Australia is in the Southern hemisphere and, as such,we are approaching our summer season now while enjoying a mild spring here in Sydney.
What characterizes this season here are the splendid sunny days, which certainly encourage you to spend more time outdoors regardless of the calendar. After all, this is precisely one of the aspects that I love most about life here. And so today I want to take you on a walk through my favorite picnic spots in Sydney. Ready? Grab a blanket, a good book to read and a basket full of food and off we go!
Paddington reservoir: amid the chaos and crowds of Oxford Street and Paddington lies a piece of history uncontaminated. Once a water reserve for the city in the 1800s, it was transformed into this very functional place of pleasure about a decade ago. This sunken garden is truly a little oasis where you can relax, taking advantage of the deckchairs provided and the free wifi, where you can read a good book or have a picnic with friends. The brick arches, the lush greenery and the central fountain really give a surreal air to this very unusual place in the heart of Sydney.
Centennial Park: just outside the city center, Centennial Park is huge and consists of three parks that together so it is huge. The park is aesthetically beautiful and also important from a historical point of view, since the Federation Pavilion, the monument of the Australian federation, is located right here. The park offers thousands of trees, ponds, native fauna, cafes and restaurants. You can discover the park on foot, you can rent a bike, go horseback riding, play a game of golf, get lost in its maze or simply relax in the grass. Centennial Park is the largest park in Sydney.
Sydney has recently gained a stunning new neighbourhood: Barangaroo. And the Barangaroo Reserve along with it. It is a beautiful new park that takes up an entire corner of Sydney, embraced by the water and with absolutely breathtaking views of the Harbour Bridge. There are tons of native plants among several blocks of sandstone rock carved from the site and shaped one by one making it a great place for a picturesque picnic.
Bradfield Park: this park located under the northern pylon of the Harbour Bridge, is in one of the most spectacular locations in all of Sydney. From here you can admire the bridge, the Opera House and the city behind them, and a short walking distance from here you can also find Luna Park and the Olympic Pool. In this park there is also a beautiful playground in the shade, where to enjoy lunch and the beautiful view.
Bradley's Head Amphitheatre: in the Lower North Shore of Sydney, at the southernmost tip of Bradley's Head, there is one of the most spectacular natural amphitheaters in the world. This viewpoint inside the Sydney Harbour National Park is among the most popular places among Sydneysiders who love to walk along the bay. As well as among photography lovers who come here to capture the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison in a single shot. Or among the engaged couples who choose to propose right here or among those who simply choose this little park for a picnic in style.
In one of the most idyllic beach-park-playground combinations in all of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Parsley Bay Reserve is the perfect place to escape the crowds, find peace and quiet and a safe place for children to play and swim. The large green park gently leads down to a beautiful clean beach and its calm, shallow waters – perfect for little ones to play and swim in. The reserve is surrounded by towering trees all around, ensuring there’s always shade, no matter what time of day. This and the abundance of picnic tables – plus public toilets, showers and a small kiosk – make it the perfect spot for barbecues, picnics and parties of all kinds.
And if you do not know what to bring to the picnic , just walk in a deli shop and have them make a sandwich or prepare a basket for you! It is that simple here.
