Sydney may take the cake for some of the best beaches in the world, but nestled around our coastline is also an epic line-up of next-level parks.
Whether you’re looking for the ultimate picnic spot, a great space for a BBQ with mates, or a nice stretch of green to kick a footy around, OB真人视讯 has got you sorted. From beachside and riverside parks to urban escapes, and even lush headlands for sunrise watching, prepare to be surrounded by natural bliss.
Here are the best parks in Sydney for a picnic, walk, or moment in nature.
Jump to
- The Best Parks In Sydney’s CBD
- The Best Parks In Sydney’s North
- The Best Parks In Sydney’s East
- The Best Parks In Sydney’s South
- The Best Parks In Sydney’s West
The Best Parks In Sydney's CBD
Barangaroo Reserve
Hickson Road, Barangaroo
Image credit: Barangaroo Reserve
is actually set on an old industrial terminal, covering 15 acres with some of the most beautiful parkland in Sydney. It sits just west of the city on the foreshore in front of the Barangaroo dining and business precinct and is easily accessible from Wynyard train station or the Barangaroo Metro stop.
Its lawns and coves have been designed to reflect what the headland would have looked like before colonial life, with sandstone blocks lining pathways and gardens that are home to 75,000 native trees. Check out Nawi Cove and Stargazer Lawn for picnics, or even plan a dip in Marrinawi Cove
Observatory Hill Park
1001 Upper Fort Street, Millers Point
Image credit: Observatory Park
This is hands-down Sydney's most romantic park for a picnic, with stunning sunset views spanning over the Harbour Bridge to the twinkling lights of Luna Park. is a popular spot for weddings, walks, visits or tours with the Sydney Observatory, and it's also an off-leash area for dogs, meaning you’re best bud can come along.
Centennial Park
Parkes Drive, Centennial Park
Image credit: Centennial Parklands
You could actually get lost in sprawling as it’s one of the biggest and most beautiful green enclosures in Sydney. Taking up a casual 189 hectares of wide-open space, this park is a natural escape from the urban jungle surrounding it.
She’s an epicentre of biodiversity, wetlands, curated gardens and guaranteed stunning vistas whichever way you look. And it’ll come as no shock that this one is the perfect spot for a picnic, rollerblade, cycle and even horse ride via the .
The Royal Botanic Garden
Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Botanic Gardens Of Sydney | Website
Sydney's oldest garden is maybe its most magical— was founded in 1816 and is home to thousands of beautiful native and non-native plants. For any budding gardeners, a stroll through the Botanic Garden will absolutely inspire, from the Australian Native Rockery filled with flowers that only grow in Australia, to the palm grove, succulent garden, wildflower meadow, herb garden, and Palace Rose Garden with views of sparkly Sydney Harbour.
Prince Alfred Park
Chalmers Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Prince Alfred Park
Right next to Central Station, is a real stunner. A permanent rainbow path leads to Equality Green, named in honour of the legalisation of marriage equality in 2017. Within the 7.5-hectare park, there are heaps of BBQ and picnic areas, a fully accessible heated pool (also known as "Redfern Beach"), bright blue basketball courts, tennis courts for hire, a playground, and stretches of green perfect for catching a little sunshine. Prince Alfred Park is also off-leash, meaning it's a great spot for furry friends too.
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The Best Parks In Sydney's North
Wendy's Secret Garden
Lavender Street, Lavender Bay
Image credit: Wendy's Secret Garden
is quite possibly one of the most charming green spaces in Sydney. It was dreamt up by Wendy Whiteley, wife of the late artist Brett Whiteley and an artist in her own right. Once a vacant block of land beside railway tracks, Wendy turned it into an oasis, and in 2015, it was declared a public park.
In it, you'll find various artefacts and artworks—at the entrance a bronze statue of a female head by Australian sculptor Joel Elenberg, an Ian Marr statue and a Margaret Olley, an old scooter, and a cherub birdbath.
Public transport is your best bet to get here, with just a five-to-ten-minute walk from North Sydney or Milsons Point train stations to the picnic tables overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Milson Park
McDougall Street, Kirribilli
Image credit: Milson Park
Let’s just say, North Sydney Council truly nails it when it comes to having some of the prettiest and historically significant parks. is a huge standout as one of Sydney’s best parks, boasting harbour views, towering palm and fig trees dating back to 1912, picnic tables, a playground, dog areas, a community garden and a boat ramp for kayaks and small dinghies.
