What a cute little garden. Keyword " small ." you literally feel like you're in someone's garden…read more It is submerged so you enter into a different world. Lots of free roaming turkeys. Actually prefer the views from above in Clark Park, so it's easy to do both. If you're just walking straight through it's only probably five minutes but I took my time so 10 to 15. Nice view across the Harbour into downtown.

No pictures cuz photos don't capture the beauty nor location of this garden. This not too secret…read moregarden (lots of people when we visited) can be a bit difficult to find so use mapping apps. Basically a terraced jungle setting in the middle of a metropolis, lots of paths and steps so be prepared for a bit of a workout in the summer. Located near Luna Park, though access between the garden and Luna Park is only through an underpass at the north end of the garden. Lots of shade, tables and benches to sit, and truly nice views of the Harbor Bridge. Free to boot so it's really a must-visit.

When the government (lower case g, sorry Tony but you have to earn the capital) decommissioned all…read morethe naval land on the north shore it unlocked giant swathes of pristine harbour-side happy places to go explore. Georges Head is one of the best - there are old gun emplacements to tool about in, gum trees, kookaburras laughing their little heads off, and the views, oh lawdy the views, enough to strike a man blind. This is one of those places where you can legitimately use your iPhone's oft-forgotten panorama function that you never normally get to play with. BONUS: impress visiting foreigners with your knowledge of secret Sydney.

One of my favourite spots in Sydney. If you are looking for a great city walk you can climb up the…read morestairs by the Balmoral rugby / cricket grounds next to the beach and walk all the way through forest to George's Head and Chinamans beach. It is probably the best spot in town to catch the Sydney to Hobart race as the lawns here line up with the starting line ;-)) You get spectacular views of the city and there is a bit of history to this place with the barracks and gunnery. Many Sydney artists work in this area and once or twice a year there is art exhibitions and sales. There are also a handful of restaurants in this area like The Gunners Barracks, Ripples and Burnt Orange to name a few and a couple of kiosks and so on. I have walked along this area plenty and absolutely love it. A less known part of Sydney and well worth a visit.

There are these killer outdoor stairs in Perth called Jacob's Ladder. There are 242 steps from…read moreKings Park to Mounts Bay Road and fitness fanatics have a tendency to test there cardio limits by racing up and down them many times. My personal trainer sister has done ten up and back at one time. I've not done any. Then I found myself at the bottom of Fairfax road in Balmoral. I'm not sure how many stairs there are because I didn't count them but it's near enough to mr Jacob's Ladder to be leg ache inducing. Now, if Awaba hill is too much for your heart then it's probably best not to try this stair climb. But if you're up the challenge this little hidden body stress test could be a new chapter in your fitness routine.

I discovered this hidden harbor beach while hiking along the Spit to Manly bushwalk path. The…read morebeach is about 15-20 minutes from the Spit Bridge. Like most other harbor beaches, this one is very family oriented. When I was there, a wedding reception and birthday party were both taking place, albeit at separate ends of the beach. The stretch of sand is a bit narrow, so if there are kids, you'll definitely be hearing them. Thankfully, they tend to stay on the reserve behind the beach. But worry not, Clontarf is not composed entirely of raucous children. It's mostly locals, so you will see young couples and singles looking to stray away from beaches with a 'scene.' Both the water and the sand are very clean. For me, the craziest memory I have at Clontarf was when I saw a mini tugboat pull up to the shore that sold coffee, ice cream, and other refreshments. I'd never seen anything like this before! Great concept if you ask me, since I like to stay put at the beach once I arrive. Here, the coffee comes to you! Clontarf Beach really is the perfect place to go for some serenity along the Northern side of harbor.

Half way on our walk from the Spit to Manly is this awesome little beach - half for dogs, half for…read moreonly people with shallow water, stacks of sand and no trash. Whether it's early morning or in the evening, we've never been alone here. Instead, we find friendly dog walkers with equally friendly dogs, raring to socialize. The dog beach is at the end of a cul-de-sac with minimal traffic - most cars are driving ridiculously slowly so you needn't worry (too much) about your dogs running on the path/road. If you walk a little further along the beach, you'll find Clontaff Reserve. On a sunny day, this place is packed with families BBQing and kids climbing on anything they can find.

Less than 3 hour activity. From Darling Harbour, take a scenic ferry ride to Watsons Bay, and begin…read moreyour walk along the ocean cliffs. You'll arrive at Sydney Harbour National Park, Hornsby Lighthouse. As you approach the lighthouse, the trail offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, the Pacific Ocean, and even many photo opportunities of the Sydney skyline in the distance. Built in 1858, Hornsby Lighthouse holds a special place in Australian history. Its construction was prompted by the tragic sinking of the Dunbar in 1857, a maritime disaster that highlighted the need for improved navigational aids around Sydney's rugged coastlines. Painted in distinctive red and white stripes. Perfect short activity from Darling Harbour.

Went on a warm sunny day. Nice little walk to the lighthouse from Lady Bay Beach. Great views on…read morethe cliff side across the bay and below.

During our visit to Manly, since we thought it was a bit too chilly to hang out on the beach, we…read moretook a nice walk along the Manly Scenic Walkway from the corner of Manly Beach by the Manly Life Saving Club to Shelley Beach, and back again. It is a relatively safe, mostly fenced in path by the water. Basically, you would have to be taking some large risks to fall in, though there are places you may venture forth onto relatively flat rocks or around a neat outdoor swimming pool. With a leisurely pace and pauses for photos or just to sit back and relax, the round trip took us an hour and 15 minutes. I particularly enjoyed the metal sculptures set in the rocky ledges along the walkway leading towards Shelley Beach, known as the Cabbage Tree Bay Eco Sculpture Walk. Also outstanding, at Shelley Beach, there were quite a few wild turkeys wandering about.

