Are you keen to spend a cool autumn weekend fishing on the wharf? Or enjoy a chill evening out after a full day’s work by fishing along the Parramatta river? If so, we’ve got the perfect fishing spot recommendations for you.

There are many recreational activities you can enjoy in the City of Parramatta, including fishing. Whether you’re a fishing beginner or a seasoned professional, you can find a fishing spot fit for you in Parramatta.

Check out our picks of the six best fishing spots below and pay them a visit the next time you go fishing.

Huntleys Point Wharf

Huntleys Point Wharf near Gladesville Reserve is on the northern side of the Parramatta River and is a great freshwater for-fun fishing spot. Big catches are common when fishing at this wharf, with fun fishing challenges such as jewfish, yellowtails, and mighty breams to enjoy. The best time to visit Huntleys Point Wharf is in the evening after 8pm, when there are fewer ferries disturbing the water.

Note that due to the elevated levels of dioxins in the water, it’s not recommended for you to take home and eat what you catch at this wharf - however catching the large fish in these waters is always a fun time.

Kissing Point Ferry Wharf

Kissing Point Ferry Wharf is a popular fishing spot near Meadowbank known for its big catches such as surf breams, dusky flatheads, sand sillago, and shovelnose guitarfish. The wharf is a prime fishing spot for those local to the area and is best after twilight when the waters are calmer and there aren’t any boats scaring the fish away.

Although it’s best to avoid crowds when fishing, keep in mind that fishing is prohibited from 5am to 10am daily on the wharf.

Iron Cove Bridge

Iron Cove Bridge is a family-friendly convenient fishing spot for those close to either King George or Bridgewater Park. A quick drive down Victoria Road, you can park your car at the nearby parks and find your way underneath the bridge to cast your line. The fishing spot is equipped with toilets, nearby BBQs, and play equipment to keep the kids and family occupied while you catch dinner.

For a bit more exercise, you can even walk along the concrete path on the southern side of the bridge to get to your ideal fishing spot. As one of the most scenic fishing spots in Parramatta, you can catch a wide variety of fish on Iron Cove Bridge, including bream, whiting and flatbread. 

Clarks Point Reserve

Further down Parramatta River is also Clarkes Point. Perfect for land-based anglers, Clarks Point is only a few minutes east of Woolwich Road at Hunters Hill. The best fishing spot at Clarks Point Reserve is at the break wall, at the water’s edge. From the break wall, you can fish for luderick, leatherjackets, bream, whiting, as well as mulloway. You can even try live baiting for kingfish and pan-sized snappers.

Successful fishing at Clarks Point Reserve depends on the tide. The eastern side of the point is better on the run-out tide, while the southern side is best on the run-in tide. Make sure you check the tidal forecasts before fishing at Clarks Point to ensure you spend your time as productively as possible.

Wymston Parade

If you’re a whiting enthusiast, Wymston Parade is the fishing spot to be. A serene and scenic fishing spot, Wymston Parade is a couple of minutes' drive from Canada Bay and sits perfectly in front of some of Sydney’s most relaxing and sought-after holiday homes. 

This stretch of water is also very popular for prawning. A great starting point for amateur fishermen, as well as a family-friendly fishing location, Wymston Parade is one of the most ideal fishing spots in Parramatta.

Parramatta Lake

Parramatta Lake fishing mostly involves catching Australian bass, carp, catfish, and dusky flathead. Accessible and boat-friendly, Parramatta Lake accommodates all fishing styles alike. You can fish anywhere in this heritage-listed reservoir and proudly bring home a big catch to cook for dinner.

Practising Responsible Fishing

Fishing is a fun and challenging hobby to enjoy with people of all ages. However, as enjoyable as it may be, fishing also requires you to be responsible and environmentally conscious.

The council’s fishing regulations require you to leave no litter, minimise noise (especially at night), be respectful of other fishers in the area, and promote responsible fishing practices. When fishing, it’s also important to remember that vessels and passengers have priority, so move aside or clear your lines and tackles whenever they approach. This applies to all Parramatta River fishing spots.

Fishing in Parramatta River

Many of the top fishing spots around the Sydney area are located in Parramatta. If you’re looking to spend some time in the upcoming evenings or weekend fishing, check out our five fishing spots recommended above. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced fisher, a lone fisherman, or a parent with kids keen to go on a fishing adventure, there’s a fishing spot in Parramatta fit for you.

Whether you’ve got kids or simply want to reconnect with your inner child, laser tag and game arcades are a great way to have some fun!

Luckily there are some great venues to enjoy right here in Parramatta. For kids, these are great activities during school holidays, long weekends and birthday parties. For adults, they’re a fun way to bond with friends, family and even co-workers. 

Laser tag in Parramatta

Laser tag is the perfect activity for kids and teens, making it a great option when deciding how to spend an afternoon with friends and family. It’s fun for adults too. Laser tag is a great way to have some exciting competition while sneaking in a bit of exercise too. 

Laser tag combines the strategy of paintball with the digital excitement of video games. While it’s important to avoid getting hit by other people’s laser guns, it doesn’t actually hurt if you do get caught out. This makes it a little less intimidating for kids and easy to turn into a family activity.

For laser tag in Parramatta, head over to Code Red Laser. At Code Red, teams must defend their base and tag opponents to win. Code Red Laser has a 4-level maze that’s full of evolving twists and turns, making each time you go a different challenge. 

Visit their website to learn more about kids party packages, adult parties and options for corporate groups. If you’re keen to take your skills to the next level, join their league nights for more competitive games held to national standards.

Arcade games in Parramatta

Arcades are a blast from the past for many adults who have great memories of spending hours earning enough tickets to buy prizes. You can relive those memories and create new ones with your kids at Kicks Ten Pin & Arcade in Parramatta.

At Kicks Ten Pin, there are heaps of activities to choose from. The arcade has classic games such as Space Invaders and Twin Moto GP. For a new arcade experience with tech that didn’t exist when you were growing up, try the XD Dark Ride, a multi-sensory interactive attraction that blends a competitive game into a 3D ride.

When you’ve won your prizes and are done with the arcade games, head over to the bowling alley for some classic tenpin bowling. 

Indoor kids’ playcentre in Parramatta

If your little ones are too young for laser tag, take them to Lollipop’s Parramatta, conveniently located downstairs from Code Red Laser. 

There is so much fun packed into the playland, such as giant slides, bouncy castles, and a massive climbing structure. At Lollipop’s Playland, there are allocated areas for different age groups ranging from babies to school children up to 11 years old. This helps to encourage imagination and active play, perfect for their skill level. 

Won yourself an appetite?

After all the games, you’ll probably start feeling hungry. If you were playing laser tag, there are some great food options on the other side of James Ruse Drive for you to try. For some epic burgers and fries, visit the family-friendly Burger Boom. If you’re feeling pizza and pasta, go to Sopranos. Or, if everyone wants something different, head over to the Rosehill Bowling Club.

If you’re finishing up at Kicks and are closer to the CBD, walk over to Monty’s Pizza or try the Portuguese-Ceylonese cuisine at Kukula’s. If you have enough energy to cross the Parramatta River, you’ll be rewarded with all the options and eateries on Eat Street. From Greek to Indian and fancy to casual, there’s a restaurant here for your group to enjoy. 

Finish the night off on a sweet note by visiting Bay Vista or Gelato Messina. Bay Vista has a variety of decadent desserts to choose from. From pancakes and waffles to building your own ice cream bucket, their menu is sure to fix any sweet tooth craving. At Gelato Messina, you are guaranteed amazing gelato with the very best, real ingredients. If you haven’t yet, try one of their gelato cakes!

Other family-friendly indoor activities

Laser tag and arcades are just a few of the fun, family-friendly indoor activities in Parramatta. 

If you like the idea of Lollipop’s Playground but want to take the whole family, check out The Ultimate Family Fun Centre. There is everything from trampoline climbing walls to trampoline dodge balls, and they even have spin bumper cars!

For a fun group activity – with older kids and adults alike – try your hand at an escape room at Scram or Labyrinth. 

If you want more ideas, discover other fun indoor kids activities in Parramatta. 
 

Riverside Theatres is the performance art hub of Parramatta. Having hosted and supported the performance arts space for over 30 years, the theatre is brimming with history, culture, and atmosphere.

Whether you’re interested in small-scale local stand-up comedy shows, or international, headlining musicals, you can spend a memorable night and enjoy a performance at Riverside Theatres. Moreover, if you’re looking to host your own performance piece for a private audience, be sure to check out the venues for hire at Riverside Theatres.

A Brief History

Riverside Theatres has been around since 1988, offering three theatre venues under one roof. Starting as a premier performing arts venue in Western Sydney, Riverside Theatres is all about nurturing the performance culture in Parramatta, while also bringing attention to the local community involved in the national arts industry.

Supported by the City of Parramatta Council, Riverside Theatres has been connecting arts with Sydney side audiences since the 1980s and continues to inspire, entertain, and involve members of the Parramatta community through performances and events.

Riverside Theatres’ three venues are all designed for different types of performances and seating preferences. The Raffertys Theatre is designed for small-scale shows and cinema productions, sitting up to 88 people at a time. Lennox Theatre is a decently sized hall with a flexible seating space of 213 people and a stage large enough for most comedy, family, music, and dance performances. The Riverside is Riverside Theatres’ largest venue, with the ability to house up to 761 guests at a time and room for larger, international productions such as Shakespeare, contemporary dance, and musicals. 

What’s On at the Riverside Theatres

Riverside Theatres regularly hosts a wide selection of shows and performances hand-selected for the Parramatta and surrounding community under the name Riverside Presents. From theatrical works to musicals, comedy shows, traditional cinema, and festivals, Riverside Theatres aims to entertain as well as educate with the extensive programs offered for families, young people, and children. 

There are more than 30 live performances showing on rotation at the Riverside Theatres, so it’s always best to check out their website for more updated information on their showings. You can also conveniently book and buy your tickets to shows online.

The theatre is home to Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta as well as FORM Dance Projects, meaning you can expect to enjoy projects from these organisations frequently at the Riverside Theatres.

Making the Most of the Riverside Theatres

Not only can you enjoy various types of shows and performances at Riverside Theatres, but you can also book your own stay to make for a special and private experience. You can hire out any of the three theatre rooms for conferences, banquets, product launches, private performances, and banquets. 

Hiring a venue at Riverside Theatres makes for a great, worthwhile experience as the theatre is known for its unrivalled space, service, and location, as well as state-of-the-art production facilities and equipment. The venue hosts on average 35,000 students each year from all around Australia to show and educate on live performances. The theatres are also accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities.

Enjoying Your Riverside Theatres Experience

If you’re a Sydney local thinking of going to a performance art show, Riverside Theatres has much to offer you. With a wide selection of performances showing daily, comfortable, and flexible seating arrangements, and prime hiring options, Riverside Theatres is the place to be.
 

Only a rare restaurant can proudly claim they’ve got recipe found nowhere else in Sydney. In Parramatta, some of those venues are helmed by inventive chefs looking to make their mark on the Sydney scene, others are so committed to tradition they put in extra effort to give their community those dishes which take just a bit more time, effort or expertise to make. Here’s a mix of both. 

The Truly One Offs

Lilymu’s Larb Sando and pretty much everything else on the menu

Lilymu could take up a number of spots on this list. Brendan Fong and Bass Kumponthanatat’s menu mixes southern Chinese recipes with a Thai flavour profile, well that’s the professional description anyway, it’s really a playful mix of whatever Fong and Kumponthanatat can think of – miso-eggplant transformed with Thai flavour, spring rolls stuffed with mozzarella and rendang (a generational recipe from Fong’s wife’s family no less), roast duck stuffed with Thai sausage, and larb sandwiches. All of those, plus a decent chunk from rest of the menu are recipes found nowhere else in Sydney. Take the larb ‘sando’ as an example. It’s Japanese-style soft white bread on the outside, and on the inside cabbage, a mix of fresh herbs and the show piece: a hunk of crumbed chicken that’s been brined overnight, fried, and seasoned with dehydrated larb spice. Simultaneously soft, crunchy, herbal, and savoury. Simply, a very fun thing to eat. As Fong says, there’s enough crispy skin, fried chicken and basil chicken, more people should celebrate larb. 

Parramatta Square, 03/153 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 7809 4952 | Facebook | Instagram

Estelita’s desserts and embutido (like a Filipino meatloaf) 

Let’s be frank, meatloaf isn’t the sexiest looking food around. Embutido, the Filipino version is no different, a literal log of pork meat that’s long and lumpy from being stuffed with all kinds of things – in this case carrots, sultanas and a dose of fish sauce. But eat it and you won’t care about how sexy it looks, instead you’ll probably wonder why Estelita’s is the only Filipino restaurant that does it. The answer to that question is Christmas. In the Philippines it’s a special dish reserved for a fiesta, any special occasion but Christmas in particular. It’s usually steamed so it’s moist, and a bit fluffy but Estelita’s is a bit different. It’s got a bronzed outer layer like a good loaf of bread. 

That’s not the only unique order at Estelita’s either. The dessert menu is full of rare dishes, including another that can’t be found anywhere else in Sydney, sapin-sapin, which is a layered glutinous rice cake topped with bread-crumb like bits of fried coconut curds. 

319 Church St, Parramatta | 0428 452 396 | Facebook | Instagram

Lao de lao's ob gai

Usually, the typical idea of a Thai curry shown in Australia is a coconutty, rich and often sweet recipe named after the colour of the paste it’s made from, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the Thai and Lao cuisine. Ob gai is an example, it’s a chicken curry made with a light broth packed with herbs and aromatics. Instead of coconutty and rich it’s light and aromatic, instead of sweet it’s herbal. 
In the villages of northeast Thailand and Lao, it would be made by stuffing the insides of a bamboo shoot with chicken or fish and all the distinct aromatics from the region – makrut lime leaves, galangal, lemongrass, chilli and fresh herbs – and then cooking that bamboo over an open fire. There’s a number of reasons why that’s difficult in Sydney but Visiene Khammountry, the owner of Lao der Lao keeps the tradition alive by making everything from scratch with herbs from the garden that surrounds the restaurant. 

526A Church St, North Parramatta | 0449 530 195 | Facebook

Sort of One Offs

Mazaidar’s nehari and paya with added brain

Pakistan has a tradition of hearty, meaty breakfast stews designed to power an adult through a day of hard labour. Nehari (a bone marrow enriched slow cooked beef, lamb or goat stew) is one, and paya (slow-cooked, spiced trotters) is another. Both are found in many traditional Pakistani restaurants in Sydney, but Mazaidar gets a mention for serving their versions with a +$2 optional extra of stewed sheep brains. For those who haven’t tried, brain is like soft tofu but a little more savoury. 

515 Church St, North Parramatta | 9630 0319 | Facebook | Instagram

Temasek’s ikan pangang 

Ikan panggang is Malay for roast fish and it includes a number of styles, fish and toppings, but the Temasek recipe refers to a specific regional style of sambal lathered fish roasted in a banana leaf. The only thing excluding Temasek from the above list is the fact one other restaurant in Sydney does it too, Campie’s Hokkein Kia. To get it from Temasek, make sure to order ahead, they need to get a whole fish secured from their supplier before you come.

71 George St, