Dundas Park is definitely our number 1 favourite BBQ dinner park! There’s both a water playground and other play equipment right next in front of the BBQ, under shade cloths. Plus, there is a large oval to fly a kite or kick a ball around and a path around the park great for riding on. And if you happen to not want to cook dinner on the BBQ, we often get pizza’s from Vulcano Pizzeria a short walk away.

• Facilities: Dual BBQ, 3 small picnic shelters, large grassed area, toilets about 50m away, tap in oval next to playground steps, garbage bins near BBQ and street parking.
• Playground best suited: 2-8yrs
• Address: Yates Ave, Dundas Valley
• More about Dundas Park
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: Sir Thomas Mitchell Reserve

James Ruse Reserve has a large, shaded water playground that operates from 9am to 8pm, September to May. There is also a skate park and playground (not shaded) with swings, slides, rockers and rope climbing tower.

• Facilities: Dual BBQ, small picnic shelters, picnic tables, large grassed area, temporary toilets, tap next to toilets, garbage bins near BBQ and metered off street parking.
• Playground best suited: 1-10yrs
• Address: 45 Hassall St, Parramatta
• More about James Ruse Reserve
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: Rosella Park in Harris Park or Ollie Webb Reserve in Parramatta.

There’s so much to do at this natural oasis, just north of Parramatta. Lake Parramatta Reserve is popular for bushwalking, playing, picnicking and now water activities – swimming, canoeing and paddle boating. There are two sets of BBQs – one up near the toilets and playground and the other is near the swimming area with covered picnic tables overlooking the water. Note: the gates close at 7:30pm during daylight saving.

• Facilities: Multiple BBQs, large and small picnic shelters, picnic tables, large grassed area, toilets with baby change table, tap at toilet, garbage bins near picnic tables and off street parking.
• Playground best suited: 3-8yrs
• Address: 28 Bourke Street, North Parramatta
• More about Lake Parramatta Reserve
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: there are multiple BBQs at the reserve or head to Arthur Phillip Park

You can go on a safari style BBQ at John Wearn Reserve, with the African animal themed playground. There’s also a skate park, dog-off leash fenced area, exercise equipment and a path to ride on around the park.

• Facilities: Dual BBQs, covered picnic tables, grassed area, toilets, bubbler, garbage bins near BBQs and some off-street parking.
• Playground best suited: 3-7yrs
• Address:
• More about John Wearn Reserve
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: North Rocks Park

Blaxland Riverside Park is a large and awesome park, best suited for kids 4yrs+. It has a fantastic water playground section as well, though there is no shade and it only runs from 10am to 4pm. Keep in mind it’s very popular so parking can be difficult but easier in the evening. There are BBQs along Parramatta River near the Armoury Wharf Cafe or at the back of the playground, near the secondary car park (first carpark, on your left, when you enter).

• Facilities: Multiple BBQs, large picnic shelters, picnic tables, large grassed area, toilets, tap, garbage bins near BBQs and off street parking.
• Playground best suited: 4-14yrs
• Address: Jamieson Street, Silverwater
• More about Blaxland Riverside Park
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: there are multiple BBQs at the park or head to Wentworth Common.

Boronia Park ticks almost all the boxes for a great park with young kids! Fab shaded playground with equipment for a range of ages, toilets, BBQs, picnic tables, bike/ scooter track, bush setting, gardens and exercise equipment. Just needs a water pump or water play area.

• Facilities: Dual BBQs, covered picnic tables, grassed area, toilets, bubbler, garbage bins near BBQs and off street parking at Coles or street parking.
• Playground best suited: 0-10yrs
• Address: 37 Bridge Street, Epping
• More about Boronia Park
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: West Epping Park

Almost fully surrounded by houses, it would be easy to live right near this park and not know it exists….well unless you looked at Google Earth or your kids play sport there. The playground gets natural shade in the afternoon and there is a bike/ scooter track, plus exercise equipment and creek to explore.

