Let’s take advantage of any chance to relax in a picnic area in Sydney, Australia. Here are the top picnic spots in Sydney that you should check off your list.
1. Why should you relax at a picnic spot in Sydney?
It’s difficult to top a sunny picnic at one of our top parks, with dappled shade, fluffy clouds, fruity drinks, and a picnic basket full of cheese. Even though summer may be over, we’ll take any opportunity to enjoy Sydney through picnic areas. When the weather is just right, pack your esky with ice-cold beer, natural wine, and an abundance of snacks, and start going on picnics.
Best Picnic Spots in Sydney
1. Wendy’s Secret Garden: One of the most popular picnic grounds in Sydney
From the homes and structures that crowd the shoreline, Wendy’s Secret Garden offers a brief respite. Wendy Whiteley, the spouse of Brett Whiteley, a well-known artist in Australia, designed the garden. Wendy acquired the abandoned NSW Rail Corporation-owned land next to their home after Brett’s passing in 1992.
Wendy restored the grounds, transforming it into a lovely, secluded space laced by winding paths, fig-trees, native plants, a flurry of bird life, antiques, and esoterica, all against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House while channeling a lifetime of artistic endeavor and all her grief. It is one of the best picnic spots Sydney.
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2. Nielsen Park: One of the most stunning picnic areas in Sydney
One of Sydney’s most stunning and unspoiled heritage parks is Nielsen Park, which is connected to Shark Beach. It has been a favorite of Sydneysiders for well over a century and features meandering paths through the bushland, stone steps that lead down to the sand, and a wooden kiosk built in 1914. The grounds of Strickland House, a former convalescent hospital that is now a public park and well-liked wedding venue, are accessible via a harbourside walk.
With views of the harbor, all the way to Manly, a loop walk in the opposite direction takes you out over Bottle and Glass Rocks. The park can get extremely crowded on the weekends due to the beach’s relative protection—flat surf, a shark net—so leaving the park and claiming a spot on the rocks is frequently a good idea. If the park is too crowded, there is another excellent option nearby in Parsley Bay, which is only two bays over.
3. Shark Island: Don’t miss these picnic grounds
Don’t be alarmed by the ominous name; Shark Island gets its name from its shape, not from any Jaws. The island is a great location for a summertime picnic because it arguably provides one of the best panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. It is really one of the best picnic spots Sydney.
Although getting there requires some effort (you’ll need to take a ferry or kayak over), the idyll is unquestionably worthwhile. A $7 per person landing fee is also required for all vessels, including kayaks. You can set up camp near picnic tables and a roomy gazebo that is surrounded by a lush grassy area. Grab a beer, gather some snacks, and take in the breathtaking view.
- Where: New South Wales, Australia
4. Barangaroo Reserve: Perfect picnic area in Sydney for family
If you’re looking for a new place to have a picnic, check out the public park at Barangaroo on the foreshore of the CBD’s northwest. Six hectares of waterfront parkland with views of the western harbor make up the reserve. The park itself has lookouts, grassy areas, cycling paths, a natural amphitheater, and 75,000 native Sydney plants. The foreshore was built in the shape of the natural, pre-1836 shoreline using more than 10,000 sandstone blocks.
Everywhere you look, there is beauty, with the old coathanger to the right and the glistening suburbs of Balmain, Pyrmont, and Darling Harbour to the left (and heaps of glittering water). What could be superior? It’s BYO at Barangaroo Reserve. This is one of the most interesting picnic spots Sydney.
5. South Head: A great place to satisfy your appetite
Make your way to South Head, where you’ll find sheer ocean cliffs and unrivaled views of the Tasman Sea and Sydney Harbour if you want to feel the full force of nature. To see the red and white striped Hornby Lighthouse and get up close to some 19th-century gun emplacements, you can take the one-kilometer South Head Heritage Trail.
