Guidebook for Dirty Creek
Arts & Culture
One of Sydney’s remaining 19th century mansions, this feels like a country estate in the middle of the city, surrounded by period-style gardens and wooded grounds. The sprawling parkland has been restored by the Sydney Living Museum, so the plants are faithful to when it was originally created. Plus, there are harbour views, chickens, a goat—and free entry!
To bring your experience to another level, take High Tea in the Vaucluse House Tearooms. Surrounded by beautiful architecture and looking onto the gardens, the teas are at 10 am Wednesday through Sunday. Be sure to reserve ahead.
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Vaucluse House
69A Wentworth RdOne of Sydney’s remaining 19th century mansions, this feels like a country estate in the middle of the city, surrounded by period-style gardens and wooded grounds. The sprawling parkland has been restored by the Sydney Living Museum, so the plants are faithful to when it was originally created. Plus, there are harbour views, chickens, a goat—and free entry!
To bring your experience to another level, take High Tea in the Vaucluse House Tearooms. Surrounded by beautiful architecture and looking onto the gardens, the teas are at 10 am Wednesday through Sunday. Be sure to reserve ahead.
Parks & Nature
Wendy has spent 25 years creating this serene tribute to her late partner, artist Brett Whitely, and her daughter, Arkie. What I really love about the garden is that it’s quirky, not curated—it doesn’t follow any rules. The space was originally a disused piece of public land—Wendy saw its potential and made it beautiful, calm, and reflective.
With unusual trinkets scattered throughout and lots of shade making it a cool spot on a hot day, this is a beautiful and interesting place to stroll, have a picnic, or take in the views of Sydney harbour and the bridge. And because you’re off the beaten track, I guarantee a photo here will be unique.
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Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden
Lavender StreetWendy has spent 25 years creating this serene tribute to her late partner, artist Brett Whitely, and her daughter, Arkie. What I really love about the garden is that it’s quirky, not curated—it doesn’t follow any rules. The space was originally a disused piece of public land—Wendy saw its potential and made it beautiful, calm, and reflective.
With unusual trinkets scattered throughout and lots of shade making it a cool spot on a hot day, this is a beautiful and interesting place to stroll, have a picnic, or take in the views of Sydney harbour and the bridge. And because you’re off the beaten track, I guarantee a photo here will be unique.
The most urban agriculture project in Australia, this is a commercial farm two km from the CBD. There’s a lot of talk about sustainable food production in cities, but there are very few examples—these kids have done an excellent job. During the day you can wander the plot, taste their produce at Acre Eatery, sign up for a workshop, or volunteer on the farm.
Say hi to Zag—Michael Zagoridis—the farm manager. He and co-founder Emma are students of mine. He’s there Tuesday to Saturday 9 to 5, so ask for tips on improving your veggie garden. His experience is in organic practices and local food systems, so he’s the perfect person to advise people living in big cities.
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Camperdown Commons
31A Mallett StThe most urban agriculture project in Australia, this is a commercial farm two km from the CBD. There’s a lot of talk about sustainable food production in cities, but there are very few examples—these kids have done an excellent job. During the day you can wander the plot, taste their produce at Acre Eatery, sign up for a workshop, or volunteer on the farm.
Say hi to Zag—Michael Zagoridis—the farm manager. He and co-founder Emma are students of mine. He’s there Tuesday to Saturday 9 to 5, so ask for tips on improving your veggie garden. His experience is in organic practices and local food systems, so he’s the perfect person to advise people living in big cities.
One of the jewels in the crown of Sydney Harbour and the oldest botanic garden in Australia. There are so many areas to explore, each with its own microclimate and unique features. My favourite is the Herb Garden, not too far from Government House Gate. There are all kinds of aromatic herbs to smell such as mint, sage, and salvia.
Although most people think it’s part of the Botanic Garden, Mrs Macquaries Chair is actually in The Domain—reached by following the water’s-edge path along Farm Cove. At the point, you’ll find a stone seat surrounded by grass. Shady and cool, it’s a great recovery spot where you can watch the boats go by.
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Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Mrs Macquaries RoadOne of the jewels in the crown of Sydney Harbour and the oldest botanic garden in Australia. There are so many areas to explore, each with its own microclimate and unique features. My favourite is the Herb Garden, not too far from Government House Gate. There are all kinds of aromatic herbs to smell such as mint, sage, and salvia.
Although most people think it’s part of the Botanic Garden, Mrs Macquaries Chair is actually in The Domain—reached by following the water’s-edge path along Farm Cove. At the point, you’ll find a stone seat surrounded by grass. Shady and cool, it’s a great recovery spot where you can watch the boats go by.
This long-established permaculture garden, hidden on the Richmond campus of Western Sydney Uni, is a great place for kids to see pigs, goats, sheep, and ducks and to admire the extensive grounds. Permaculture connects people to food systems so they can genuinely understand where their breakfast comes from, and that’s at the core of this garden’s mission.
You can buy plants or seeds here—they have a huge selection of herbs and veg—to fill out your garden or give as gifts. Perennials are a good choice, because you don’t have to replant them each year. Look for things like asparagus, rhubarb, and artichoke, or easy succulents and decorative natives.