This foreshore park is also a sweet spot for Jacaranda trees come springtime. And, nearby is another north-side, awe-inducing spot if you want to take in the grandeur of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Clifton Gardens Reserve
Morella Road, Mosman
Image credit: Clifton Garden Reserve
in Mosman is a great spot to visit on the weekend. Nestled behind a harbour beach, you can jump between the grass and the ocean with ease. Spend a lazy Sunday birdwatching or grab a coffee and a bite to eat while the kids visit the decked-out playground. There’s even a BBQ area, basketball hoops and an area for dogs to run off the leash so they don’t have to be left behind. Plus there’s plenty of parking on-site.
North Head
North Head Scenic Drive, Manly
Image credit: Destination NSW | Mark Sherborne
Known by Northern Beaches locals as the ultimate sunset spot, offers sweeping views of the city skyline from its grassy perch above Manly. Wander the surrounding walking tracks, pack a picnic, bring binoculars for whale watching, or, if you're feeling game enough, take a at the historic Quarantine Station.
Grab lunch from an eatery along Manly Corso before heading up or settle in for an open-air cafe feed at Bella Vista. Get there by car or catch the ferry from Circular Quay followed by a short bus ride to the headland.
Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park
112 King Street, Manly Vale
More affectionately known as "Manly Dam", will give you all the wholesome feels. Great for picnics by the water, bush walks, mountain biking and a spot of water skiing, there’s no doubt your time here will be filled with all the best outdoorsy antics. There are four picnic areas at Manly Dam, which include a range of settings—so whether you’re keen on grassy surrounds, lakeside eats or bushland BBQs, you’ll be covered. Vehicle access is via the main entrance at the end of King Street off Condamine Street in Manly Vale, with parking along Sir Roden Cutler V.C. Memorial Drive.
Berry Island Reserve
10 Shirley Road, Wollstonecraft
Looking for a scenic slice of urban bushland with stunning harborside views for your next barbecue? Dog-friendly has you covered. This foreshore gem features barbecues, picnic tables, a playground, and best of all, the picturesque Gadyan Track—a 20-minute bushwalk looping around the “island”. It’s surprisingly tranquil for its proximity to the city and offers glimpses of rich Aboriginal history along the trail. Whether you're settling in for a long lunch with gorgeous views or enjoying a couple of drinks as the sun sets, Berry Island Reserve is the perfect hangout spot.
The Best Parks In Sydney's East
Blackburn Gardens
New South Head Road, Double Bay
Image credit: Woollahra Municipal Council | Website
Boasting manicured lawns beside Redleaf Beach a.k.a. the Murray Rose Pool, is a restored heritage garden and idyllic picnic spot in Double Bay. Bounce between swims and relaxing in the shade while taking in stunning views of sailboats on the harbour.
With plenty of grass to stretch out on, timber benches, a ball court, a fish pond, a sundial and Redleaf Cafe amongst it all, it's the ultimate park to enjoy a stunning day out in Sydney. There’s limited street parking available so we recommend catching a scenic ferry to Double Bay Wharf and walking five to ten minutes.
Bronte Park
Bronte Road, Bronte
We’re not going to lie, finding a car park near is near impossible on a cracking summer’s day, but there’s a damn good reason why this beauty gets packed to the rafters. It's a perfect spot for beachside BBQs with sheltered seating and green space for all the frisbee, footy kicking, picnics, parties, general frolicking and lazing about.
It’s also a great spot to end up after admiring ocean views along the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk—especially accompanied by a takeaway bite from the eateries on Bronte Road.
Christison Park
Old South Head Road, Vaucluse
Wrapping around the South headlands of Vaucluse and overlooking the ocean and cliffs that line it, is a stunning spot for a picnic. It’s the size of a few football fields complete with goalposts and exercise equipment providing a free solution for your morning workout, plus the dogs absolutely love it here.
Hit up The Grumpy Baker on arrival for takeaway pastries and delicious coffee, then walk down to Watsons Bay or along the coastal cliff trail for more stunning ocean views.
