There’s so much to do at this natural oasis, just north of Parramatta. From kid friendly bushwalks around the lake and playing in the playground to swimming and paddle boats! And if you drive along James Ruse Drive, you have likely passed Lake Parramatta without even knowing.

• Key features: Lake, bushwalks, swimming, boat hire, ducks, playgrounds for young kids, toilets, cafe, bbqs, picnic shelters.
• Best suited: Kids 2yrs+
• Size: Large reserve, small to medium playground
• Address: Entrance at the corner of Lackey and Bourke Streets, North Parramatta
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Hunts Creek Reserve has three hidden gems! The beautiful Balaka Falls, that look gorgeous after rain. A playground at the western end, on Northam Drive, and a newly upgraded playground on the eastern end, on Lesley Ave, that are great for bush loving young kids.

• Key features: Bush reserve, waterfall, bushwalk, creek and playgrounds.
• Best suited: All ages for bushwalk, playground 3-6yrs
• Size: playgrounds small, medium to large reserve
• Address: Norfolk Place, Carlingford, Lesley Ave, Carlingford and Northam Drive, North Rocks
• Reviews: Balaka Falls and Northam Drive playground

There’s a LOT to love about the West Epping Park tucked in behind YMCA Epping. Like the different play spaces for toddlers and older kids, mix of play equipment, range of colours and textures, picnic shelters, bbqs, toilets (though temporary at the moment) and on-site parking. Plus the BIG slide is lots of fun!

• Key features: Large playground with areas for young and older kids, BBQs, picnic shelters, YMCA Epping, synthetic grass sports fields.
• Best suited: Kids 1-14yrs
• Size: Large playground and reserve
• Address: Dent Street, Epping
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Hidden in plain sight in the back streets of Northmead is this gem of a playground for young kids! I was won over by the flying fox my 4yr could enjoy without my help. Then there’s the little water table, toddler play equipment, climbing rope tower and nature based play elements. Plus an oval to run around. Would be extra special with the addition of toilets nearby and bbqs.

• Key features: bush setting, toddler climbing play gym, flying fox, water table, oval, peaceful on a weekday, some natural shade.
• Best suited: 1-7yrs
• Size: Medium
• Address: Watson Place, Northmead
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Vimiera Reserve in Epping is home to the Terrys Creek bushwalk and the beautiful waterfall/ cascades. With large boulders along the way, a mostly flat path, good shade, water regularly trickling in the background and the occasional brush turkey running away, it’s a lovely kid-friendly walk.

• Key features: waterfall, bushwalk that you can start at either Forrester Park playground or Epping Aquatic Centre.
• Best suited: 3yrs+
• Size: Medium to large
• Address: Essex Street, Epping
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Caber Park is one of the first hidden gems we came across. It’s tucked away behind houses in Winston Hills, with little street frontage. There are a number of play spaces, with a range of play equipment, all in a lovely bush setting.

• Key features: Fenced small toddler playground, plus play equipment for preschoolers and primary school kids; basketball hoop; tennis courts; exercise equipment; toilets; bbqs; and picnic shelters.
• Best suited: 1yr+
• Size: Medium to large
• Address: Clackmannan Rd, Winston Hills
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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. It’s always a peaceful spot to visit during the week but gets a bit busier on weekends.

• Key features: Bush reserve, playground set back from the road, bbqs, picnic shelters, toilets, purpose built scooter/ bike track, exercise equipment, sportsfield, creek and on-site parking.
• Best suited: Playground 2-6yrs
• Size: Medium
• Address: Kirby Street, Rydalmere
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A lot of families probably know of Bicentennial Park at Sydney Olympic Park. But a lot of parents may don’t know that there are actually two playgrounds, with one tucked away on the eastern side. Concord West playground is definitely less crowded than it’s sister playground, Village Green near Water View Cafe. And it has a number of nature based play elements for the kids to enjoy. The scooter track is also great, the toilets are right nearby and the play equipment is newer, plus it’s also mostly shaded.

• Key features: scooter/ bike track, toilets, bbqs, shaded playground, mixture of equipment catering for different ages, nature based play elements.
• Best suited: 2yrs+
• Size: Medium
• Address: 75A Victoria Ave, Concord West
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The Wistaria Gardens are truly stunning and a gorgeous place to enjoy spring. And the good news is that they are transferring to Parramatta Park Trust so will be accessible for generations to come.

• Key features: gorgeous gardens to enjoy cherry blossoms and other blooming flowers during spring, at the head of Parramatta River, grassed area for picnics, not far from Domain Creek playground.
• Best suited: All ages
• Size: Medium
• Address: Cumberland Hospital, Westmead
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This park is a well known gem amongst families in Epping. But being tucked away behind houses and the Coles carpark, it could easily be missed by other families. And a must visit if you have young kids.