If you get hungry, Watsons Bay is only a short distance away and is a great place to satisfy your appetite. But really, all you need is a picnic sandwich and that view.
6. Sub Base Platypus: A public area in Sydney
What was once a submarine base and torpedo factory during the war is now a public area. HMAS Platypus is a former submarine base that, after being closed to the public for more than 150 years, is now a new foreshore walkway and parkland ideal for picnics. It is situated on the harbor between Kirribilli and Kurraba Point in North Sydney.
There are numerous green spaces, including plazas and courtyards, where you can spread out a blanket and enjoy a barbecue. Additionally, you have stunning views of the water. It is really one of the unmissable picnic spots Sydney.
7. Cremorne Reserve, Picnic grounds in Sydney
The view from this tiny park on Sydney’s lower north shore is one of the best. You can see the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline clearly from there. On a nice day, you can take a quick dip in the neighborhood Maccallum Pool, dry off, and relax on the grass with some snacks and drinks.
The pool is currently closed, but starting on Friday, May 15, the NSW Government will permit outdoor pools to reopen (under some restrictions), so hopefully, it won’t be long before it’s operational. It is best to simply take the ferry from Circular Quay to Cremorne Point if you don’t reside on the north shore.
8. Blackwattle Bay Park: The perfect location for relaxing at a picnic spot Sydney
Locals of Glebe are likely to have spent one or more afternoons relaxing by the water in this lovely inner-west park. But if you live in Sydney and haven’t been, summer is the best season to do so.
Blackwattle Bay Park is the perfect location for a traditional barbecue with friends because it is well-known for its excellent dogs, which are allowed to run free and are eager for pats, and sweeping views of the ANZAC Bridge and Rozelle Bay. Open a bottle of wine and take off your shoes as you enjoy the sunset.
9. Parramatta Park: One of the prettiest picnic spots Sydney
Sydney’s beaches draw so much attention that it’s simple to overlook the numerous breathtaking rivers that are found in our city. The Parramatta River underwent extensive cleaning over the past few years, and in January 2015, it was declared safe for swimming. It is really one of the best picnic spots Sydney.
The Parramatta Park area along the waterway is one of the prettiest places to enjoy a sneaky beer among the birds and lush, lush grass. While you’re there, stroll through the Murray Gardens or Old Government House’s grounds, or pay a visit to the Rumsey Rose Garden.
10. Centennial Park: One of the top picnic grounds in Sydney
The expansive area of vegetation known as Centennial Park frames much of the eastern suburbs’ entrance. Centennial Park has ponds, gardens, statues, heritage buildings, and a steady stream of joggers, cyclists, rollerbladers, and horseriders. It was designed in the “European” tradition as a grand Victorian park with wide avenues so that the gentle folk of Sydney could promenade in their carriages and “take the air.”
Due to the size of the park, you can almost always find a location that is both relatively secluded and offers a variety of views. You can find it if you want a place with lovely green fields, well-kept formal gardens, or stretches of water where Hemingway might have gone fishing intoxicated. One of the best public spaces in the city and a great place for picnics almost all year round is Centennial Park.
- Where: New South Wales, Australia
11. Clifton Gardens Reserve
Since the 19th century, families have enjoyed picnicking at Clifton Gardens Reserve because of its rocky coastline, netted swimming area, walled playground, restrooms, and great BBQ and picnic amenities.
Due to the ample area for dogs to run around on the beach, in the water, and in the park at Clifton Gardens, it is also a well-liked beach among dog owners. It is really one of the unmissable picnic spots Sydney.
12. Bradleys Head
A well-liked fishing and picnic location in Sydney Harbour National Park is the man-made amphitheater at Bradleys Head. It’s also a fantastic vantage point, offering expansive views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and the city skyline.
It’s highly suggested to take the short but beautiful walking track from Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay or even farther to Balmoral Beach if you feel like doing a little hiking. It is really one of the best picnic spots Sydney.
