Parks in Sydney

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney occupies 30 harbourside hectares on the site of Australia's first farm (1788). Home to over 8,900 plant species, it frames postcard views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from its foreshore paths.

Hyde Park is Australia's oldest public parkland, established in 1810 by Governor Macquarie. The 16-hectare park is divided by Park Street into a northern section (with the Archibald Fountain) and a southern section (with the ANZAC Memorial).

Barangaroo Reserve is a restored sandstone headland on Sydney's western harbour foreshore. The park was built from recycled sandstone blocks and planted with native species to recreate the headland's pre-colonial landscape.

Nielsen Park in Vaucluse combines harbour-side swimming, bushland walks and heritage picnic grounds in one of Sydney's most beautiful settings. The shark-netted Shark Beach (despite the name) is safe for swimming, and the surrounding bush trails pass through remnant Sydney bushland.

Centennial Parklands is Sydney's green heart — 189 hectares of avenues, duck ponds, horse-riding tracks and fig-tree-shaded cycling paths. The park was dedicated in 1888 and retains its Victorian layout of grand promenades and ornamental ponds.

Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden is an enchanting, volunteer-maintained garden sculpted from an abandoned rail yard on Lavender Bay, with harbour views framed by jacarandas and frangipani. Artist Wendy Whiteley began transforming the derelict land in 1992.

Centennial Park is a 189-hectare federation-era parkland in Sydney's eastern suburbs, created in 1888 to mark Australia's centenary. Its formal avenues, native bushland, and extensive cycling and horse-riding trails make it Sydney's favourite weekend escape.