Get on your skates, put on your jumpers and hit the ice…read more... Whether you're a kid or a big kid, Macquarie Ice Rink is a fun place to spend sometime standing up, swirling around or pulling off some serious moves.... It's open every day except Christmas (slightly ironic I thought) and it' opens everyday from 9 and closes around 10pm.... Prices are fair I thought - with adults costing $23 including skate hire.... The quality of the skates aren't bad....I mean they'll do the job.... but I wouldn't expect to be doing some major olympic pirouettes or anything. If you want the rink to yourself pretty much, may I suggest going during the week whilst kids are at school... its a lot more fun to experiment is no one is looking... Even if you're not a big skater, you can watch people spinning around from the foodcourt - and the view is free - so whether or not you're on the rink at least you will be entertained.

Much bigger and better than the Canterbury ice rink, and definitely gives the latter establishment…read morea run for its money. Clever thinking; catch a movie, go shopping, eat and go ice skating all in the one establishment. Macquarie University students are so spoilt. Also if you need a JP to verify any of your documents; come to this establishment and do all of the above on a Wednesday (and selected Saturday's) if you can. The Macquarie Park train service makes getting here from the city that much quicker and more accessible. If you still wish to catch a bus and enjoy the ride through the Harbour Bridge; then by all means continue to do so if your happy for the journey to take 40-45 minutes to get there; yet Macquarie Centre is more at your doorstep. Great customer service and skates to hire. This rink is massive. Who cares if there is an ice skating group on when you turn up; there is still plenty of space to skate around in circles; and even backwards: fall over and get back up again. Remember the jeans and socks. Have fun. You will see the McDonald's customers looking out. A ton of fun, and an experience in itself.

You wouldn't know Blackman was even there unless you had a reason to go there. Much like Tasmania,…read morefrom what I hear. Down in the dark depths of suburbia - Lane Cove, to be precise - there's a hidden wonderland of playing fields, a vast purgatory of grass known to cricketers, footballers, locals, and the dog-walking community. Possibly a few Ultimate Freebee-ers, too, it's hard to say. They're an elusive bunch, and prefer to stay far away from prying eyes. It can get swampy underfoot after the rain. it's right on the rivers edge so not a lot of amazing drainage, but with that said the river itself is nice, and whenever you're here you feel far away from the city, people, or the aforementioned prying eyes. It's nice. An idyll, almost.

Stunning place - great facilities, peaceful, and wonderful vistas in every direction.read more

Once you're about 5 feet in the boundaries of the park, it's like you're not in a city…read moreanymore--it's crazy! We walked in just a bit, from a very busy street and it was instantly quieter. Really nice park with lots of paths and there are areas nearby that have flat areas for picnics if you are so inclined. I won't be doing it without a guide though! I'm sure it's quite easy to get lost.

This is a large park catering for different sporting events and for recreation…read more At one end of the park is the modernist playground for the little ones. The local council has paid a small fortune to provide this park for the local community. The swings are timber trimmed and the play equipment is a Thomas Tank. Playing fields are available for baseball. There are cricket nets for various teams for training. Then there is just the open space for running teams. Of an afternoon it is doggy playground. All the locals bring their dogs along to socialise. There is a huge range of dogs and the people are very friendly. Just don't forget your doggy bag.

This is mainly a review of the playground at the park. As the father of a two year old, I'm…read moreconstantly in the lookout for new and exciting playgrounds, and the playground here at Bicentennial Park does not disappoint. There are really two playgrounds here, one for toddlers and one for bigger kids and adults. The toddler playground is entirely fenced. I'll be focusing on the toddler playground. There's a partially shaded sand pit with a working water spout, and shaded benches and tables near the sand pit for parents to sit and keep an eye on the kids. There's a plastic play structure with a slide near the sand pit, and a large (3m by 3m?) climbing structure made of rope. There're also two metal structures shake like tubes for making music, and two swings, one for smaller children and a regular swing. Unfortunately, aside from a few scattered sitting areas, there are no other structures within the toddler area for kids to play with, such as a train or vehicle structure, rocking horse, merry go round, etc. Still, the playground is well shaded from the abundant trees, and is kept clean and well maintained. Not the most exciting playground, but a solid favorite with great surrounds.

