Seen one kiddy playground, seen 'em all, right? WRONG,…read morehotshot. Hallstrom Park is built *into* the local nature, it's under a shade-dappled grove of trees and utilises the things in and around it to make a super unique park that the local kids lose their little 'nanas over. There's Elephant Rock and Gorilla Boulder, huge stones that have life-like animals carved into them which is fun, but they also have a speaker hidden in the bushes that plays jungle noises. What! How rad is that? There's a mini-race track for kids bicycles, a fossil are of old 'dinosaur bones', and heaps of slides and things to climb on, this thing could have been designed by Walter Burley Griffin it's so in sync with the environment. If you see a strange man lurking near the playground running an appreciative eye over the fixtures and fittings don't be alarmed, that's just me.

This quaint little park has a rocky walk down to the water or a set of stairs if the tide is low…read moreenough. The BBQs often attract weekend picnic eaters who often have dogs running around the park. While it's not strictly dog friendly, we always let our dogs off for a swim and to annoy the picnic eaters who don't seem to mind. If you're passing through because you're on your way to Manly or if you make this park your destination, you won't be disappointed. The only thing is, don't tell anyone about it, let it be our Yelpie little secret :) Shhhhh...

This place is a lovely picturesque park however the playground is an absolute nightmare! I am a…read morenanny of two little kids and I hate taking them here because it is super dangerous. The playground is all open and situated between a busy road and open water with a rock face on the side. Would only recommend taking older kids there that you know aren't going to run off. Apart from that it's a good spot for a picnic or get together.

Of late I have been driving around Sydney in search of awesome venues, views, parks and cafes, this…read morepark covered everything but the coffee. If you are after a location that has views of the harbour, specifically of heads of Sydney Harbour heads, then you will not find better than this. The views are stunning! The other amazing thing about this park is that only in a Australia would you put a cricket pitch in such an awesome location. Seems almost a waste. Though... if you are looking for the ultimate place to fly a kite in Sydney.... this is likely to be it. Another big plus about this park, especially if you have kids, is the enclosed play area (near the toilets), which also has a BBQ ready and waiting. This place is awesome and a must visit, especially if you have people in from out of town.

If I didn't play football here a few times this season I never would have discovered the…read moreexceptional eagles eyrie that is Tania Park. Just across the Spit and 10 mins from Manly, Tania sits perched precipitously atop a bushy tabletop headland looking over Sydney Harbour and out through the heads into open ocean (and the pirate's law that I'm led to believe is in force in international waters). I watched Jessica Watson sail her yacht The Pink Lady back into Sydney after her record-breaking round-the-world solo voyage as a sprightly 16 year old from here, one of the highlights of 2010. Cracking for walks, dates, sports, dates, and dates. (and hey, do you fly kites? Because if you do, this place is your damned nirvana yo.)

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.

On the corner of Grasmere and Young Streets there is a small playground surrounded by a white…read morepicket fence and shady trees. During the week it is always packed with mothers, prams and little kids. There are swings for big kids and swings for the little ones, a white four horse seesaw I remember from my childhood, a whirl-a-round seat that's a bit hard to twist with more than one adult in there, two slides and a couple of different climbing apparatus. Only a five minutes walk from coffee shops it's a good for mums with prams that want to get together over a take away cuppa whilst their kids play outdoors. Unfortunately there are no bathrooms at this park so it's back to said cafes if the kids (or you) need the toilet.

This sheltered beach is a great place for families due to its small, manageable size, and its…read morerelatively calm surf that makes it an attractive beach for those who love to swim. Many people come here to participate in watersports, so you will see many windsurfers, kayakers, and swimmers when you visit. There's also a shaded playground located behind the beach, which offers a great place for kids to play if they get tired of swimming or building sandcastles at the beach. It doesnt have the crowds that Balmoral Beach can get but on the rare occasion can be busy. Come and relax at Chinamens away from the maddening crowd.

If you love to swim in the ocean, then this is the beach for you. If you love to play ball in the…read moreocean, you can't go past this place. If you love to soak up the rays, Chinamans Beach is the answer - it's always the answer. There is plenty of room on the sand and in the water - the only crowding you get is battling the traffic along Military Rd in Neutral Bay and Mosman to get to this gem of a beach ... sooo bring your Webber, throw on some prawns, slice up a frozen watermelon and enjoy our Sydney summer days.

Lovely long beach, lots of areas for swimming including a net-protected area with a pier (for…read morejumping off, obviously). Restaurants, lots of benches. Just about perfect for swimming, people watching, strolling.

Balmoral Beach is absolutely one of my favorite beaches in the world!!!…read more It is a family friendly, protected beach without the massive waves and harsh currents. It is also less populated by surfers and their boards. There are great rock pools to explore at low tide. There is grassy, shaded park area for those who want to stay out of the sand and sun. Availability of food, drink, and bathrooms is good. Parking can be an issue but it is worth a brisk walk.