• Key features: Bush reserve, shaded playground set back from road, purpose built scooter/ bike track, BBQs, picnic shelters, exercise equipment, toilets, gardens.
• Best suited: Playground 1-10yrs
• Size: Medium to large
• Address: Bridge Street, Epping
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Jubilee Park is a lovely, unexpected oasis in Parramatta CBD. While well known to families living nearby, it’s still a hidden gem to those who don’t often go into Parramatta CBD. Please be aware that there is only natural shade over the playground at certain times of the time.

• Key features: nature based playground with water pump and tables, maze, exercise equipment, open grassed area and trees to climb. Plus, walking distance to Parramatta Library, Westfield and a number of cafes.
• Best suited: playground 2-6yrs
• Size: Medium
• Address: 7A Parkes St, Parramatta
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I had no idea there was a ‘dam’ (aka flood retarding wall) in the area until a local mum mentioned it. It definitely has the wow factor. And absolutely not what you would expect to find in the middle of gorgeous bushland.

• Key features: relatively easy (though steep) access to the dam from Loyalty Road, viewing platform, creek access and bushwalks.
• Best suited: 3yrs+
• Size: Large
• Address: Loyalty Road, North Rocks
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The smokestacks near the old Channel Seven site are signposts for a hidden gem of a park, with a big slide, bbqs and lovely grounds to explore.

• Key features: old brickworks, big slide, BBQs, toilets (only for residents), sculptures, grassed area.
• Best suited: 4yrs+
• Size: Medium
• Address: Cavan Drive, Eastwood
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This little reserve offers families with little ones the complete package – fun playground, cafe, street library, bushwalk and lots of bushland to play in. And you can easily miss it when driving along Kissing Point Road.

• Key features: nature based playground, bush reserve great for building teepees in, along the Vineyard Creek Reserve bushwalk and next to Bells Road Social cafe.
• Best suited: 3-7yrs
• Size: Small playground
• Address: Bells Road, Oatlands
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Third Settlement Reserve is not so much hidden, being on Oakes Road. But there is a treasure here that few are likely to know about…. a gorgeous water hole, which is a great spot to tip your toes in on a hot day. Plus, there is a fun shaded playground, picnic tables, BBQ’s, toilets and bushwalks.

• Key features: shaded playground, picnic shelters, toilets, Girl Guides and Scouts halls, BBQs and bushwalks.
• Best suited: playground 2-6yrs
• Size: Small playground, large reserve
• Address: Edison Parade, Winston Hills
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You feel like you are driving down someone’s driveway to get to Hazel Ryan Oval. And while the playground is only small, the combination of interesting play equipment, bushwalk nearby and open space set back from the road makes it a fun place to visit with young kids.

• Key features: small playground, bushwalk, picnic shelter, sports field, toilets (open when sports is on).
• Best suited: Kids 1-5yrs
• Size: Large playground and reserve
• Address: End of Whitbread Place, North Rocks
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Down a path in Northmead, you’ll find the peaceful Charles Herbert Reserve, with rock ledges to climb and a small playground to enjoy.

• Key features: open grassed area; rock boulders, walls and ledges to climb; playground, basketball hoop, picnic table.
• Best suited: 3-8yrs
• Size: Medium
• Address: 12b Whitehave Road, Northmead

A Little Further Afield

There are so many hidden gems sprinkled around Sydney. These 12 are relatively close to Parramatta and have something special to make them worth the extra little drive to get there.

Auburn Botanic Gardens is a must visit for families! It’s high on the list of places we recommend most often. While beautiful all year round, it’s particularly gorgeous in spring with the blooming cherry blossoms and autumn with the changing leaves. Entry is free during the week and there is a small fee on the weekends for non-Cumberland Council residents.

• Key features: native animal exhibit, Japanese gardens, two playgrounds (one inside and one outside), ponds with ducks, bbqs, picnic shelters, toilets, peacocks and on-site parking.
• Best suited: playgrounds 1-8yrs
• Size: Large
• Address: Chisholm Rd & Chiswick Rd, Auburn
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Did you know that you can see native animals for free just a few minutes south of Parramatta? And at this same park, there’s a large man made waterfall? Plus two playgrounds and lots of bush to explore and grass to run play on.

• Key features: native animal exhibits, two shaded playgrounds, waterfall, street library, bush reserve, bbqs, picnic shelters, toilets, grassed area, paths to walk and ride on, bush school, tennis courts and on-site parking.
• Best suited: playgrounds 2-8yrs
• Size: Large
• Address: Cnr Merrylands Road & Cumberland Highway, Merrylands
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Putney Park is a fantastic park, along Parramatta River, tucked down at Putney. There’s a great, free water play area for young children, water views and it’s a perfect spot for family gatherings.

• Key features: splash pools, two playgrounds, two big slides, BBQs, picnic shelters, toilets, open grassed area.
• Best suited: All ages
• Size: Two medium sized playground and large reserve
• Address: 55 Pellisier Road, Putney
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Even once you arrive at Blackman Park, along Lane Cove River, you could easily not realise there is a great playground waiting for you. You have to drive past all the sports fields, to the bottom of the park to find it. Set amongst the bush, there’s a really good variety of play equipment. And we have had fun birthday parties here.

• Key features: bush reserve, great playground for a range of ages, sports fields, paths to walk and ride on, toilets, picnic shelters, bbqs, on-site parking, little waterfall, grassed areas, bushwalks, access to Lane Cove River.
• Best suited: playground 2-12yrs
• Size: Large
• Address: Lloyd Rees Drive, Lane Cove West
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This is a gorgeous spot on Sydney Harbour that you can enjoy from the safety of a fenced playground. It’s positioned in between Balls Head Reserve and Greenwich Baths. And there’s a lovely kid-friendly bushwalk.

• Key features: harbour and city views, fenced playground, bushwalk, toilets, bbqs, trees to climb and open grassed area great for flying kites on.
• Best suited: playground 2-10yrs
• Size: Medium
• Address: 10 Shirley Rd, Wollstonecraft
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Tucked in at the end of King Georges Road, is a TOTAL package park for a full fun day out with young kids. Carss Park is one of those very rare parks with a great playground, beach/ pool, yummy cafe, bushwalk, picnic facilities and even a street library! And it’s the 3rd closest beach to Parramatta!

• Key features: nature based playground with all sorts of play, netted swimming beach, toilets, BBQs, picnic shelters, cafe, street library, bushwalks.
• Best suited: 1-12yrs
• Size: Medium to large
• Address: Carwar Ave, Carss Park
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Driven along Burns Bay Road in Lane Cove? Did you notice all the new apartment blocks on the lower, city side. Well tucked down there is a fabulous community space, called Hughes Park.

• Key features: brightly coloured play equipment for a range of ages, toilets, BBQs, picnic shelters, community centre, exercise equipment, community vegetable garden, climbing walls.
• Best suited: 1-10yrs
• Size: Medium to large
• Address: Waterview Drive, Lane Cove
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The long awaited Livvi’s Place Bankstown is definitely packed full of fun for young kids and worth the trip to visit.

• Key features: large fenced playground, brightly coloured play equipment for kids of all abilities, toilets, BBQs, picnic shelters, open grassed area, sports field.
• Best suited: 1-8yrs
• Size: large playground
• Address: Ross Street, Bankstown
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We love going on day trips to the Hawkesbury area and are excited to now have this fenced inclusive playground to stop at. The history of Windsor is beautifully reflected in the design and it has lovely views out over the Hawkesbury River. There is a water playground, in-ground trampolines and lots of nature based play elements.

• Key features: fenced playground, inclusive brightly coloured play equipment, water views, toilets, BBQs, picnic shelters, open grassed area.
• Best suited: 1-8yrs
• Size: medium playground and reserve
• Address: George Street, Windsor
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It may not be the closest large fab fenced playground to Parramatta, but Bicentennial Park West Pymble is well worth the trip. With a swimming centre, BBQs, kiosk, bushwalks, paths to ride on and lots of open space to enjoy, you can definitely make a day of your visit.

• Key features: fenced inclusive playground, toilets, BBQs, picnic shelters, open grassed area, bushwalk, swimming centre with kiosk, bowling club.
• Best suited: 1-8yrs
• Size: medium to large playground and reserve
• Address: Prince Of Wales Dr, West Pymble
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The newest playground on this hidden gems list, ELS Hall Park opened in October 2018. It’s a large nature inspired playground, with a great mix of play equipment for a range of ages. Plus both natural and sail shade and picnic facilities.

• Key features: large playground, water play, toilets, bbqs, synthetic grass sports fields, YMCA Ryde, on-site parking, fenced dog off leash area, exercise equipment.
• Best suited: playground 2-10yrs
• Size: large
• Address: Kent Road, North Ryde
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Banjo Paterson Park is a gorgeous, hidden away spot along Parramatta River. The park got a new themed adventure playground towards the end of 2016 and there are bbqs and picnic tables nearby.

• Best suited: playground 2-8yrs
• Size: Medium
• Key features: water views, partially shaded adventure playground, lovely picnic spots along the river, toilets, bbqs, walking trails, trees to climb and lots of on-site parking.
• Address: Punt Road, Gladesville
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This large reserve in West Pennant Hills has a LOT to offer families with young kids…and well worth a visit for a nice few hours out.

• Key features: large fenced playground with nature play, walking track, bushland setting, bbqs, toilets, community centre and sports fields.
• Best suited: playground 2-8yrs
• Size: Medium
• Address: View Street, West Pennant Hills
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