20 parks listed

Best Walking Trails in Sydney City

Sydney City has parks with walking tracks ranging from easy paved paths to bush trails. All parks listed below have confirmed walking path facilities.

What to look for

The best walking parks have well-maintained paths, clear trail markers, and facilities like toilets and parking at the trailhead.

Comparison table — Best Walking Trails in Sydney City

Park	Suburb	Walking paths	Parking	Toilets	Water	BBQ	Details
Hickson Road Reserve	The Rocks	✓	✓	✓	✓	?	View →
Barangaroo Reserve	Barangaroo	✓	✗	✓	✓	?	View →
Belmore Park	Haymarket	✓	?	✓	?	?	View →
Metcalfe Park	Pyrmont	✓	✓	✗	✗	?	View →
Rushcutters Bay Park	Rushcutters Bay	✓	✓	?	?	?	View →
Succulent Garden	Sydney	✓	✓	?	?	?	View →
Pirrama Park	Pyrmont	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	View →
Waterfront Park	Pyrmont	✓	✓	✓	?	✓	View →
Cooper Street Reserve	Surry Hills	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	View →
Prince Alfred Park	Surry Hills	✓	✓	✓	?	✓	View →
Macleay Reserve	Elizabeth Bay	✓	✗	?	✗	?	View →
Dawes Point Reserve	Dawes Point	✓	✓	?	?	?	View →
James Hilder Reserve	Surry Hills	✓	✓	?	?	?	View →
Mary Ann Street Park	Ultimo	✓	✓	?	✓	✓	View →
Albert Sloss Reserve	Darlinghurst	✓	?	?	?	?	View →
Frances Newton Reserve	Darlinghurst	✓	?	?	?	?	View →
O'Brien Lane Reserve	Darlinghurst	✓	?	?	?	?	View →
Womerah Gardens	Darlinghurst	✓	?	?	?	?	View →
Nita McCrae Park	Millers Point	✓	?	?	✓	?	View →
James Watkinson Reserve	Pyrmont	✓	?	?	✓	✓	View →

Park profiles — Best Walking Trails in Sydney City

Hickson Road Reserve

📍 The Rocks, NSW 2000

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Hickson Road Reserve is a grassy open space on the Sydney Harbour waterfront in The Rocks, with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Dawes Point. The reserve is a public viewpoint on the waterfront promenade linking Walsh Bay, Campbell's Cove and the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Harbourside Lawns at Hickson Road Reserve

Hickson Road Reserve has a predominantly grass surface with paved and asphalt pathways running through it. The reserve supports passive recreation and pedestrian circulation along the waterfront, and joggers use its open lawns. Hickson Road Reserve has a picnic area on the grassy lawns, and photographers come for the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Dawes Point. The ground is sloping or uneven in places, which limits layouts for ground-based events.

Events and Filming at Hickson Road Reserve

Hickson Road Reserve is used for photography, wedding ceremonies, events and filming, and it can hold a guest list of over 100 people. The reserve hosts New Year's Eve fireworks, the Australia Day Ferrython and Chinese New Year lanterns, and it was part of the course of the Real Harbour 5 & 10km Fun Run. Event organisers must keep a 1.5 metre setback from promenades, footpaths and trees. Set-up and pull-down are generally restricted to 10am to 10pm unless authorised by Place Management NSW.

Sydney Harbour Bridge viewsWedding photographyPicnics on the lawnJogging routesKids grassy play areaHarbourside walksNew Year's Eve fireworks

🚻 Toilets🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths

Barangaroo Reserve

📍 Barangaroo, NSW 2000

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Barangaroo Reserve is a six-hectare harbour foreshore park in Barangaroo, built on a former concrete container terminal. Its standout feature is the Marrinawi Cove swimming area, a sheltered harbour swim enclosed by safety netting. The car-free headland is planted with more than 75,000 native trees and shrubs.

Native Foreshore Landscape at Barangaroo Reserve

Barangaroo Reserve has a recreated native foreshore across its headland, where the planting replicates the pre-colonisation foliage. Native bee colonies have been introduced to pollinate the native plants. Stargazer Lawn gives views across the gardens and the harbour. Lorikeets and kookaburras are common in the reserve, and skinks and water dragons can also be seen. Barangaroo Reserve opened in 2015 and attracted more than three million visitors in its first few years.

