If you're in Coogee, walk up to the Dunningham Reserve to catch stunning vistas of the beach and…read morethe ocean. As you ascend the hill to the cliffs, the view becomes increasingly dramatic. There, you'll find memorial for the 2002 Bali terrorist attack in which twenty Coogee residents perished. It's a remarkable four-metre bronze piece of art. This specific area was renamed Dolphin Point in memory of the six members of the Coogee Dolphins Football Club who died in the bombing. Additionally, a few steps away is the entry portico from the Giles Baths, a relic from the 1928 bath which was destroyed in 2000. Once you walk a bit further through Dunningham, you're on towering cliffs that offer unadulterated views of the Pacific. I truly think this is one of the most beautiful places in Sydney. Go down a bit more to see stunning houses hugging the cliffs of the turquoise cove. Also be sure to take the Cliffbrook Parade along the cliff and up to Burrows Park and beyond.

Quite nice & relaxing here as well as having the options to do more like going to Giles Bath for a…read moreswim (although it's a bit rough today for me). Vast views, lots of park benches to sit on (which I'm resting my feet at now) & take in the views in the shade. I noticed that on the beach it has a concrete shaded area with seating which I'd like to come back to with my family. Lots of shops to get a bite to eat, drink or just have ice-cream- can have a full blown meal or just fish & chips whatever suits. A big long pathway for exercise buffs to jog along up hills or just flat along the beach. Lots of places to picnic at, just be patient with parking or come early to get a spot. Forget to mention the Ladies & Children only pools!! & Wiley's Baths I think it is, but you have to pay $2.50-$5 per person to get in.

Observatory Hill, yes "Observe" and enjoy!…read more If you work in the city and want a place to get away from the stress of work and collect your thoughts, without tramping through the CBD in a vain search for solace; then this is the closest one can get to a small slice of nirvana. The many park benches sit under the sweeping branches of majestic figs, the eye drawn downwards to the view of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the heritage buildings in the near distance, the observatory and pergola behind, a master painter's vision come alive! Read a book, eat a sandwich and even, if only for a fleeting moment, feel guilty at the sight of people jogging, cycling and exercising; you will never feel alone in your serenity yet, in this small fraction of the city, you will be all consumed by an immeasurable and perfect calm.

I'm not really sure how well the observatory works here with all of the light pollution from the…read moreSydney CBD, but I didn't come here (initially) for the observatory (though I will probably go there the next time I am in Sydney). However the gardens themselves afford a wonderful view of the harbour (and the bridge, if you consider the bridge to be anything more than, well, a bridge).

Want to have a whale of a time?…read more I particularly love going to North head for spotting whales! From May to Nov, North head offers an amazing opportunity to watch a Blow, a fin, an occasional body splash. The migration route is close to the coast so these whales can often be seen from the north headlands. From late August to November, the whales head southwards. Females with their newborns, and males after the mating season. Mothers tend to spend more time on surface and swim slower so that the calf can keep up. The calves tend to come out of the water more often. Remember to bring your binoculars! The North and South Heads of Sydney mark the entrance to Sydney harbour. The bay is called the Mouth of Sydney and this is where all ships enter and leave Sydney. The lookout points towards the city and you can catch views of the Harbour Bridge, city, Rose bay all the way unto Vaculuse. North Head National Parks is a ten minute drive from Manly. It's a pristine headland and a great vantage point to watch the Sydney to Hobart race on Boxing day. They have walking tracks and barracks. If you stand close to the edge, you can feel the water spray from below. This is particularly welcome during summer months.

Are you looking for the ultimate view of Sydney. Look no further. On a blue sky day, driving…read morethrough the stone gate, along the bushy road, and then coming across the two lookouts... well... it is stunning. For me though, while there are more sporting options of biking and hiking... the quick tourist drive in and maybe a picnic would suffice. Besides... I quick drive away from here you'll find Shelly Beach ( http://frid.co/mYE5LL ), which for my money offers a much more relaxing location (though the parking cost is a bit of a killer).

Dr Mary Booth Lookout is probably something that many tourists and visitors to Sydney never get to…read moresee, and they'll be unhappy when they read this review and realised they probably walked, drove or public transported past it several times on their trip. Bummer dude! Why do I rate it so highly: - Look at the view - It's quiet and peaceful - You can have a picnic here - Plenty of room and seating is available - It's FREE to use How do you not miss out next time? Easy. There is a walkway below that runs along the harbour foreshore from Bradfield Park all the way to the lookout. Get on that and when you climb the steps you'll be here. Also there's some sort of Pagoda building with seats in the park, you can't miss seeing that.

