Cape Banks Circuit Hike (6.5km)

The Cape Banks Circuit is one of those walks that quietly delivers far more than you expect. It weaves together beaches, headlands, coastal forest and a surprising depth of history, all within the rugged beauty of La Perouse. You move between soft sand and exposed sandstone, from sheltered coves to windswept clifftops, with reminders at almost every turn that this coastline once played a serious role in defending Sydney.

Starting at the southern end of Cann Park, the track drops down a set of concrete steps towards Congwong Beach. Within minutes, the suburban edge fades and the scent of salt and coastal scrub takes over. At the western end of Congwong Beach, you follow the sand with the water on your right until you reach a junction that offers a worthwhile detour to Little Congwong Beach.

Little Congwong is a sheltered pocket of sand tucked between rocky headlands and often described as one of Sydney’s most beautiful small beaches. It has long been used as an unofficial clothing optional beach and draws steady crowds on warm weekends. Shade is limited in the afternoon, so plan accordingly. After enjoying the cove, retrace your steps to rejoin the main circuit.

Continuing along the Henry Head Scenic Walk, the track climbs gently through coastal bush before rising more steadily over timber steps and rock slabs. The vegetation shifts between low heath and pockets of denser forest, and the ocean regularly reappears through gaps in the trees. Side tracks branch off to historic features and lookouts, including Browns Rock, a popular fishing platform perched directly above the water. It is an exposed, unfenced rock shelf, and while the setting is dramatic, care is needed in rough seas. Sadly, litter can be an issue here, so consider carrying out more than you bring in.

The trail then works its way towards Henry Head, passing glimpses of Bare Island offshore. At the headland you reach the remains of the Henry Head Battery, constructed in the 1890s to defend the entrance to Botany Bay. The site includes gun emplacements, underground ammunition rooms and observation posts that were reused during the Second World War. The thick double walls and vaulted ceilings were designed to withstand direct hits. The white Endeavour Tower stands nearby, often mistaken for a lighthouse but actually serving as a navigation marker. Exploring here gives a real sense of how strategic this coastline once was.

From Henry Head, the circuit swings east across rock slabs and narrow coastal tracks with the ocean close by. The path undulates through heath and forest before dropping to Cruwee Cove and Shelly Beach. From the sand, you climb over rock shelves and onto grassy ground beside the golf course, eventually reaching the footbridge that leads to Cape Banks.

Cape Banks itself is a standout vantage point. From the unfenced cliffs you can watch waves detonate against sandstone walls or boats glide across the calmer waters inside the bay. During the migration season, humpback and southern right whales are sometimes seen travelling close to shore. At low tide, the wreck of the SS Minmi is visible among the rocks. Concrete foundations scattered across the headland are reminders of military occupation during the Second World War.

After returning from Cape Banks, the circuit continues along management trails past a World War Two bunker near the Westpac helicopter facility. The bunker includes concrete storage rooms below and a circular gun base above, though rusted fittings and damaged sections mean caution is required if you choose to explore.

A short detour along Cape Banks Road leads to the Coast Hospital Cemetery. Established in the early 1880s to serve the nearby quarantine hospital, it holds up to 2000 graves, many unmarked. The hospital treated smallpox and later other infectious diseases including influenza, typhoid and bubonic plague. On the eastern edge of the cemetery, signage explains that ancestral remains of La Perouse Aboriginal people were returned here from museums. It is a quiet and sobering place that deserves respect.

Back on the main route, the walk follows the road past golf courses before turning onto the Jennifer Street Boardwalk. This elevated timber path passes through Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a rare and protected ecological community that once covered thousands of hectares between North Head and Botany Bay. Today only small remnants survive. The boardwalk provides a close look at this unique vegetation before emerging at Little Bay, where you retrace your steps to continue the loop.

The final section climbs gently to the Henry Head viewpoint, offering broad views across the coastline, including Bare Island and the old barracks tower. From there, the track drops through forest, crosses Henry Head Lane and follows an unmarked path over a small bridge towards Anzac Parade. A short stretch of footpath brings you back to Cann Park, completing a circuit that combines natural beauty, layered history and constant coastal drama.

The Cape Banks Circuit is varied, engaging and at times exposed. Good footwear is essential, and in hot or windy conditions the headlands can feel harsh. Take water, allow time for side trips, and move carefully on rock platforms and cliff edges. For walkers who appreciate both landscape and story, this circuit remains one of the most rewarding coastal walks in southern Sydney.