Marrinawi Cove Swimming Area at Barangaroo Reserve

Barangaroo Reserve has a harbour swimming area in Marrinawi Cove that opened in early 2023. The swimming enclosure is lined with sandstone steps, which give entry points into the water, and safety netting separates it from the wider harbour. Stoney Cove is a second named cove along the reserve's foreshore. The sheltered water of Marrinawi Cove suits a harbour swim without leaving the reserve.

Harbour viewsSwimming at Marrinawi CoveCycling on bike pathWalking the Wulugul WalkAboriginal cultural toursKids Bush Buji experienceWheelchair accessibleDogs on lead

🚻 Toilets🚶 Paths🏅 Sports

Belmore Park

📍 Haymarket, NSW 2000

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Belmore Park is a 13 acres (5.3 ha) public park in Haymarket NSW 2000, opposite Central station on Hay Street. Its standout feature is its fountain, set among monuments, gardens and wide shaded tree-lined paths. The park also has public toilets, extensive lawns and benches for relaxing in the heart of Sydney.

History and Monuments at Belmore Park

Belmore Park was created on 19 May 1868 and is named after Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore. Belmore Park has a bandstand built in 1910 that is now disused. Belmore Park has a long record as a gathering place for protests, markets, events and performances. In 1878, Henri L'Estrange made two unsuccessful attempts to launch himself in a gas balloon from Belmore Park before a large crowd. During the 2000 Summer Olympics, Belmore Park was one of five live sites where the games were broadcast publicly. Across the road, Belmore Produce Markets and Paddy's Markets were built in the late 1860s, linking the park to Haymarket's long trading history.

Green Spaces and Walking Paths at Belmore Park

Belmore Park has extensive grass areas that give visitors open lawns in the heart of Sydney. Belmore Park has wide shaded tree-lined paths that run through its grounds for walking and strolling. Belmore Park has ample seating, with benches placed along its paths and across its lawns. Belmore Park offers picnic spots, and visitors can enjoy a pleasant breeze beneath its many trees. Belmore Park has gardens, monuments and a delightful fountain as its main landscape features. Belmore Park has shaded areas throughout its grounds, along with public toilets for visitors.

Central station accessShaded walksPicnics on the lawnsHistoric monumentsPublic toilets on siteFountain and gardensPublic transport hubMarkets and live events

🚻 Toilets🚶 Paths

Metcalfe Park

📍 Pyrmont, NSW 2009

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Metcalfe Park is a waterfront grass park in the centre of Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont, with bespoke outdoor tables, mature trees and ping pong tables. Its most notable feature is its solar harvesting umbrellas, which shade visitors and charge their phones and tablets.

Seating, Shade and Ping Pong at Metcalfe Park

Metcalfe Park has bespoke outdoor furniture and tables designed for the site, set among integrated planters and mature large trees that shade the grass. Solar harvesting umbrellas add more shade and charge smartphones and tablets. Ping pong tables are available for casual games, and benches line much of the park's edge, some facing the harbour. The park was redesigned in 2015 by ASPECT Studios as a temporary park within a park, adding furniture, planters, shade and charging points to what had been a bare grass open space.

Dogs at Metcalfe Park

Metcalfe Park is not fully fenced, so dogs should stay on a leash or under close supervision at all times. The park has no water for dogs, so owners need to bring their own. Dog walking is a regular activity here, alongside walking, running and cycling. The promenade carries heavy pedestrian traffic, so dogs are best kept close, especially in the weekday morning peak from 8am to 10am, when 300 to 500 people pass through each hour.

Dog walking (on leash)Ping pongFree WiFi and phone chargingShade and seatingHarbour viewsWalks and runsPhotography

🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths🏅 Sports

Rushcutters Bay Park

📍 Rushcutters Bay, NSW 2011

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Rushcutters Bay Park is a 24-hour public park in Rushcutters Bay, NSW 2011, with manicured lawns, tall shade trees and water views. Its standout feature is the Rushcutters Bay Park Tennis Centre, which has three courts and a café, and the park also has a children's playground and a footpath along the sea wall.

Tennis and Sport at Rushcutters Bay Park

Rushcutters Bay Park has three tennis courts, which were reconfigured from two courts during an upgrade between 2007 and 2011. The Rushcutters Bay Park Tennis Centre operates from Waratah Street and offers social tennis, coaching, holiday camps, a night league competition and private lessons, with a café on site. Rushcutters Bay Park also has outdoor gym equipment, and its open areas host football (soccer) games.