You know that scene at the end of Notting Hill where Juila Robers and Hugh Grant are sitting on a…read morebench in a park and she's pregnant lying on his lap and he's reading a book while there are kids playing and people doing Tai Chi in the back? Well it's one of my favourite scenes. This local park has all my partner and I need to keep our quality of life rating high. Within the grounds the park is home to the W. Pymble Bowling Club, the W. Pymble Pool Complex, a playground area, walking/running paths, an exercise area, cricket nets, netball courts, an off the leash dog area, electric barbeques and other goodies. We don't get to take advantage of the park as much as we like, but we definitely make use of the running paths and exercise area. It's nice to say hello to passing neighbors walking by or listen to the children laugh and play. I have to take more time out of my busy days to enjoy the outdoors and lie on that bench reading a book in the sun.

Macquarie University Sports and Aquatic Centre…read more Like many things at Macquarie University, it's sporting and athletics complex has been recently renovated. Although universally refered to as «the gym» by students, the Macquarie University Sports and Aquatic Centre is actually so much more. The complex's facilities are extremely impressive; no matter what time of day or night you find yourself there, you rarely need to wait to use your chosen piece of equipment; a pleasant contrast to many gyms around the 6pm mark. The centre also offers its members free use of its multiple squash, tennis, basketball and netball courts, as well as its indoor and outdoor pools. Swimming lessons for all ages are available here, as well as squads and the ability to leisurely push yourself up and down the pool for as long as humanely possible. The cafe attached to the gym is widely considered to produce the best coffee on campus, and - bonus! - there's never a line. In case you've committed the rookie error of coming for a swim and forgotten your swimmers, the Sports and Aquatic Centre stocks a full range of swimming costumes and goggles, plus a formidable range of other affiliated gym gear. Plus, there is a carpark with two hours of free parking - happy days! The centrex also has an impressive range of classes, at a range of times deeply convenient to uni students on campus for the day. Wanna try Tai Chi? Now's your chance! Pilates? Body Attack? Body Pump? Spin? All the old favourites - plus some newcomers on the gym class scene, the most obvious being Zumba - are avaiable. Plus, they come at student (and working-professional, obviously) friendly prices; for the non-member, classes are only $10 a pop! Compare that with the Fitness First's of the world.... If team sport is your thing, then you're also covered; the Sports and Aquatic Centre's mind blowingly popular social netball is offered three nights per week, while social touch football and soccer are on twice weekly. For the less traditional, you can partake in weekly competitive badminton. (I'm not joking). The centre's staff are also always friendly and courteous, the bathrooms clean and the lockers available. Plus, the value is astonishingly good. A membership with the Sports and Aquatic Centre feautres no lock-in contract, no joining fee and a getting-started session with a personal trainer. Students, staff and alumni of Macquarie University are lucky to receive a discounted rate, but others will still find this membership won't break the bank!

It's as good as Fitness First, but cheaper. A lot cheaper, especially if you're a Macquarie…read morestudent. There's a wide choice of group fitness classes with knowledgeable instructors. Gym is well-equipped with fairly new weights & cardio equipments. Other facilities include outdoor & indoor pools, squash courts, basketball / badminton courts.

As a dad, knowing the best parks to take the boys to use up spent energy is a MUST. This one, is…read moreone of the best park I have found. It is massive, broken up into various sections so that there is always somewhere to chill out, and it is well equipped. Here is a quick list of it's features: - an adventure cycle track - a constructed dry creek bed play area (mind the crocs) - a play area for toddlers - a play area for older kids with spider net & flying fox - an open grassed area for family ball games (just be careful of the drains) - 1/2 basketball court - toilets - barbeques - picnic tables, seats and shelters - free parking oh... and for something you'll be hard pressed to find at any other park it also has.. - a fenced off dog exercise area - radio control car dirt track Well worth checking this place out if you want to have a kids birthday party.

Really fun park, there is a fenced dog play area, remote control car dirt race track, flying fox,…read moreand lots of kids play equipment