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| Arrunga Bardo Walk at Lake Parramatta Reserve, Parramatta |
1) Arrunga Bardo Walk at Lake Parramatta Reserve, Parramatta
Distance: 1.8km returnTime: 35 minutes
Difficulty: Fairly easy, formed track
Pram-friendly: No
Head to this reserve in Parramatta to discover a 73-hectare oasis where you can bushwalk, swim, picnic and play; an ideal opportunity to get kids of all ages into nature. The walk loops from the Arrunga Bardo Garden to the Calm Waters Lookout, with fine views of the river. Keep an eye out for cockatoos, sugar gliders, blue tongue lizards and maybe even an echidna. The garden has a selection of local native plants, most of which were valued for hunting, weaving, food and medicine by the Burramattagal People, the traditional owners of the land. There’s a playground, kiosk and swimming area nearby, too.
> See map
2) Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, Narrabeen
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| Narrabeen Lagoon, Narrabeen - Credit: Northern Beaches Council |
Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Easy, paved track
Pram-friendly: Yes
Winding through bush, parklands and rich eco-systems, with hundreds of species of birds and gorgeous views, this jewel of the Northern Beaches will make you feel a million miles from the city. Even though the whole loop is a little too long for younger kids, there are four picnic grounds (all with car parks) strategically placed along the trail, so you can start the circuit from any of these locations and just do a short section. Both Bilarong Reserve and Berry Reserve have playgrounds, and the latter has a cafe.
> See map
3) Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Bondi
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| Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Sydney |
Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Easy, paved track with some stairs
Pram-friendly: No
Sydney’s iconic coastal walk is a must. With the promise of a swim at the end (or on the way) and views across some of the city’s most famous beaches, the longer distance will feel like a breeze. Starting at Bondi Beach, admire the azure Bondi Icebergs pool as you head towards Tamarama Beach, stopping to look at the Aboriginal engravings at Marks Park. From there, follow the coastline to Bronte Beach, which has a gorgeous natural rock pool at the south end, popular with the little ones, and a much-loved kid’s train ride. Next up is Clovelly Beach and Gordons Bay, narrow inlets often busy with snorkellers and people sunbathing on the rocks. Before you know it, you’ll finish at Coogee Beach, home to four ocean pools, surrounding barbecues and grassland as well as plenty of places for lunch nearby.
> See map
4) Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo
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| Barangaroo Reserve, Barangaroo |
Time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy, paved track
Pram-friendly: Yes
A shared walking and cycling path between King Street Wharf and the northeastern tip of Barangaroo Reserve, this easy city track is a waterside haven in the city. If you start from the south end of the walk, you can finish with a picnic on the lawn among native trees with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Up for a challenge with older kids? The entire foreshore walk stretches 11km from Anzac Bridge to Woolloomooloo.
> See map
5) Fairyland Loop Track in Lane Cove National Park, Chatswood West
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| Lane Cove National Park, Lane Cove |
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderately challenging, a variety of terrain
Pram-friendly: No
Lane Cove National Park, a pocket of bushland running along both sides of the Lane Cove River, is a remarkable nature oasis considering its urban surroundings. With plenty of picnic areas, playgrounds, and open grassy fields, it’s an excellent place to explore with your family. The Fairyland Loop Track can be commenced at different points – the Chatswood Rotary Athletics Field has free parking and a toilet – and then follows part of the Great North Walk towards Chatswood West, crossing the river and coming back up the other bank. Towards the end, you’ll bypass the Fairyland Pleasure Ground, a historic site of a 19th-century recreation area. Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot an echidna, wallaby or osprey, as well as plenty of other birds.
> See map
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