• Facilities: Dual BBQ, covered picnic tables, grassed area, toilets, bubbler near playground, garbage bins near picnic tables and off-street parking.
• Playground best suited: 2-6yrs
• Address: Kirby Street, Rydalmere
• More about Upjohn Park
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: Sturt Park, Dundas Park, Eric Primrose Reserve

Parramatta Park is such a BIG, beautiful park and there are a number of options of where to have a BBQ. My kids particularly like playing at Paperbark Playground, and thankfully there are now toilets nearby! Note: I’m not 100% sure the BBQs are operating again just yet at Parramatta Park.

• Facilities: Dual BBQ, picnic shelters, grassed area, toilets, garbage bins near picnic tables and free 2hr parking.
• Playground best suited: 2-12yrs
• Address: Parramatta Park, entry via Pitt Street
• More about Paperbark Playground and Domain Creek Playground
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: There are lots of BBQs through Parramatta Park. Otherwise there are some next to the fenced playground at Ollie Webb Reserve.

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• Facilities: Dual BBQs, covered picnic tables, sportsfield, toilets, garbage bins near BBQs and street parking.
• Playground best suited: 3-7yrs
• Address: Huxley Drive, Winston Hills
• More about John Curtin Reserve
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: Winston Hills Lions Park

The dual BBQs and picnic shelters at Eric Primrose Reserve are near Rydalmere ferry wharf. And it’s a great spot to watch the sun setting over Parramatta River. The only reason it’s further down our list is that the toilets nearby are only open until 6pm and the playground can’t be seen from the BBQ area.

• Facilities: Dual BBQs, covered picnic tables, grassed area, bubbler, garbage bins near BBQs, cycleway, off-street parking and short walk from Rydalmere Wharf.
• Playground best suited: 2yrs+
• Address: John Street, Rydalmere
• More about Eric Primrose Reserve
• Nearest Alternative BBQ: George Kendall Riverside Park

Special Mentions

With it’s fun fenced playground, you would think Ollie Webb Reserve would make our top 20 list. But we just find is SUPER packed in the afternoon and so avoid it now. But there are BBQs just outside and toilets.

George Kendall Riverside Reserve has a fun playground and multi-purpose sports courts and also the most number of BBQs of any park in the Parramatta LGA from what I can tell. Plus the reserve is along Parramatta River so a nice spot to go for a walk afterwards. It hasn’t made our top 10 as the BBQs are a little away from the playground.

Silverwater Park has lovely views over Parramatta River and a good spot to watch the Parramatta Rivercat go by. It ticks so many boxes when it comes to having a BBQ lunch or dinner – there with toilets, on-site parking, a playground and lots of room to spread out and run around. BUT, there is also a large mozzie population not far away on Duck River and in summer it can become a no go zone when the mozzie’s are out in force! Mozzie’s are usually worse at dawn and dusk so a BBQ lunch is a better option here.

There are so many other parks with BBQs in the Parramatta LGA. Let us know if one of your favourites is missing or see a fuller list of parks with BBQs.

What’s Cooking on the BBQ?

I don’t cook anything fancy and basically stick to the same meal each week – to keep it simple with little ones. But there is lots of yummy food you can cook on a BBQ if you have the time and energy. My summer BBQ park dinner usually consists of sausages or chicken skewers, salad, friend onions and BBQ potato cubes/ chips. And after a bit of trial and error, here is what I pack each week into a grocery cooler bag to make the BBQ dinners super easy.

• Tongs
• Piece of alfoil (or 2) that will cover the bbq – saves on having to clean the BBQ before and after
• Spray oil
• Paper towels
• Knife
• Plastic bags for rubbish and dirty plates
• Reuseable plastic plates
• Container for left over food
• Cutlery
• Frozen ice blocks to keep the meat cold
• Food
• Mozzie repellent!

And my trick for making yummy, crunchy BBQ potato cubes/ chips is to microwave them until they are almost cooked, add some seasoning and a bit of oil at home. Then crisp them up on the BBQ.