13. Bradfield Park
Bradfield Park in Kirribilli is a tranquil and lovely place to have a picnic and is situated directly below the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Bradfield Park has great views of Circular Quay and the big cruise ships that frequently pass by, while Luna Park and the Olympic Pool are close by.
It is recommended to take the rail to Bradfield Park and exit at Milsons Point. Alternately, there is nearby metered street parking.
14. Balls Head Reserve
Balls Head Reserve in the Lower North Shore is a true woodland paradise with a view of Sydney Harbour, despite not being as well known as other picnic areas in Sydney. The picnic spots on this peninsula are well-maintained and include a number of tables and BBQs, a drinking fountain, and restrooms.
Carradah Park, a wonderful spot for a picnic with a number of walking trails and lookout platforms, is located just next to Balls Head Reserve on the Waverton Peninsula.
15. Berry Island Reserve
Berry Island Reserve near Wollstonecraft is a serene little haven with a fenced playground, picnic spaces, and a small bushwalking route. Berry Island, one of Sydney Harbour’s several islands, is now a peninsula. It is currently attached to Wollstonecraft’s mainland by a man-made grassy meadow.
Additionally welcome, dogs must be on a leash when visiting Berry Island Reserve. They can also participate in the quick bushwalk. It is really one of the unmissable picnic spots Sydney.
16. Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island, a historic island that is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located directly in the center of Sydney Harbour and offers some wonderful sites for picnics.
Explore the island and take in its preserved heritage. Bring your camera to Cockatoo Island if you want to capture the beauty and unspoiled nature of this location since it is a very popular destination for photographers.
Suppose you intend to spend the night and reserve a luxurious tent at the campground. You can reserve a small place on the camping site and bring your own tent and camping supplies as an alternative.
- Where: New South Wales, Australia
17. Ballast Point Park: One of the amazing picnic spots Sydney
Visitors can meander through Sydney’s rich history at Ballast Point Park, a recreational 2.6-hectare park in Birchgrove on the Balmain Peninsula. The park has walking trails, a playground, grilling spaces, picnic places, and access for bikers. It was formally opened to the public by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority in July 2009.
The park is a fun area to explore because of its slightly untamed spirit, as well as its stunning natural surroundings and picturesque views.
Ballast Point Park is situated in Birchgrove at the extreme tip of the Balmain Peninsula, at the end of Ballast Point Road, and offers stunning views of Sydney Harbour. It is really one of the unmissable picnic spots Sydney.
18. Glebe Foreshore
Bicentennial Park in Glebe is a tidy and peaceful location to spend a relaxed afternoon. It was created in 1988 to commemorate 200 years of white settlement in Australia. The picnic shelter at Federal Park or a bench by the water is your best bet for a picnic location.
Do the Glebe Foreshore walking track from Bicentennial Park to the Sydney Fish Market in Pyrmont via Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay while you’re there.
19. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: One of the most beautiful picnic areas you should not miss
The Royal Botanic Garden, which is situated in Sydney’s central business district, has been one of the most significant historic botanical institutions in the world since 1816.
Choose a location anywhere in the park, and spend a beautiful afternoon amidst unusual plants, trees, and flowers. The Opera House and the City Skyline right next door ensure that you’ll never grow bored of the vistas.
Mrs. Macquaries Point is one of the most beautiful grounds in Sydney for a picnic with sweeping views of the Harbour and is technically a part of The Domain. If you want to impress any international guests, go there!
20. Yarranabbe Park: One of the best picnic grounds for family
Yarranabbe Park near Darling Point is a terrific place to unwind and relax with views of Garden Island, the Sydney CBD skyline, and the Harbour Bridge. It is really one of the unmissable picnic spots Sydney.
Yarranabbe Park is the ideal area for a picnic because it has several park seats, many big trees, and beautiful Harbour views to take in. Bring your picnic rug with you to this wonderful park since there are no tables there.
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