Playground and Lawns at Rushcutters Bay Park

Rushcutters Bay Park has a children's playground set within open green space, close to the manicured lawns. Tall, mature trees shade the lawns, where children can run around while adults relax in the shade or read a book. Rushcutters Bay Park has open picnic areas with water views, so families can pair playground time with a picnic on the lawns.

Kids playgroundFamily picnicsTennis playersWalking and joggingOutdoor gym workoutsWater viewsRelaxed lawn time

🛝 Playground🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths🏅 Sports

Succulent Garden

📍 Sydney, NSW 2000

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Succulent Garden is a walled cactus and succulent rockery inside the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Its standout feature is a collection arranged in geographic zones, with African aloes and euphorbias in the old world beds and Joshua trees and agaves from the Americas in the new world beds.

Plant Collection at Succulent Garden

Succulent Garden divides its rockery into geographic ecozones so visitors can compare how arid plants from different continents differ in form. The old world beds hold mainly African plants, including Aloes, Euphorbias and Stapelia, and the garden has a large collection of African Aloes. The new world beds hold plants from the Americas, including Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia), Agaves, giant Furcraeas and the Golden Barrel cactus (Echinocactus grussonii). Some of the older, slow-growing plants loom over eight feet high.

Walking Loop at Succulent Garden

Succulent Garden has a short walking loop through statuesque gardens that starts at its entrance. The pathways suit visitors with disabilities, including people using mobility aids. Because the walled rockery covers a compact area, the loop makes an easy short stroll. Benches along the way offer rest and shade, and the tall towers of the Sydney CBD rise above the eastern entrance. The NSW State Herbarium borders the garden on one side.

Succulent and cactus viewingAccessible pathsMorning sun walksWinter warm-upSculpture garden viewingPlant shoppingWheelchair-friendly visits

🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths

Pirrama Park

📍 Pyrmont, NSW 2009

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Pirrama Park is a 1.8 hectare harbourside park in Pyrmont, formerly known as Pyrmont Point Park. Its standout feature is an extensive children's playground with free water play, and the park also has barbecues, picnic areas and a harbour boardwalk with views of the Harbour Bridge and North Sydney.

Playground and Water Play at Pirrama Park

Pirrama Park has an extensive children's playground with water play features, open from 8am to 6pm every day except Tuesday and free to use. The interactive playground includes sandstone artefacts that reflect the area's former quarries. Pirrama Park has a café right beside the playground and public toilets next to it, including an accessible toilet, so parents can stay close to the play areas. Benches sit near the splash play area for supervising adults.

BBQ and Picnic Areas at Pirrama Park

Pirrama Park has barbecues and picnic areas, including shaded picnic shelters with public benches. Shade structures are spread across the park's grassed areas, giving picnickers cover from the sun. Pirrama Park has an accessible picnic area for visitors with mobility needs. Outdoor exercise equipment stands on the northern lawn, close to the picnic spaces, and the lawns suit boot camp and yoga as well as family picnics.

Kids playgroundWater playWeekend BBQHarbour viewsFamily picnicsWalking and joggingWheelchair accessibleFireworks viewing

🛝 Playground🔥 BBQ🚻 Toilets🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths🏅 Sports

Waterfront Park

📍 Pyrmont, NSW 2009

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Waterfront Park is a 1.2-hectare public park on Bowman Street in Pyrmont NSW 2009. Its standout feature is off-leash dog access throughout the park, alongside a small playground for toddlers and young children, barbecue areas, and picnic tables with public toilets.

Off-Leash Dog Access at Waterfront Park

Waterfront Park is a dog-friendly park where dogs are welcome off-leash throughout the grounds. Dogs are allowed in the park, which makes Waterfront Park a practical choice for owners who want room to exercise a dog in Pyrmont. The park's grass areas, trees, benches and well-maintained pathways give dogs and owners space to walk together. Waterfront Park is also home to ducks, swans and other waterfowl, so dogs will encounter wildlife on the grounds. Waterfront Park has occasional swooping miner birds, so visitors should stay alert in open grassy areas.

