At least I think they are the 5 best. Other Sydneysiders may have their own favourites, which is fine with me, but they are all large, well maintained parks within easy reach of central Sydney and each has something to offer tourists and residents. If you have the chance, do go and check them out.
1. Centennial Park comprises 189 Hectares of parkland 4 km south east of the CBD. The main thoroughfare is approximately oval and known as the Grand Drive. It features a paved road for motor vehicles, a section of which is reserved for cycles and rollerblades, a paved walkway and a path for horse riding. You can drive through in daylight hours and there is ample free parking, but please observe the 30 kph speed limit and remember to drive out before they lock the gates at sunset. There is an area set aside for children to play and learn to ride bicycles. You can hire cycles nearby, even four-seaters for families! As well as the Grand Drive, there are paths all over the park. The park contains many waterways and there is a thriving population of waterbirds, including black swans, geese, coots, moorhens, cormorants and ducks. Some are tame and will eat from your hand, but please don’t feed them bread – it’s not good for them. Buy some seeds from a pet shop.
2. Hyde Park is centrally located between the CBD and St Mary’s Cathedral. With its broad paved paths, grassed areas, shady trees and comfortable benches, it’s a favourite lunchtime walk for office workers and tourists. It features statues, landscaped gardens, the Anzac Memorial and the marvellously ornate Archibald Fountain. The Northern and Southern sections of the park are separated by the appropriately named Park Street. Parking is very limited but many bus routes can take you there, or you can catch a city circle train to St James (north-west corner) or Museum (south-west corner). A classic photograph can be obtained in the early afternoon light at the northern end with the Archibald fountain in the foreground and St Mary’s Cathedral in the background. A morning shot would be better to frame Centrepoint Tower between the trees.
3. The Domain is located just east of the CBD. It contains the Royal Botanical Gardens and offers magnificent views of Sydney Harbour, including the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can drive through and there is metered parking available. Some of the best views of the harbour can be enjoyed from the most northerly point, where there is a natural rock formation known as Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, reputed to be a favourite spot for the wife of one of our earliest governors. If you want to photograph the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, choose your time of day carefully. In the afternoon the sun shines off the water, which can make for an interesting shot, but aim for the morning to get the landmarks in full sunlight.
4. Bradfield Park is located at the Northern end of Sydney Harbour Bridge and can be reached on foot, by car, or by ferry to Luna Park. It offers magnificent views of the bridge itself as well as Sydney Opera House, the harbour, Circular Quay ferry terminal and the Overseas Passenger Terminal, where visiting ocean liners dock. From this park you can follow the harbourside walkway to the West under the bridge, past Luna Park, Lavender Bay to Blues Point. There are many points along the walk where you can photograph the Opera House framed by the Harbour Bridge
5. Sydney Park is one of the newest parks in Sydney, 4 km south of the CBD, and features paved walkways, shady trees, a variety of plants and landscaped wetlands. It is a wildlife sanctuary and home to many species of waterbirds. There is a playground for children and a small café. A disused brickworks in the north-west corner has been preserved as a monument to the history of the area. Near the brickworks are two hills that offer unrivalled vistas in all directions, notably the CBD to the north and Sydney Airport to the south. The prevailing wind is from the South and most days you can sit and watch incoming aircraft making their approach to the two main runways, or if you prefer, you can fly a kite from the tops of the hills where the updraft from the slope assists you getting your kite airborne.
