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.

It may not be as expansive as Rushcutters Bay Park, but what it does have is view of the Harbour…read moreBridge, which means that come New Years Eve, it get's pretty rammed! It's a great spot to watch the fireworks from - close enough to be able to see and hear them at the same time, far enough away that you're not trapped in the city when they're done - and if you get down there early enough, you should get yourself a good position. On non-New Years Eve days, follow the path down to the end wall and you get a great view of the harbour. It's also a good turning point if you're going for a run - in fact most runners appear to have the need to actually touch the wall, just so they can tell themselves they didn't stop short!

Being from the other side of the bridge, I love the different vantage points you find as you make…read moreyour way around the harbour - and Yarranabbe Park is a great one. As a park, it's not got a lot to offer, just a nice flat expanse of grass neighbouring the harbour, but if your after the simple pleasure of watching the world go by, it's a good one. New Beach Road is not a particularly busy road, but there is a lot of jostling for the few parking spaces available, so be prepared to walk or make your way there by public transport (by water if you can!) Little ones will love the small playground at the far end, but for most it's just a place for stopping to smell the roses - or to get as close as possible to getting out on the harbour without actually having to leave terra firma. Or to join the rest of the city's crowds to see fireworks light up the Harbour Bridge - on new year's eve or when Oprah visits.

Across from the tennis courant, next to the croquet club and meters away from Rawson Oval is a…read moresmall dog park surround by bush. It can be a little muddy in Winter and be careful in Summer when the council lay bait for rabbits (there's warning signs). Most of the dogs and owners are pleasant, our dogs get a stack more exercise when there's kids on scooters and skateboards circle the park! If you need a little more space, there's a larger field a short walk through the bush. It's close to roads and there's loads of rabbits so if our dogs are prone to chasing small animals, stick to the smaller park! Most of the time, you can easily get a park. Busy times are evenings and weekends or whenever there's big games on at the oval or tennis club.

This is a beautiful little playground in tranquil Mosman Bay. It has 2 climbing frames with slides,…read morea couple of rockers and 4 swings. The flooring is sand which is great as it's easier to clean off plus adds another dimension to play. The park really comes into its own on a hot summer afternoon as the sun is hidden by the steep hills that surround the bay. Gentle sea breezes from the harbour are welcome too. No toilets unfortunately but there are some at the Mosman Bay wharf which is a short walk away. There's a large grassed park next to the playground which is an unleashed dog area and very popular. It's also popular with those wanting a game of cricket or football which can make for some interesting dog/player interactions. Parking is free!

We took a walk down to this pretty park from our nearby apartment. It's got a bit of everything -…read morewalking/running paths, great water views, tennis courts, play equipment for the kids and more! We walked along the bay for a bit, and stopped at the marina for a drink. There are signs warning you that sharks have been spotted in the bay, so not a place for a refreshing dip. But if you have a boat, it sure seems like a nice place to dock it. For a place so close to the CBD, it was quiet and felt like smiles away from the noise of the city.

Rushcutters Bay Park has a few hidden gems (ok maybe not that hidden) that are great if you are…read moreactive or not. The monkey bars at the south end are actually a great area to do a workout. Watch out for peak hour - right after work - sometimes there are groups of people being coached in that area so you might need to wait for specific stations. There are tennis courts at the south west side of the park - book them online but if you try for early evening there are some people that have standard bookings each week. Later at night is good since they have a great lighting system. Even better is during the day with fewer people around. There is a cafe here that is decent for a coffee but there are so many other coffee shops nearby that you may want to walk a bit. At the Cruising Yacht Club there is a restaurant as well. Fantastic outdoor deck seating and fish and chips are ok. Of course nice cold beer is available as well. You can get reservations and some weekends are very busy. Never tried the indoor seating (why would you when you are by the harbour?). The whole park is dog friendly so be prepared for some visitors if you are having a picnic. Some dogs running 'free-range' but never had a problem. Just make some new friends.