For a map of the area see street-directory.com.au. Select NSW and do a search for Narrabeen. Use the 2 km zoom button (no 4) and select Enlarge Map option and you get the whole ride in from Pymble to Manly. Zoom in further and navigate around to see more detail. Google Earth will also zoom in on Akuna Bay and the Northern Beaches. Also on bikely.
Pymble to Manly is a regular LBUG ride , about 65 Km, moderate to hard grade. There are a few good hills and the difficulty depends a lot on the weather and wind. A strong southerly will make the last leg along the beaches to Manly a slog, a northerly will assist greatly, especially up Griffin Rd from Dee Why to Curl Curl. Make sure your brakes are working.
We take the train from Central at 8.58 am to Pymble. From Pymble station go up the Pacific Highway on the eastern footpath (the road is steep and dangerous here) about 400 m to a right onto Telegraph Rd and cut across to a left at Mona Vale Rd to St Ives. Continue on Mona Vale Rd (good shoulder) for about 10 km of undulating road to a left at the well sign-posted Akuna Bay /McCarrs Ck turn-off. Follow Akuna Bay signs into the Kuringai National Park on General San Martin Drive, past the old rangers toll booth station, and down to Akuna Bay. The last few km are steep and bendy so check your brakes and take it easy as the road is bumpy and in poor condition in places. At the bottom there is a park and WC near the new rangers station/toll booth (no charge for cyclists). You can regroup here or just keep going a couple more km's to the Akuna Bay Marina.
The cafe at the Marina opens at around 11am so don't get there too early (the new owners-we visited in May 2006- might open earlier so give them a ring if you want to check - they also said they intend doing a cyclist's cake and coffee deal). The marina shop opens earlier, stocks drinks and Mars Bars. There is a nice outdoor setting with tables.
After a break, continue along the waters edge until the road starts to climb out of the Bay. It is about 2 or 3 km distance and 140 m height gain to West Head Rd, steady climbing, not as steep as the way in. Turn right at West Head Rd and take a nice down-hill on a better quality road to a left onto McCarrs Ck Rd to Church Pt. (Turn right if you want to go back to the Akuna Bay turn off and back to Mona Vale Rd and St Ives.) Down-hill on a newly sealed road (luxury) to a waterside reserve along Pittwater then undulating road into Church Point, where there is a shop and cafes and a view of Pittwater and Scotland Island. Then follow the road on to Mona Vale, where more shops if you want some hot bread or a drink.
Turn right onto Pittwater Rd, the main road to Manly. If this is a bit too busy for you, the footpath is useful. Just before the top of the rise out of Mona Vale turn left at a set of lights onto Coronation St and take first on the right, Melbourne Av. This is steep but avoids the traffic on Pittwater Rd). Head south past Warriewood Beach (follow your nose, you cant go too wrong) all the way to Ocean St at North Narrabeen Lagoon, which rejoins Pittwater Rd a few km further along in South Narrabeen. At Collaroy there is a nice little park on the left near the SLSC for a lunch break. Shops opposite sell takeaway food.
Back on Pittwater Rd (three wide lanes here and usually OK on weekends) and up and over the Collaroy/Long Reef hill to Dee Why, where a left turn at Hawkesbury Av (servo on corner) down to the Dee Why beach front is recommended. There is a bike path at the end of Hawkesbury Av. Lots of cafes on the beachfront, so another lunch possibility, but tends to be crowded. A steep hill (45 m climb) out of Dee Why Beach (Griffin Rd) is rewarded by a good view of the coast to the south.
At the end of the next beach (Curl Curl), on the headland near the Harbord Diggers Club, is a statue of Duke Kahanamoku who reputedly brought surfing to Australia in the 1915. He is perched high on a rock overlooking Harbord Beach and Manly. A bit of a hilly route through and around Harbord (Evans, Albert, Dowling, Crown, Cavill, Queenscliffe, Greycliffe Sts) and you emerge at Queenscliffe/North Manly.
Cruise along the Manly beach-side bike path (or use the road as there are often too many skaters, walkers, amblers, aimless wanderers, people stopping for a chat, people getting in or out of cars and small children on the bike path) to Manly and catch the ferry back to the City on the quarter hour, ie 2.45 or 3.15pm etc. The Corso is pedestrian only and usually packed so go one street past and turn right at Wentworth St to get to Manly Cove and the Ferry terminal. Beware that the ferries are sometimes cancelled when there are big seas or strong winds (as we found out). Three cheers for the govt buses who let us on with bikes for the trip back to the City.
From Circular Quay, if going back to Leichhardt, ride to The Rocks via George St and left up Argyle St, left on Kent St and go down to King St. Dismount to the left onto the footpath at King St and use ped lights to cross onto bike ramp, as there is no provision for a right turn. Follow the cycle route across the Anzac Bridge cycleway to The Crescent, Annandale, and go up Brenan St to Catherine St, or alternatively cross Victoria Rd on the footbridge and go along Lilyfield Rd to Catherine St.
Distance: about 65 K. Grade: moderate to hard, depending on your fitness and the weather. Not for beginners or for bikes not in the best condition, particularly brakes.