Are you looking for a nice place to spend some time with family and friends? Make a day of it and go sightseeing at some of Sydney’s greatest picnic destinations. There are so many magnificent picnic locations to discover in Sydney and its surrounding areas, including inner-city parks and botanic gardens, as well as harbourside haunts with breathtaking vistas. Prepare your picnic basket, fill it with food, and get your blanket ready for an afternoon in the sun.
Centennial Park
Centennial Park is a popular picnic spot in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs that has been appreciated by successive generations of Sydneysiders. There’s plenty to see, do, and discover throughout Centennial Park’s 189 hectares, which are landscaped with gardens, ponds, and plenty of open areas ideal for laying down your picnic blanket. The park includes several playgrounds as well as pony rides for youngsters, making it an excellent day out with the entire family.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a lovely inner-city green space that’s ideal for an impromptu picnic. Enjoy a lazy lunch on the manicured lawns of this 16-hectare park, just minutes from Pitt Street, the Queen Victoria Building and other popular Sydney attractions. Throughout the park, you’ll find statues and monuments to explore as well as fountains and more in addition to the ANZAC Memorial and Pool of Reflection.
Ballast Point Park, Birchgrove
Birchgrove’s Ballast Point Park is a great spot for catching up with friends and family over a picnic or BBQ with views of Sydney Harbour. You’ll discover several superb sites to spread out your picnic blanket, as well as amenities like BBQ facilities, a playground, and more, from the vantage point of Sydney Harbour. The harbourside park covers 2.6 hectares and contains some remarkable outdoor art sculptures.
Barangaroo Reserve
Barangaroo Reserve, one of Sydney’s newest parks, looks out over the city of Sydney and has excellent views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, and the surrounding region. The reserve is landscaped with indigenous plants and thousands of huge sandstone blocks, plus several lookouts and grassed areas that allow you to select the perfect place to take in the stunning scenery.
Fitzpatrick Park, Picnic Point
Picnic Point’s Fitzpatrick Park, located less than an hour from Sydney’s city centre, offers lovely river views with open green spaces and plenty of space. The park is also a wonderful location to spend an afternoon fishing, go kayaking, or simply kick a ball around with the kids as it lies within the Georges River National Park.
Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay
The Secret Garden, which is filled with a variety of native plants, flowers, and mature trees, is a lovely seaside park that’s perfect for taking in the scenery while picnicking. The gardens offer panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and cityscape.
Parramatta Park, Parramatta
Parramatta Park, which has been a local favourite for more than 150 years, offers no shortage of wonderful areas to relax with a picnic. The park’s grounds feature a landscaped rose garden, several monuments, and some fascinating historical attractions that there’s plenty to discover and explore.
Davidson Park Picnic Area, Forestville
Davidson Park Picnic Area, located in the Garigal National Park just over an hour from Sydney’s CBD, is a peaceful waterside location tucked within the Garigal National Park. This picnic area overlooks Middle Harbour Creek and features a netted swimming pool that is ideal for a swim on a hot day as well as plenty of space for youngsters to play sports.