Guidebook for San Francisco
Sightseeing
It’s so lush and beautiful around this 1850s house in Vaucluse, the home of Sydney’s second mayor. The views over the harbour to the bridge and Opera House are amazing—especially up the hill. Add seaplanes landing in Rose Bay and ever-present kookaburras and you get a perfect picnic setting. Come on a weekday and you’ll have the place to yourself.
I really like to picnic here in the winter, because it’s not so hot on the lawn. There’s also shelter in the form of cute little huts and Strickland House’s covered verandah, so it’s a good option on a rainy day.
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Strickland House
52 Vaucluse RdIt’s so lush and beautiful around this 1850s house in Vaucluse, the home of Sydney’s second mayor. The views over the harbour to the bridge and Opera House are amazing—especially up the hill. Add seaplanes landing in Rose Bay and ever-present kookaburras and you get a perfect picnic setting. Come on a weekday and you’ll have the place to yourself.
I really like to picnic here in the winter, because it’s not so hot on the lawn. There’s also shelter in the form of cute little huts and Strickland House’s covered verandah, so it’s a good option on a rainy day.
A seven-minute ferry ride across the harbour from Circular Quay brings you to Cremorne Point, with grassy picnic spots lining the water’s edge. The vantage point to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge makes for great photos, and there’s also an amazing ocean pool nearby for a pre-picnic swim with a view.
The Maccallum Seawater Pool, on the western side of the point, was originally a rock pool built by residents to form a safe harbour swimming area. The current pool is one of the oldest in Sydney, dating to the 1920s, and features a timber deck that’s lovely for sunbathing as well as picnicking.
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Cremorne Point
A seven-minute ferry ride across the harbour from Circular Quay brings you to Cremorne Point, with grassy picnic spots lining the water’s edge. The vantage point to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge makes for great photos, and there’s also an amazing ocean pool nearby for a pre-picnic swim with a view.
The Maccallum Seawater Pool, on the western side of the point, was originally a rock pool built by residents to form a safe harbour swimming area. The current pool is one of the oldest in Sydney, dating to the 1920s, and features a timber deck that’s lovely for sunbathing as well as picnicking.
The 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay to this UNESCO-heritage island is a great way to see the west side of the harbour. Pack a picnic and plan to spend half a day here: It’s an adventure playground for adults. See historic sandstone buildings—including a 19th century prison—World War II-era shipyards and machinery, secret tunnels, and nesting seagulls.
A short walk from the ferry stop, there’s a wonderful barbecue and picnic area. It’s also near the campground and fully equipped with water, tongs, refrigerators, and fixings provided by friendly campers. There are even upscale tents and apartments for hire if you fancy extending your day trip overnight.
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Cockatoo Island
The 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay to this UNESCO-heritage island is a great way to see the west side of the harbour. Pack a picnic and plan to spend half a day here: It’s an adventure playground for adults. See historic sandstone buildings—including a 19th century prison—World War II-era shipyards and machinery, secret tunnels, and nesting seagulls.
A short walk from the ferry stop, there’s a wonderful barbecue and picnic area. It’s also near the campground and fully equipped with water, tongs, refrigerators, and fixings provided by friendly campers. There are even upscale tents and apartments for hire if you fancy extending your day trip overnight.
Parks & Nature
On the headland that makes up Nielsen Park you’ll find gorgeous Shark Beach—a family-friendly spot for a summer picnic. There’s plenty of shade, a shark net protecting swimmers, and a cafe kiosk. You can set up on the sand, on the grass above, or on the rocky outcrops on either side of the beach.
Before or after your picnic, walk along the Hermitage Foreshore Track, an easy bush walk that hugs the water, starting from Nielsen Park and heading about two kilometres south to Rose Bay. Along the way, you’ll see Shark Island, the Harbour Bridge, and the lush grounds of Strickland House.
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Nielsen Park Cafe & Restaurant
Greycliffe AvenueOn the headland that makes up Nielsen Park you’ll find gorgeous Shark Beach—a family-friendly spot for a summer picnic. There’s plenty of shade, a shark net protecting swimmers, and a cafe kiosk. You can set up on the sand, on the grass above, or on the rocky outcrops on either side of the beach.
Before or after your picnic, walk along the Hermitage Foreshore Track, an easy bush walk that hugs the water, starting from Nielsen Park and heading about two kilometres south to Rose Bay. Along the way, you’ll see Shark Island, the Harbour Bridge, and the lush grounds of Strickland House.
