10 Best Parks in Sydney

Hyde Park is the oldest public parkland in Australia. This large urban park in Sydney’s Central Business District has plenty of shaded areas and fascinating art and sculptures. Hyde Park is divided by Park Street and the southern section of the park is where you’ll find its iconic ANZAC Memorial building and reflecting pool.

The northern section of Hyde Park has several themed gardens including the Nagoya Gardens with its beautiful stone lanterns, and the newly restored Archibald Fountain, which has been an iconic meeting place in the city for almost 100 years. Hyde Park plays host to many cultural events throughout the year including the Food and Wine Fair and the Sydney Festival.

Observatory Park is in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District, close to the Harbour Bridge, offering up panoramic views over the iconic harbour. The construction of the park dates back to the 1850s but dig deeper to the 1700s and you’ll discover the story of Sydney’s first windmill built by Irish convict, John Davis, to grind wheat for bread.

If you’re missing the gym, the Observatory Park has outdoor fitness equipment dotted around so you can get in a work-out with a view.

Centennial Park is a huge urban oasis east of the Central Business District that includes gardens, wetlands, sports fields, cycle tracks and equestrian centres. Centennial Park is also home to animals including possums, foxes and rabbits, and an amazing variety of bird life from the common Willie Wagtail to the Eastern Barn Owl.

Throughout summer the park is home to the Moonlight Cinema series, a fun outdoor cinema with food and drinks that hosts several film festivals. One of the city’s favourite spots for barbecues and picnics, there are plenty of shady picnic spots and free-to-use public grills to get the party started.

The Royal Botanic Garden is Australia’s oldest botanic garden and scientific institution, stretching out 66 acres along the shores of Sydney Harbour and dating back to 1816. This superb public garden is home to some 5,000 different plants from around the world with a focus on the flora of Australia and the South Pacific.

Head to the Tropical Garden on the north side of the Macquarie Wall to see many exotic blooms, from Dinner Plate Figs from New Guinea to Pink Bananas from India.

Bicentennial Park on the shores of Homebush Bay, 16 km from the CBD, is part of Sydney’s Olympic Park and was created in 1988 to celebrate Australia’s bicentennial. An important natural environment for wildlife in the area, the Bicentennial Park provides a home for some 250 native animal species and 400 native plant species. Remarkably, around 25% of bird species found in all of Australia have been spotted at the park.

As well as enjoying the flourishing wildlife, you can take nature-based tours here, explore the statues and public art, and relax in the many shaded picnic areas, pathways and playgrounds.

Barangaroo Reserve is at the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and is a modern recreation of a headland which existed pre-European contact. The Barangaroo Reserve was a culturally significant site for the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, who would hunt and fish in the area. You will also find rock engravings and large shell middens that date back some 6,000 years.

Book an Aboriginal Cultural tour with Indigenous educators to learn more about the fascinating history of this area and the people who called it home.

The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a collaborative cultural programme between New South Wales and Guangdong of China at the southern end of Darling Harbour. Modelled after the great traditional gardens of the 5th century in China, and infused with Australian characteristics, this is a truly unique place to visit.

The garden was created according to Taoist principles of Yin and Yang creating balance in everything; explore serene walkways, see exotic blossoms, and the lake of colourful Koi fish. Stay for lunch at the on-site restaurant, a heritage-listed tea house serving dumplings and spicy Sichuan food.

Wendy’s Secret Garden is on the lower north shore of Sydney Harbour at Lavender Bay. Born out of grief after her artist husband’s death, Wendy Whiteley created this stunning wild garden from a previously derelict patch of land owned by the NSW Rail Corporation.

There are no signs to this ‘secret’ garden, but you can find it via Google maps at ‘Wendy’s Garden Lavender Bay’. Once you’re there, explore the many sculptures, fountains, antique bird baths and children’s toys, and enjoy the colourful parrots, kookaburras and other birdlife that flock to this tranquil spot.

Sydney Park in Sydney’s Alexandria suburb is well-served by bus and train from the CBD. The third largest park in inner-city Sydney, Sydney Park has large rolling hills, a sports oval, bike track, skateboard park, and wetlands that house a huge variety of native birds and wildlife.

Once the site of city brickworks, the kiln and chimneys have been preserved for heritage. Sydney Park is popular for kite flying and has a terrific children’s playground suitable for all ages and abilities.

Sydney Harbour Park is a small (3.92 sq km) but very important park which protects the islands and foreshore around Sydney Harbour. This includes Goat Island, Middle Head, Shark Island, and Sydney Heads. Known for its tranquil sheltered beaches and dotted with peaceful picnic spots, the Harbour National Park is also a treasure trove of storied Aboriginal, military, and colonial history.

Visit the Quarantine Station to discover more than a thousand engravings from its historic inhabitants, see the mast of the first HMAS Sydney at Bradleys Head, take a dip at Nielsen Park, and stop for tea at its café.