Playground at Waterfront Park

Waterfront Park has a small playground with equipment suited to toddlers and young children. The play area includes a swing set with two swings, one designed for toddlers, and a small playground with swings and a red spring ride. Waterfront Park's playground sits under a large tree, with grass, a bench and a path nearby, and water visible in the background. Waterfront Park also lists key inclusive play equipment within its playground section. The playground is tagged for infants and pre-schoolers, making Waterfront Park a suitable outing for families with young children in Pyrmont.

Off-leash dogsKids playgroundToddler playWeekend BBQFamily picnicsWalking and runningWildlife spotting

🐕 Off-leash area🛝 Playground🔥 BBQ🚻 Toilets🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths

Cooper Street Reserve

📍 Surry Hills, NSW 2010

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Cooper Street Reserve is a grassed public reserve on Cooper Street, Surry Hills. Its standout feature is the Active Youth Precinct, with a skate park, pump track and fitness equipment, alongside an accessible playground, basketball court, BBQ areas and a shared path through the reserve.

Active Youth Precinct at Cooper Street Reserve

Cooper Street Reserve has an Active Youth Precinct with a skate park and pump track for skating and riding, plus fitness equipment. A basketball court and exercise equipment give active visitors more ways to train and play. The Active Precinct lighting allows use until 9pm, when the skate park and pump track lights switch off. Upgraded lighting also runs along the main paths, so the reserve stays lit for evening visits.

Playground and Picnic Areas at Cooper Street Reserve

Cooper Street Reserve has an accessible playground for children on its spacious grassed lawn. BBQ areas and picnic tables let visitors cook and eat on site, while bench seats offer places to rest. Public toilets are in the amenities building, and the reserve has shade. Nearby office workers use Cooper Street Reserve during the day, especially at lunchtime, making it an important open space in Surry Hills.

Dog walkers with water bubblerKids playgroundBasketball and skateWeekend BBQPicnic tablesAccessible parkingEvening path lightingShared path cycling

🛝 Playground🔥 BBQ🚻 Toilets🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths🏅 Sports

#10

Prince Alfred Park

📍 Surry Hills, NSW 2010

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Prince Alfred Park is a 7.5-hectare park in Surry Hills beside Central station, with an off-leash dog area in its central grass and woodland as its most notable feature. The park also has two playgrounds, a 50-metre outdoor pool, tennis and basketball courts, fitness stations and barbecue areas.

Off-Leash Dog Area at Prince Alfred Park

Prince Alfred Park has an off-leash dog area in its central grass and woodland, where dogs may run off-leash at all times. The zone is bounded by the aquatic centre to the north, a native meadow to the south, the main shared path to the west and the park boundary to the east. Dogs are excluded from the playgrounds, sports courts, swimming pool, barbecue areas and fitness stations, and must stay on a leash outside the zone. The council provides dog litter bag dispensers at its off-leash parks.

Playgrounds at Prince Alfred Park

Prince Alfred Park has two playgrounds, including an enclosed toddlers' playground for younger children. A mini park at the entrance has a wooden boat and an elephant-shaped slide, and the play areas also include a big wide slide, swings and a see-saw. The play equipment is modern and the grounds are well maintained. A rainbow footpath, a highlight for families, leads to Equality Green.

Off-leash dogsKids playgroundOutdoor pool lapsWeekend BBQTennis and basketballPicnics on the lawnNear Central stationWheelchair-friendly paths

🐕 Off-leash area🛝 Playground🔥 BBQ🚻 Toilets🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths🏅 Sports

#11

Macleay Reserve

📍 Elizabeth Bay, NSW 2011

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Macleay Reserve is a small, tree-filled off-leash dog park in Elizabeth Bay NSW 2011, open 24 hours a day. Its standout feature is an unfenced off-leash dog area beneath mature shade trees left from Alexander Macleay's estate garden, with harbourside views.

Off-Leash Dog Area at Macleay Reserve

Macleay Reserve has an off-leash dog area that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, under City of Sydney rules. The reserve is unfenced, with roads on every side and no barrier between the grass and the kerb, so it suits dogs with reliable recall that owners can call off mid-stride. Macleay Reserve has no small dog area, no fully fenced section and no agility equipment. Macleay Reserve has no drinking water for dogs and no poo bags on site, and it has no bins, so owners need to bring water and carry used bags out. Lighting at Macleay Reserve is limited to enough to walk a path, not enough to let a dog run off-leash after dark.

Shade, Benches and Picnic Tables at Macleay Reserve

Macleay Reserve is a long, lovely stretch of green with plenty of shade from its big, mature trees. Those trees are left from Alexander Macleay's estate garden and cover most of the reserve. Macleay Reserve has benches under the trees along its paths. Macleay Reserve has picnic tables available among the shade. Macleay Reserve has wheelchair accessibility listed among its amenities. The reserve is small and tucked inside the road loop at the end of Elizabeth Bay Road, and it offers gorgeous harbourside views.

Off-leash dogsShade under mature treesRelaxed picnicsHarbourside viewsWheelchair accessible visitsEarly morning or daytime dog walks

🐕 Off-leash area🚶 Paths

#12

Dawes Point Reserve

📍 Dawes Point, NSW 2000

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Dawes Point Reserve is a free, 24-hour public park on Hickson Road in The Rocks, sitting directly beneath the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its most notable feature is the close-up view of the bridge structure, and the park also holds the archaeological remains of the former Dawes Point Battery.

Harbour Bridge Views at Dawes Point Reserve

Dawes Point Reserve sits beneath the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, so visitors see the bridge structure up close from below. Across the water, the reserve looks towards Milsons Point and Luna Park, and the Sydney Opera House is visible across the harbour. A nearby elevator links the reserve to the bridge's pedestrian walkway. Dawes Point Reserve is a vantage point for the New Year's Eve fireworks, and bridge photography is one of its main draws.

Dawes Point Battery Remains at Dawes Point Reserve

Dawes Point Reserve contains the archaeological remains of the former Dawes Point Battery, a fortified position built in 1788 to protect Sydney Cove. The remains include cannons, a guard house, officer's quarters and underground store rooms. Lieutenant William Dawes set up an observatory on the point, which fell out of use by 1791. The Dawes Point Battery property was added to the NSW State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002, and well-maintained pathways lead visitors past the remains.

Harbour Bridge viewsFree 24-hour parkPicnics on the lawnHistory enthusiastsBridge photographyNew Year's Eve viewingForeshore walksShaded seating

🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths

#13

James Hilder Reserve

📍 Surry Hills, NSW 2010

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James Hilder Reserve is a public park at 121-131 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, managed by the City of Sydney. Its standout feature is its off-leash dog area, which operates at all times, alongside a children's playground and outdoor fitness station.

Off-Leash Dog Area at James Hilder Reserve

James Hilder Reserve has an off-leash dog area that operates at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The reserve is an unfenced off-leash area, so dogs exercise across open lawn without an enclosure. James Hilder Reserve lists a small dog area among its features. Dog owners at James Hilder Reserve need to bring their own drinking water and poo bags, and waste bins are provided on site. The children's playground at James Hilder Reserve is a dog-prohibited zone, so dogs must stay out of the play area. The lawn and grassy areas at James Hilder Reserve include several shade trees and benches, giving dog owners a place to rest while their dogs run.

Playground at James Hilder Reserve

James Hilder Reserve has a playground of 290m2 in its eastern section, suitable for children of all ages. The playground has a triple swing set, a play structure with slides and a see-saw, and sensory plants for sensory play. James Hilder Reserve has a balance beam and steppers in its play area. Shaded areas and seating sit beside the play equipment at James Hilder Reserve. The playground is partly fenced, and the playground fence was added during the upgrade works. The ground surface is rubber-surfaced, and the playground is closed to dogs at all times.

Off-leash dogsKids playgroundOutdoor fitnessShaded seatingSensory play for young childrenLocal Surry Hills park

🐕 Off-leash area🛝 Playground🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths

#14

Mary Ann Street Park

📍 Ultimo, NSW 2007

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Mary Ann Street Park is a landscaped green space at 54-66 Mary Ann Street, Ultimo NSW 2007, with gardens, shaded seating and picnic tables. Its standout feature is that dogs may be off-leash at all times, making it a notable off-leash dog area in Ultimo.

Off-Leash Dog Access at Mary Ann Street Park

Dogs may be off-leash at all times in Mary Ann Street Park, which makes off-leash exercise the park's standout feature. Owners can let dogs run across the park's lawn and along its pathways without a lead. The park is also dog friendly, so people walking dogs on-leash can use the same gardens and shaded seating. Mary Ann Street Park is managed by City of Sydney, the local council, which sets the current dog rules for the site. Check those rules before each visit, as dog access rules can change.