The Best Parks In Sydney's South
Oatley Park
1 Dame Mary Gilmore Road, Oatley
Image credit: Destination NSW | Reece McMillan
is truly iconic (you might also remember it as Peakhurst Park back in the day) and is known for its river beaches along the Georges River. Taking up around 45 hectares, this park has everything you need for the perfect day out with ovals, swimming enclosures, a pier to relax on, a wall garden, lookouts, a massive playground, Dracula's Canteen (a large cave and overhanging rock) and, to really top it all off, an old castle to explore.
EG Waterhouse National Camellia Gardens
104R President Avenue, Caringbah South
Recognised by the International Camellia Society as a "Camellia Garden of Excellence" in 2014 (there are only 60 in the world), is a super special spot in The Shire. Featuring pretty paths lined with blooms, duck ponds, rose gardens, and a view over Yowie Bay, the Camellia Gardens are a perfect spot for a picnic amongst gorgeous scenery. And if you're keen to feed the ducks, you can pick up duck feed at The Jade Teahouse located at the intersection of President Avenue and Kareena Road.
The Best Parks In Sydney's West
Parramatta Park
Pitt Street and Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Image credit: Parramatta Park
This sprawling park in Parramatta dates back over 160 years and takes up 85 hectares of wide-open space. houses gardens, bushland, picnic spots, monuments, playgrounds, waterways, cycle paths, walking tracks, and bright purple jacarandas come November.
The park is deeply significant to the local Darug/Dharug people, holding tens of thousands of years of Indigenous history. The Burramatta Landscape Trail features Midyini (yam daisies), chocolate lilies and other rare flora planted by Indigenous community members.
Sydney Park
416 Sydney Park Road, Alexandria
Image credit: Sydney Park
Smack-bang at the end of South King Street, is a green oasis, made up of 40 glorious hectares of lush grass and gardens, rolling hills, pathways, wetlands, and expansive off-leash dog areas. Creeks flow throughout the park and there’s a tonne of picturesque viewing decks to take advantage of if you’re aiming to fit some zen time into your morning or afternoon walk. There are picnic spots aplenty here—the hardest part will be choosing where you want to throw down your blanket.
Glebe Foreshore Parks
Chapman Road, Annandale
Image credit: Glebe Foreshore
This collection of Inner West greenery is made up of four harbourside parks, namely, , , and . They form an idyllic stretch along the foreshore with stunning views of the Anzac Bridge and the sparkly waters of Rozelle Bay.
Federal Park features sports fields and a skate park if you need some high-energy activity to go with your picnic. Jubilee has a little cricket heritage with its historic cricket pavilion, while Blackwattle Bay and Bicentennial are all about sweeping green lawns and harbour views perfect for picnicking.
Western Sydney Parklands
Wallgrove Road, Eastern Creek
Image credit: Western Sydney Parklands
Not familiar with ? This sprawling oasis is the largest urban park in Australia and one of the largest in the world, covering bushland across Blacktown, Fairfield and Liverpool. Often dubbed “Sydney’s Biggest Backyard”, it’s about 14 times bigger than the Royal Botanic Garden, The Domain, Centennial Park and Moore Park combined.
It features 16 precincts, 50 park areas, Sydney’s largest off-leash dog areas, and heaps of picnic spots, pathways and trails to explore. There are more than nine trails to check out and all fitness levels are catered to and there's a casual 60km of paths to explore.
Bicentennial Park
Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park
Not to be confused with the three or four other Bicentennial Parks in Sydney, (at Sydney Olympic Park) should be your go-to for ultra scenic greenery, prime BBQ spots, cycling, ponds and of course, picnicking.
This huge stretch of green has a plethora of boardwalks for you to work your way through mangroves and one hell of a delicious stop-off at . It’s also home to the Treillage Tower—an absolute vantage point if you want to take in views of the wetlands, Homebush Bay and the sparkly Sydney city skyline.
For more outdoor fun, check out
- The Best Camping Spots In NSW
- The Best Breathtaking Bushwalks Near Sydney
- The Best National Parks Near Sydney
Main image credit: Destination NSW | Jason Lerace
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