Visit Sydney Australia
Sydney Harbour Picnic Spots
It is perhaps a blessing that Parsley Bay is overshadowed by its more famous neighbour, Watsons Bay, as this picturesque corner of Sydney Harbour is a quiet haven for those lucky enough to know of its existence and have discovered its tranquility. Though the least frequented, it is as attractive as any other bay on the South Head peninsula, and the perfect place for children to take a dip in its sheltered waters or fossick for shells and crabs on the rocks while the adults laze away the afternoon under the Moreton Bay fig trees.
A small and sheltered corner of Port Jackson, Little Sirius Cove is reached by taking the Taronga Zoo ferry and taking the path to the left on arrival. Follow the narrow ribbon of bushland outside the zoo, then down some steps to Whiting Beach. Further on is Sirius Cove Reserve on Little Sirius Cove. It has a sandy beach and has a few sets of steps which go down to the water. It has shaded grassed areas, toilets and picnic tables and offers good harbour views. The beach is relatively safe to swim in under normal to calm conditions.
The very picturesque Chowder Bay is one of those harbour bays with everything. There is a wharf, enclosed baths, change rooms, childrens playground, lots of grass, picnic tables and several places to buy food. When the picnic lunch is over, there's bushland to wander through, or you can go fishing or snorkeling in the clear water. And if that is not enough, there's the extensive George Head fortifications to explore next door.
This picturesque but relatively unknown bay was of particular significance to the Camaraigal Aborigines who used it for ceremonies, burials and gathered medicinal plants here. It was here that Gov Arthur Phillip was speared by an aborigine in 1790. Collins Beach lies at the far northern end of the cove. A spring in the hills behind feeds a creek that tumbles over a small waterfall onto the sand.
Robertson Park at Watsons Bay is a sizeable grassed area, making it the perfect place for a picnic lunch. There is plenty of space and facilities, with picnic tables, toilets and a childrens playground. Lunch of fish and chips from the take-away cafe while sitting under the trees and enjoying views of the harbour takes a lot of beating. After lunch you can take a walk to South Head or view the rugged coastal scenery.
The river shores of the suburb of Gladesville are packed with history. Glades Bay was once a campsite for the local Aborigines, the Cammeraigal. Remnants of shells can be seen along the shoreline; axe grinding grooves can be found on rocks beside the cascades and creek which passes through the reserve. Downstream, at Looking Glass Bay, is a cottage that was the childhood home to poet Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson. A stones throw away are convict relics from the Great North Road, built in 1832.
Tambourine Bay, on the Lane Cove River, features a grassed area and rock swimming pool. A short but interesting walking trail leads along the eastern shore to the head of the bay. A second track passes some interesting rock formations and a stand of mangroves. This track leads to the ruins of a shale mine, Hodgson Park and up the Tambourine Creek Valley to Warraroon Reserve and River Road. The bay is named after a notorious Sydney character named Tambourine Nell who hid from the police here.
The Harold Reid headland, also known as the Sugarloaf, is a dramatic landform rising from the shores of Middle Harbour. A 5km walking circuit passes through natural waterfront bushland, featuring diverse plant communities, splendid sandstone scenery, varied shore birds, wildflowers and fascinating forest animals. The Reserve's estuarine forests swarm with microscopic life, which feed the crabs, prawns and fish.
Despite its inner suburban location, Berry Island remains the most rugged and natural of Sydney's Islands. 2km upsteam from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a highlight is the Gadyan bush track, a peaceful and picturesque 20 min walk that includes informative signs detailing the local Aboriginal history, and a vast sea creature carved into a flat grey ceremonial rock on the forested island.
Being upstream from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Lower North Shore peninsulas of Balls Head and Manns Point both offer a somewhat different perspective of the harbour to that normally seen downstream. Look one way and you see the city and Darling Harbour; look the other way and the view is up the Parramatta River to Gladesville Bridge and beyond. Balls Head has a large picnic area near the car park.
Cockatoo Island is Australia's most unusual urban park - a heritage-listed island in the middle of Sydney Harbour. You can take a guided tour or head off on your own and explore what has to be one of Australia's most interesting islands. You'll visit mainland Australia's most comprehensive collection of convict buildings, relics from Australia's once thriving shipbuilding industry, and of course take in its wonderful harbour views. The island has numerous places to enjoy the views while picnicking.
Located on Dobroyd Head, Tania Park is a great place for a picnic. The park has picnic facilities and extensive grassed areas for playing sport. Tania Park is adjacent to Arabanoo lookout, which offers views across North Harbour to Sydney Heads and Manly. Signs and monuments near the lookout provide some historical information about the area and its early inhabitants. Aboriginal rock carvings can be found beside the walkway to Reef Beach and the Grotto Point lighthouse, on the Spit to Manly Walkway.
Surrounded by restaurants, beautiful houses and expensive yachts, Balmoral is the most popular beach on Middle Harbour. It has been a favourite place for family picnics and dining al fresco at one of the many cafes for years. The entire beach is listed on the Register of the National Estate. The conservation area includes the promenade, the esplanade, the Rotunda and the Bathers' Pavilion, which date back to the 1930s.
Brdleys Head offers panoramic views across Sydney Harbour. The fortifications here are the best preserved of all those to be found around the shores of Sydney Harbour. Most of the older fortifications which located alongside the mast and crows nest of HMAS Sydney and consisting of a firing wall and a single cannon mount. There are picnic facilities on the upper and lower levels.
A well used family recreational area which, in 1975, became one of the first inclusions in the Sydney Harbour National Park. The rocky headlands on either side of the beach have historic significance. There is a lovely restaurant overlooking the beach on Shark Bay. It is a spectacular spot to have breakfast or lunch and the attached cafe/kiosk. In summer it is very popular, so you'll need to arrive early to get a parking spot.