Clydesdale Place
Clydesdale PlaceThis long-established permaculture garden, hidden on the Richmond campus of Western Sydney Uni, is a great place for kids to see pigs, goats, sheep, and ducks and to admire the extensive grounds. Permaculture connects people to food systems so they can genuinely understand where their breakfast comes from, and that’s at the core of this garden’s mission.
You can buy plants or seeds here—they have a huge selection of herbs and veg—to fill out your garden or give as gifts. Perennials are a good choice, because you don’t have to replant them each year. Look for things like asparagus, rhubarb, and artichoke, or easy succulents and decorative natives.
A real secret. This lovely manicured garden might be small, but it offers exceptional views of Sydney Harbour and the bridge, plus mature shade trees like Bangalow Palms and Red Gums to picnic under. It’s in Darling Point, one of Sydney’s more exclusive suburbs, and because it’s surrounded by houses and residents, it has a very local feel.
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, but Saturdays it’s often booked out for weddings. Check ahead or come Sunday through Friday.
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McKell Park
159 Darling Point RdA real secret. This lovely manicured garden might be small, but it offers exceptional views of Sydney Harbour and the bridge, plus mature shade trees like Bangalow Palms and Red Gums to picnic under. It’s in Darling Point, one of Sydney’s more exclusive suburbs, and because it’s surrounded by houses and residents, it has a very local feel.
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, but Saturdays it’s often booked out for weddings. Check ahead or come Sunday through Friday.
Unlike other community gardens that are restricted and fenced off, this one on the Northern Beaches is open for everyone. Sure, it’s small, but you can go there at any time, take the kids and a picnic, and be surrounded by leafy garden beds. It’s planted in a beautiful, unique circular pattern.
They hold regular events, such as gardening demonstrations, crop swaps, and honey tastings, which they post on their Facebook page. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and pick up a few tips.
Manly Vale Community Garden
4-8 Innes RdUnlike other community gardens that are restricted and fenced off, this one on the Northern Beaches is open for everyone. Sure, it’s small, but you can go there at any time, take the kids and a picnic, and be surrounded by leafy garden beds. It’s planted in a beautiful, unique circular pattern.
They hold regular events, such as gardening demonstrations, crop swaps, and honey tastings, which they post on their Facebook page. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and pick up a few tips.
In a city well-known for its beachside parks, this is one of the nicest. You can have a swim, eat fish and chips from Bronte Fish, and throw a Frisbee around. It’s a great people-watching spot, and you’ll get a feel for our unique beach culture. Behind the park is a lovely gully where locals walk their dogs beside a stream, under a canopy of native trees.
There’s a handful of barbeques and some tables and chairs with shade structures, but they do get busy. Go early, before noon, to snag a spot and hang out for the day.
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Parque Bronte
Bronte RoadIn a city well-known for its beachside parks, this is one of the nicest. You can have a swim, eat fish and chips from Bronte Fish, and throw a Frisbee around. It’s a great people-watching spot, and you’ll get a feel for our unique beach culture. Behind the park is a lovely gully where locals walk their dogs beside a stream, under a canopy of native trees.
There’s a handful of barbeques and some tables and chairs with shade structures, but they do get busy. Go early, before noon, to snag a spot and hang out for the day.
Whether you want to learn about sustainability or just have a picnic with the family, this park is great. It’s huge, with native bushland and 11 themed Gardens of Many Nations, including Japanese, Dutch, Chinese, and Mediterranean. The Eco Garden is my pick. You can learn sustainable practices from composting to mulching and irrigation.
Pack the football. The huge, open fields are ideal for playing a game with the kids.
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Fagan Park
38-48 Arcadia RdWhether you want to learn about sustainability or just have a picnic with the family, this park is great. It’s huge, with native bushland and 11 themed Gardens of Many Nations, including Japanese, Dutch, Chinese, and Mediterranean. The Eco Garden is my pick. You can learn sustainable practices from composting to mulching and irrigation.
Pack the football. The huge, open fields are ideal for playing a game with the kids.
Interesting art and harbour-side strolls are what this place is all about. It used to be a Caltex oil terminal, and they could have stripped away all the industry and softened it up with plants, but they haven’t. They’ve worked with recycled materials to create something appealing: gabion walls, made from bales of rocks, shape the space. It works really well.
Sunrise and sunset are the best times to take in the incredible harbour views. At those times the golden light splashes over the exposed sandstone and picks up the golden colour in the rocks. It’s magical.
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Ballast Point Park
Ballast Point RoadInteresting art and harbour-side strolls are what this place is all about. It used to be a Caltex oil terminal, and they could have stripped away all the industry and softened it up with plants, but they haven’t. They’ve worked with recycled materials to create something appealing: gabion walls, made from bales of rocks, shape the space. It works really well.
Sunrise and sunset are the best times to take in the incredible harbour views. At those times the golden light splashes over the exposed sandstone and picks up the golden colour in the rocks. It’s magical.