Beautiful atmosphere Picnic/BBQ area…read moreFun park for the kids Wildlife Park- fun to explore

A fabulous dog park that flows down to the beach and you can take your four legged pet there and…read morelet them run around freely. Loved it and our dog loved it too.

Picture that it is the quiet perod after Xmas. You're tired and want nothing more than to chill out…read moreand veg. The kids have other ideas of course. So in a desperate attempt to tire the little monsters out while allowing you to veg, you gather the leftovers from the fridge, a loaf of bread and a picnic blanket. The kids are thrown into the car and away you go... but to where? Clontarf is a park worth seeing out. Even though my car navigation had issues getting us there (without getting a little lost), when we arrived, found a park and then set the kids onto the climbing gym and swings. When they got bored with that, I took them for a swim in the quiet little beach area, perfectly suited for cooling off on a hot summer's day. Finally, just before coming home, to reward the kids for being good they were bought icecream at the little store near the toilets. Such an awesome park. Stunning views. Worth the trip.

We often walk the dogs from Mosman to Manly and this is the perfect (almost) half way point…read more There's clean drinking water, a toilet block, a few BBQ's and a playground for the kids. The grass is well maintained and such a huge area takes a lot to fill so there's plenty of room for loads of families. In Spring and Summer, you'll find weddings, parties and birthdays down here almost every weekend and why not? The views are breathtaking, the beach is perfect for families (not too deep) and the park is dog friendly (on leash only). If your dog needs to burn off some energy, a few minutes walk away is the dog friendly beach which has to be one of the best in Sydney.

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.

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).

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.

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

I came across this park during lunchtime and found it packed with happy picnickers of all ages…read more A great place for daytime sunseeking as well as evening activities, Ernest Place is packed with things to do. Framed by the North Sydney Baptist Church, the Crow's Nest Community centre as well as plenty of shops, this little spot is a hive of merry activity. And what park would be complete without a snazzy little water feature?