The Manly to Shelly Beach Walk is located in an area known as the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve…read more The boundaries are from the south end of Manly Beach to the north end of Shelly Beach. This area is full of rocky shores which you see numerous people walking around in. The waters of the reserve is home to more than 160 species of fish along with kelp and seagrass. While the actual walkway on Marine Parade is a nice place for walker and joggers/runners to get some physical activity while being amidst some natural beauty. Along the walk you see a lot of waterfront houses. Saw a number of houses perched on top of rock formations and walls. It must be nice living in these homes as they are seaside, but in walking distance to the city portion of Manly. At the end of walk you arrive at Shelly Beach which is a pleasant beach that is more secluded than the larger Manly Beach. It is also covered in trees so it has an island paradise vibe to it. If you are looking for a relaxed beach, Shelly Beach is a good spot. While Manly Beach is the main attraction in the area, this beach walk is nice too as you can get an opposite side view of Manly Beach. The rocky shores and rock wall formations in the area also are reasons to take this walk.

I attended a small picnic/going away party at this lovely park in early March. Five stars because…read morethe grounds are well maintained. You're at the beach. There are cooktops and plenty of rubbish bins. There's parking and nearby toilets which are also well maintained. Oh and it's dog friendly. The beach access is netted on one side so no pesky creatures can get in to eat the children. The sand is a little silty but it's clean. There's a pier from which children were daring each other to jump in the water. There's a water fountain and a shower to rinse your feet. Plus as we left and walked through the nearby neighborhood I met some lizard friends.

I don't know why this place isn't busier. It's just perfect. A harbourside beach reserve looking…read moreout to Chowder Bay that is dog friendly, has lots of open space, enclosed bathing area, a wharf that's popular for fishing, great picnic areas, brand new toilets and a fab playground to boot. The playground has sand flooring, great climbing structures, swings and even a disability swing. It's a complete mystery to me why it's so quiet during the week but perhaps that's why we love it so much. Parking is paid, which is fine for Mosman residenst with parking permits but a bit exxy otherwise. Bushwalks from the west end of the reserve are head around the Sydney Harbour National Park and though the start of the walk involves a number of steps once on the track it's pretty easy walking along well maintained track. There's an ice-cream van at the weekend and just over the beach is a Bacino Kiosk. Superb spot.

What an afternoon!! Day light savings on a warm and breezy Sunday afternoon. Wasn't too hard to…read morefind parking, plenty of grass to choose from, restrooms a few mins walk away and gorgeous views of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Harbour in general. Pack picnic basket, a few blankies and a warm layer just in case it gets a little cool and windy in the early evening. My friends and I had a great time here and will come again I'm sure Good to visit if your solo (just bring your headphones), coming with a special person or with a group of friends. Not a 'party location', but great for a civilised group catch up and a laugh.

This lovely short hike on the lower north shore is perfect for just about anyone. Access it from…read moreone of the neighbouring streets of Cremorne, then join the joggers, power-walkers and strollers on a 3km loop, clockwise or anti-clockwise. The route is sealed all the way, so easy with pushchairs and prams, though other wheels (scooters, ripsticks and the like) are discouraged and don't work so well with the intermittent stairs and sometimes rough paving surface. Particular points of interest around the loop include: - Les & Ruby's Garden - a public space originally tended by Les & Ruby Graham and now nurtured by the local residents under an unwritten commitment that resident commit to; the garden recently won an award as Sydney's best public garden - two ferry terminals, where you can catch the public ferry that loops between Mosman and Circular Quay - public facilities and a lighthouse toward the point - including the sad but intriguing plaque to a young girl who somehow died at the location back in the 1980s - Sophie's Place cafe at the Cremorne Point ferry wharf - one of the best views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the western side of the point - enviable apartment locations - imagine one of these for the New Year's Eve fireworks! - the MacCallum Pool, a unique inbuilt harbourside pool that originated as a dugout rockpool, now popularly used for splashing on hot summer days and some lap swimming - though I find it hard to know when to expect it to be open

Here I was, trying to take a short cut from Edgecliff Railway Station to Paddington when I…read morediscovered this place in the way. Okay, from looking at Google Maps I thought it was just a standard inner-city park, however what I discovered was that it was a huge chunk of natural bushland. It reminded me of my time in the scouts when I would disappear with them out into the bush for a weekend and live in tents and hike. However this place is in the middle of the city. I have to say that I love it when I find natural bushland in the middle of the city because it can literally transport you away from the hustle and bustle and into the wilderness. Okay, I didn't spend a huge amount of time here, but I did take my time as I walked across the gully (and purposely took the long way as well).

Trumper has it all... A magical woodsy vibe, tracks, beautiful ancient fig trees, honey bees, a…read morelovely playground, a duckpond featuring turtles, a little waterfall and of course the oval itself--- The perfect spot for a friendly match or a practice in the nets. Clean new toilets, bubblers, and at the top end, Edgecliff Station, Edgecliff shops, The Palms Tennis courts and Paddington Community Garden. Really, you can spend a day wandering and picnicing here and feel like you've been on holiday... A dream!