Picnic, BBQ and Shaded Seating at Mary Ann Street Park

Mary Ann Street Park has barbecue facilities for families and groups who want to cook outdoors. The park has picnic tables and a picnic area for sitting down to eat. Shaded seating, park benches and shade structures give visitors places to rest out of the sun. Gardens and a lawn surround these seating areas, so picnickers can settle in among greenery. Mary Ann Street Park has drinking water and a water fountain, which makes a relaxed lunch in Ultimo easy to manage.

Off-leash dogsDog walksWeekend BBQPicnics in the shadeWalking and runningWildlife spottingUltimo green escape

🐕 Off-leash area🔥 BBQ🅿️ Parking🚶 Paths

#15

Albert Sloss Reserve

📍 Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

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Albert Sloss Reserve is a renewed inner-city community park at 225-245 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010. Its standout feature is a custom Metropolis play tower, installed in 2018, set beside a rope bridge, birds-nest swing and sensory play area. The reserve also has a larger lawn for group gatherings and sensory planted terraces.

Playground at Albert Sloss Reserve

Albert Sloss Reserve has a small, partly enclosed playground with play equipment for children. The playground includes a slide, a rope bridge and a birds-nest swing, and Albert Sloss Reserve has a cubby house for quiet play. A custom Metropolis play tower, installed in 2018, is part of the playground and is aimed at children aged 2 and over. The playground upgrades add a rope-climbing tunnel, a basket swing and a fairy garden. Albert Sloss Reserve also offers sensory play features, seating and shaded areas, and the playground has a synthetic rubber surface for children to play on.

Lawn, Paths and Planting at Albert Sloss Reserve

Albert Sloss Reserve has a larger lawn designed for group gatherings. Albert Sloss Reserve also has sensory planted terraces, which add planting to the grounds. New paths run through Albert Sloss Reserve, linking the playground, lawn and seating areas. Seating is provided across Albert Sloss Reserve, so visitors can rest while watching children play or enjoying the open space. Albert Sloss Reserve was renewed as a new inner-city community park, and it has energy-efficient lighting for use in the evening.

Kids playgroundToddler play (2+)Sensory playShaded playgroundGroup gatheringsEvening visitsEarly risers

🛝 Playground🚶 Paths

#16

Frances Newton Reserve

📍 Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

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Frances Newton Reserve is a 280 square metre pocket park in Darlinghurst NSW 2010, built on the site of the former Frances Newton Preschool. Its standout feature is an imaginative children's play space with stepping stones, distorting mirrors, a rain wheel and timber echidna and wombat play elements.

Imaginative Play Space at Frances Newton Reserve

Frances Newton Reserve has a children's play space designed around imaginative play rather than a conventional playground. Its play features include stepping stones, a hoop, speaking tubes, distorting mirrors and a rain wheel, plus timber animal play elements made up of 2 echidnas and 1 wombat. The play area is compact and self-contained, which suits families with young children in a small urban green space.

Community Garden at Frances Newton Reserve

Frances Newton Reserve Community Garden sits within the reserve and is overseen by a local group. The garden has raised beds holding a large variety of plants, including vegetable garden beds, along with a toolbox bench seat and a composting area. The community garden offers a place to learn new skills and meet new friends, and beginners are welcome to take part.

Kids playgroundPicnic lawnCommunity gardeningFamilies with young childrenPocket park visitsHeritage site visitsLocal residents

🛝 Playground🚶 Paths

#17

O'Brien Lane Reserve

📍 Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

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O'Brien Lane Reserve is a pocket park on the corner of Bourke and Stanley streets in Darlinghurst, renewed in an upgrade completed in April 2015. Its most notable feature is its new usable grass space, joined by new trees and planting, an accessible path and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Grass, Trees and Accessible Path at O'Brien Lane Reserve

O'Brien Lane Reserve has new usable grass space, created when the City of Sydney renewed this high-quality pocket park. New trees and planting add greenery to the corner site. O'Brien Lane Reserve also has an accessible path through the park, so people can cross the reserve on a proper walking route. The same works improved solar access, letting more sun into the small space.