Where else can you see the opera house & the Harbour bridge?!? Simply stunning - grab a picnic &…read moreenjoy the sights! Not much else to say as the pictures say it all

Just look at that view! It's the kind that makes you pinch yourself that you're a Sydneysider - and…read moreit's definitely a view that you want to smugly show your overseas visitors. Preferably on New Years Eve. Oh yes I've spent many a NYE on these shores. Every year it seems to be a bit more restricted (more cops, more checks), but the result is that it's a great place for families to come and watch the 9pm fireworks - you'll just have to make sure you send a vanguard EARLY! But actually I prefer Blues Point every other day of the year, when I can wander down with a book and a coffee (see my Allpress rave from The Point Deli) and soak up some sun and that view for an hour or two. Bliss!

This is a view of Sydney Harbour if I ever did see one. The first thing I thought of when I drove…read moredown to this spot was what an amazing place to view the New Years Eve fireworks from. My second though was that it's a pity the grassed area is so small as I imagine every man and his dog would be trying inch their way in to the perfect viewing position. And it's got to be THE perfect viewpoint. The bridge looks complete, your virtually in the centre of it and only far enough away for it to be too close. I probably would attempt it on fireworks night but I would take any out-of-towners there for the complete view. There's also a designer playground... meaning no colourful plastic equipment here - silver shaped climbing frames... on second thoughts it might be workout gear for big people.

Quality/Quantity - What a cool place to hang out!…read moreGlad we came on a Monday, but still crazy busy. Fairly Bower Rock Pool - Cool! Check out the pictures, as usual the pictures do NOT do the pool and area justice. Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. Manly Scenic Walkways - Do remember that "freak" waves can come any time and hit you while walking the pathway. Small cafe; I did not visit. Good for scuba diving and snorkeling - A maximum depth of 12 meters. We saw many classes out there teaching and training locals and tourists. Atmosphere - Lizard and bird (turkey) friendly, see pictures. Art, statues, educational information, etc. along the walking paths. Pedestrian friendly, no/restricted bikes allowed on many paths. In the main town, there is plenty of shopping, eating, and people watching. Pay parking lots. Service - Quick easy ferry from and to Manly. Much easier than driving. Express ferries are also available for a little more $$. "Smart beach" - See picture for definition. There are public toilets and showers, but there was a long line the entire time we were there. So they need more... Price - Beach - Free. Everything else is tourist prices, LOL. Owner Comment - Thanks for such a great visit!

A little bit of a walk from Manly beach. Just follow the sea wall. It's a lot calmer for swimming,…read moresnorkeling, just getting your toes wet. The area between the two beaches is a protested reef. So be mindful. The sand did have bit of shells and ocean debris. There was also some beer caps floating around, so just be wary where you walk. If you're looking for a nice shaded spot, bring your own or relax by the side where the trees are. The do have public showers, toilets, rinse off area and a filtered water station. Plus a nice beachside cafe for your dinning pleasures. Took a lot of great photos, but do respect the signs and the law. And clean up after yourselves.

A very nice Citi park near city center. With the name reserve, I expected it to be more of a Nature…read more area. But think of it as an urban park with spectacular of views of the harbor. On one end they created a natural swimming pool out of a cove . If you want more shaded area, you can walk up the stairs or use the elevator to walk on the plateau overlooking the Harbour

Barangaroo Reserve is Sydney's newest Harbour foreshore park - marking the transformation of one of…read morethe city's oldest industrial sites into a spectacular, six-hectare headland open space for Sydneysiders and visitors to embrace and enjoy. It can be a bit hot and sunny getting here. I walked from South Barangaroo to the Reserve and had to cool down in the shade while viewing Wellama, a contemporary re-imagining of Welcome to Country, commissioned for the entrance to the Cutaway in Barangaroo Reserve. The breezes from Sydney Harbour helped a lot.

Wow, great place! A park by the harbour with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge…read more This park is a great place to relax when you want peace and quiet. It has many public bbqs for you to have a bbq, a lot of space for you to have a picnic, space to lie down and it has a playground so the kids can have fun as well. There are a lot of parking so you can drive there, you can catch a bus which takes you back to city and also it's a short walk to Darling Harbour. If you want to relax and want to get out of the cbd, then this is a great place for you.

Pyrmont Village is a beautiful spot these days its been beautifully restored and is looking great,…read moreheaps of original Sandstone Terraces and shops which seem to be thriving currently. Walk through there on your way to the Harbour end of Harris Street and you'll come accross one of the inner citys premium spots, Pirrama Park. Its quite a recently landscaped locale and is interestinly shrouded in some controversy but any ways, its looking good these days, there is a spot you can easily access the Harbour and have a paddle, plenty of green space a fully equipped Kids Play ground not that I partake in the monkey bars and swings on my lunch break from work or anything. Theres a small cafe as well. You can park just off Harris Street on Pirrama Road. Its actually the start of a really nice walk through Pyrmont and along some of the old wharfs which now house a lot of Sydneys Media power houses. Or flip it reverse that how about a picnic? you can get the train to Town hall walk across the Pyrmont Bridge and wind your way here to finish up and eat. Nice Spot check it out.