This kookie little spot in Lavender Bay has a real Alice-in-Wonderland vibe, so bring the kids along with a picnic. It feels secret because you can’t see it from Clark Park above, but once you head down the stairs you start to see huge tree ferns and vintage bits and bobs—like quirky seating areas and old bicycles—scattered about the place. It’s really magical.
If you’ve got kids in tow, walk down the hill about 10 minutes to Luna Park for some old-fashioned roller-coaster rides. The rickety Mighty Mouse is a bit terrifying to me, but cute for kids. Plus, your Unlimited Rides Pass will get you free entry to the incredible North Sydney Olympic Pool next door.
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Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden
Lavender StreetThis kookie little spot in Lavender Bay has a real Alice-in-Wonderland vibe, so bring the kids along with a picnic. It feels secret because you can’t see it from Clark Park above, but once you head down the stairs you start to see huge tree ferns and vintage bits and bobs—like quirky seating areas and old bicycles—scattered about the place. It’s really magical.
If you’ve got kids in tow, walk down the hill about 10 minutes to Luna Park for some old-fashioned roller-coaster rides. The rickety Mighty Mouse is a bit terrifying to me, but cute for kids. Plus, your Unlimited Rides Pass will get you free entry to the incredible North Sydney Olympic Pool next door.
A North Sydney classic where you can picnic on the grass, then hit the beach for a swim. The view from Balmoral looks out to ‘the Heads’, aka the gateway to Sydney Harbour, and the beach promenade connects by a footbridge to Rocky Point Island—a picturesque outcropping covered in grass and shade trees where people like to picnic or stroll.
You can drink alcohol legally on Balmoral Beach, which is really rare in Sydney. So pack your favourite Australian wine, beer, or cider to pair with your gourmet picnic and take a bus or taxi home.
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Balmoral Beach
A North Sydney classic where you can picnic on the grass, then hit the beach for a swim. The view from Balmoral looks out to ‘the Heads’, aka the gateway to Sydney Harbour, and the beach promenade connects by a footbridge to Rocky Point Island—a picturesque outcropping covered in grass and shade trees where people like to picnic or stroll.
You can drink alcohol legally on Balmoral Beach, which is really rare in Sydney. So pack your favourite Australian wine, beer, or cider to pair with your gourmet picnic and take a bus or taxi home.
Easy to access by foot if you’re staying in the city, the Botanic Garden is full of amazing picnic spots, from the lily ponds on the lawn near the water to the Rose Garden off Macquarie Street, which is perched a bit higher and offers gorgeous views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The Rose Garden pavilions are quite handy if it’s raining.
The garden is open dawn until dusk. Be there when the sun is setting to see feeding cockatoos and the flying foxes—giant bats—that migrate from here to Centennial Park. If you want to extend your picnic after the park closes, head to the harbourfront outside the gates or to Mrs Macquaries Chair nearby.
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Royal Botanic Gardens
Birdwood AvenueEasy to access by foot if you’re staying in the city, the Botanic Garden is full of amazing picnic spots, from the lily ponds on the lawn near the water to the Rose Garden off Macquarie Street, which is perched a bit higher and offers gorgeous views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The Rose Garden pavilions are quite handy if it’s raining.
The garden is open dawn until dusk. Be there when the sun is setting to see feeding cockatoos and the flying foxes—giant bats—that migrate from here to Centennial Park. If you want to extend your picnic after the park closes, head to the harbourfront outside the gates or to Mrs Macquaries Chair nearby.
A hidden spot on Darling Point that only locals really know about, this park is one of my absolute favorites. Parking is easy nearby, or you can take the ferry from Circular Quay. At the top there are green gardens and palm trees and, near the ferry landing, a grassy strip down the terraced steps where you can throw down your blanket right on the harbour.
It’s really nice for group picnics of 15 to 20 people, because you can find cosy areas on the lawn or in the gardens to set up without feeling overwhelmed by too much space.
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McKell Park
159 Darling Point RdA hidden spot on Darling Point that only locals really know about, this park is one of my absolute favorites. Parking is easy nearby, or you can take the ferry from Circular Quay. At the top there are green gardens and palm trees and, near the ferry landing, a grassy strip down the terraced steps where you can throw down your blanket right on the harbour.
It’s really nice for group picnics of 15 to 20 people, because you can find cosy areas on the lawn or in the gardens to set up without feeling overwhelmed by too much space.