Lane Link and Lighting at O'Brien Lane Reserve

O'Brien Lane Reserve has a raised, paved surface that links O'Briens Lane to the park, creating a seamless transition from the lane into the reserve. Energy-efficient LED lighting was installed as part of the upgrade, and clear sightlines run through the park. These changes aimed to make the reserve and the lane more appealing and even safer for people to walk through.

Pocket park visitsAccessible pathsOpen grass spaceLane-to-park walk-throughNew trees and plantingLED-lit reserve

🚶 Paths

#18

Womerah Gardens

📍 Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

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Womerah Gardens is a leafy public park in Darlinghurst, NSW 2010. Its most notable feature is a raised grass area, set among new plants and replacement trees from a 2020 upgrade. The gardens also have added seating and a footpath that crosses the park between its two street entries.

Raised Lawn and Plantings at Womerah Gardens

Womerah Gardens has a raised grass area that gives visitors an elevated lawn to sit on. The park was replanted with new plants between March and July 2020, and several of its trees were replaced to refresh the tree cover. Womerah Gardens has more seating than it had before those works, added so that everyone can enjoy the park. An improved footpath now runs across the gardens, giving walkers a clearer route through the plantings, and homes on Womerah Avenue sit beside the park on its western side.

Leafy green spaceRaised grass areaNew seatingWalking routesCraigend Street accessRecently upgraded 2020

🚶 Paths

#19

Nita McCrae Park

📍 Millers Point, NSW 2000

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Nita McCrae Park is a pocket park at 17 Argyle Street, Millers Point NSW 2000, with a publicly accessible children's playground as its standout feature. It also has open turf, seating, pathways and a drinking fountain, and it sits in front of the Millers Point Recreation Centre.

Playground at Nita McCrae Park

Nita McCrae Park has a publicly accessible children's playground, and the City of Sydney maintains it. The park also has a small bespoke play space and a new playground for small children, which sits within the grounds of Abraham Mott Hall and is open to the public. Recent improvements allow access to Nita McCrae Park's play facilities outside the Millers Point community centre's opening hours. This makes the park suitable for families with young children who want a play stop in Millers Point, close to the Millers Point Recreation Centre.

Seating, Lawn and Drinking Water at Nita McCrae Park

Nita McCrae Park has open turf and a grassed area for informal use. Nita McCrae Park has a seating terrace and seats placed along its pathways. Nita McCrae Park has a drinking fountain, which is a bubbler. Nita McCrae Park covers 922 square metres across three land parcels, so it is a compact pocket park rather than a large reserve. Its frontage was expanded through a park frontage upgrade and the removal of a bus layby, which added green space. Visitors can rest on the terrace, sit on the lawn and take a drink before continuing along the paths.

Kids playgroundFamilies with young childrenPocket park breakDrinking water stopCommunity eventsMillers Point heritage visit

🛝 Playground🚶 Paths

#20

James Watkinson Reserve

📍 Pyrmont, NSW 2009

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James Watkinson Reserve is a public park on Mill St in Pyrmont, best known for its naturally shaded children's playground with spectacular views over Darling Harbour. The reserve also has accessible barbecues with tables, picnic areas with water views, a lawn and seating.

Children's Playground at James Watkinson Reserve

James Watkinson Reserve has a children's playground with slides, a lookout deck, double swings with a bucket seat and a nature play area. Some equipment is designed for younger children, while the playground as a whole suits all ages. The play space is naturally shaded, and seating nearby lets parents and carers watch. From the lookout deck, children can take in views over Darling Harbour.

Barbecues and Picnic Areas at James Watkinson Reserve

James Watkinson Reserve has accessible barbecue units with tables, so groups can cook and eat in one place. The picnic areas have water views, and the lawn, seating and shaded areas give picnic groups room to spread out through the day. A water bubbler with a dog bowl is also on hand, and pathways link the picnic areas with the playground and lawn.

Kids playgroundToddlersWeekend BBQPicnic with water viewsDarling Harbour viewsAccessible barbecuesShaded playgroundDog water bowl

🛝 Playground🔥 BBQ🚶 Paths

Frequently asked questions

Which Sydney City parks have the best walking trails?

Parks with confirmed paths in Sydney City range from easy paved circuits to longer bush walks. Check individual park listings for trail length and difficulty.

Are there dog-friendly walking trails in Sydney City?

Many walking parks in Sydney City allow dogs on leads. Parks with confirmed off-leash areas are also listed under the off-leash dog parks section.

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