney in collaboration with First Nation’s representatives that highlights Aboriginal history and culture at places along the Sydney harbour foreshore”

Image: the ‘Sydney Great Walk’ aims to connect major tourism locations and attractions including the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour