Top 7 outdoor sports

Kayaking, SUP, boating at Lake Parramatta

Lake Parramatta is the clear winner for outdoor water activities. There is an enclosed swimming area patrolled by lifeguards every summer, starting at the end of October. This swimming area is a great place for kids to play in the water, and you could swim some laps towards the back in the deeper parts of the enclosed area if it's not too busy.

You can also enjoy the lake with water equipment such as kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and boats. If you have your own equipment, you can explore the lake any day of the week. If you're looking to rent kayaks, canoes or boats, Parramatta Rowboats has you covered. They're open on the weekends and during public holidays with an assortment of equipment for hire. 

Tennis courts

If there's sunny weather and it hasn't rained in a few days, tennis is a fantastic outdoor sport. There are quite a few tennis courts available for hire across Parramatta. They are operated either by the City of Parramatta Council or third parties, so check each court for prices and availability. 
Here is a quick list of where you can find tennis courts around Parramatta:

• Binalong Park and Gallery Gardens in Toongabbie
• Caber Park, Timbergetters Reserve and Caroline Chisholm Park in Winston Hills
• Dunrossil Park and North Rocks Park in Carlingford
• George Kendall Riverside Park and Cowells Lane Reserve in Ermington
• West Epping Park in Epping
• David Scott Reserve in West Epping
• PH Jeffrey Reserve in Parramatta

Netball

Netball is a great sport that can be played indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather and available courts. Parramatta is lucky to have some of the best courts in New South Wales at Sydney Olympic Park. These courts are indoors and can be hired casually by the hour or more regularly if you're looking to create a club.

For outdoor courts that don't require a booking, visit Don Moore Reserve. It's located next to the Muirfield Golf Course. It's a family-friendly park with amenities such as public toilets, picnic areas and BBQs, netball courts and a playground.

Archery

While the netball courts are at the south end of Sydney Olympic Park, the Archery Centre is at the top of the north end. There are sessions for all skill levels where you can learn and improve your aim. The bronze arrow sessions are for beginners, while the silver arrow program is for intermediate archers. These are great options if you're just picking up the hobby and don't own your own bow.

Once you've completed the Aim for Fun and Beginner's Program, you can qualify for a Safety Induction Card. Once you have that, you can make use of the Centre's casual archery hours. You can rent equipment or bring your own. The Centre also offers private coaching, team building activities, and kids parties.

Pickleball

Pickleball is a quirky game that's rising in popularity across Australia. It's a team sport that mixes together tennis, table tennis and badminton. Pickleball courts are often found near tennis courts, but they're smaller, and the ball used is slower than a tennis ball. These things make it a bit easier to play.
Binalong Park on Binalong Road in Toongabbie has four pickleball courts. You can book the courts casually or even join the Toongabbie Picklers, the local social pickleball group.

Running

Parramatta's abundance of green spaces is easy to recognise when you're out for a run. There are many great tracks, parks and trails for you to use. If you're looking for somewhere close to the city that has a running loop, try Parramatta Park or the WSU Campus in Rydalmere, just a few kilometres away. For longer runs, use the River Valley Cycleway or Bicentennial Park. If you want a cross-country terrain, run one of the tracks at Lake Parramatta Reserve or the Murri-Yanna Track at Bidjidal Reserve.