Berry Island Reserve is one of those neat little city sanctuaries that only a city like Sydney with…read moreits beautiful harbor would have. I take my daughter there - rain or shine - and carry her around the Gadyan Track in a Baby Bjorn. It feels like you are going for a bush walk in the country - you certainly don't feel like you're a 10 minute drive and with in sight of the harbor bridge. Make sure you wear good shoes as the track is rocky in areas and muddy when it rains. But don't let that stop you as it is sure to nourish the most smokey of city slicker souls. The kookaburras are in abundance and whenever I've been there during the week I've passed only one or two people on the track so it's not (yet) over run by people. There is a large open grassy area for dogs to run around (yes dog lovers they're allowed on a leash in the bushland areas) and a good slide and swing set for the kids to play on. To get there you follow Shirley Road in Wollstonecraft or walk 5 to 10 minutes from Wollstonecraft railway station. It's a steep walk down to get to the reserve so even the fittest people be prepared to sweat on the way home.

This is one damn fine patch of party grass…read more The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafts over a springy green lawn that gets glorious sunshine on one side and sun-dappled shade on t'other. Office workers and gadabouts laze and sprawl and eat gelato from Sparrow because it's right there you guys why wouldn't you get some delicious gelato? Unless you don't like gelato, in which case the hell off my lawn. Damn kids. Where was I? Ah yes, stretch out and have a nap or bring your banh mi or burrito or salad here, way better than eating at your desk plus you soak in that luxurious community vibe that you only get in the suburbs, it's mad chill y'all. Plus they have book fairs and things here every month or so. Yes, books! Remember those? Probably not, you all have iPads now. Pfft. Kids these days.

Pretty much everyone in here died from syphilis except this one guy who got struck by lightning…read more This is the oldest cemetery north of the bridge, and it shows: elaborate headstones, archaic inscriptions, and lots and lots of children who dies under the age of, like, eight. To clarify, it *was* a cemetery, and was creatively re-purposed (possibly by early hipsters) into a "rest park", because that's a thing now. But really, this is one of my favourite parks anywhere. It's serene, with sun-dappled glades and a big open area at the back where local dog owners bring their dogs, let them off the leash and watch them romp, happy as anything, drool flying. People picnic on the hill and watch the dog show on weekends and early evenings, it's All Time. I'm here at least 4 times a week, 5 if I'm lucky. But remember kids: not picking up your dogs poop is not okay. The rest of us have to do it. So should you.

You wouldn't often associate cemeteries with strolling, sunbathing and generally having a cheery…read moretime, but St Thomas' Rest Park, a Victorian cemetery, isn't all about those who have snuffed it. Situated in the wealthy suburban district of the Lower North Shore the park is a bustling hubbub of social activity come dog walking hour. Smart ladies and pampered pooches amble around this leafy park swapping gossip and slanderous comments about those who forgot to bring their doggy bags. There's a notice-board filled with evening classes to enhance the community atmosphere further. While, for those with you children, there's a modern play park built into the corner of St Thomas' Rest. Having said that, there is a bit of historical interest in all these fenced off enclosures of gravestones. Featuring the well-known names of some of Sydney's founders, the graves offer an interesting insight into the lives and death of these Victorian settlers. Most of them struck down by your characteristically Victorian diseases; cholera, dysentery (the charming list goes on) there's even a man who had an unfortunate encounter with a lightning bolt. So indulge a bit of your morbid or historical curiosity next time you fancy a stroll in a pretty park and head on over to St.Thomas' Rest.

This is the sort of park you buy a dog for just for the thrill of seeing it scoot around under the…read moreMoreton Bay figs like all its little Christmases have come at once. It's absolutely huge, with a picturesque cricket oval hidden at the back, a playing field at the front, a music amphitheatre in one corner, and a playground hidden in a copse of trees in the center. In all the other bits there's dappled expanses for you to sleep, play touch footy, read, or draw a girl you just met like one of your French girls. That's a Titanic reference. I don't even know how I remember that, it's not like I have a thing for that movie. But now it totally looks like I do. Ugh. What a way to end a perfectly serviceable review.

St Leonard's Park in North Sydney is a decent size if you're looking for a park to take the kids to…read morefor a play or go for a kick of the footy with a few mates after work. Cool things about it are the kids play area - they have drum kit and a few other neat musically inclined play things plus it's amongst the green which is great if you want the kids to be shaded on those burning summer days. The quaint North Sydney oval is here as is the bowling club, basketball court, a running track and a youth club. If you do a lap of the outside of the park you will find yourself at some point (behind the bowling club) with a decent view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It's a nice place to take out of town visitors for a walk... that is if you imagine the freeway at the bottom of the hill is an ocean with crashing waves rather than cars buzzing past. Despite the noise on this side of the park if you find a spot near the centre you'll be joined by the odd kookaburra and probably won't notice the traffic at all. There is free parking in side streets nearby as well as limited paid parking by the hour.

It is tiny, and to be honest is very underwhelming. The layout is all wrong, and this makes it hard…read moreto try new tricks, because of the tight corners, and unexpected roll ins with no flat after them. Also it is purely a street style skate park, so if you were looking for anything other than that, it's not great. Wouldn't recommend

I quite often walk past this skate park and think 'oooo, if I was a skater I'd rip this place up'…read more I'm a mum now but when I was ten I borrowed one of the neighbourhood kids skateboards to roll down a small but steep driveway. I landed flat on my behind and ended up with a black bruise the size of Tokyo city. This I might add was immediately after my neighbor had done the exact same thing bar the bruise which was on the other cheek. Anyway... my point is I have the passion but not the know how or talent when it comes to skating and you need at least the fearless passion to give some of the jumps at this skate park a go. As you can see by the pictures there are rails, stairs and 2 metre jumps. Most of the time I walk past it's filled with a dozen or more kids ranging from ages 5 to 15. The little ones are often padded up with helmets whilst mums watch from the side. The bigger kids have the cool factor going on but are harmless enough. It's not an intimidating atmosphere - no graffiti, no smoking - it's more of a "lets carve this place up dude". With phrases like this... now I'm showing my age. No lights for night use. Right next to a bus stop and a leafy golf course but also on a busy section of Ernest Street.

I came across this park during lunchtime and found it packed with happy picnickers of all ages…read more A great place for daytime sunseeking as well as evening activities, Ernest Place is packed with things to do. Framed by the North Sydney Baptist Church, the Crow's Nest Community centre as well as plenty of shops, this little spot is a hive of merry activity. And what park would be complete without a snazzy little water feature?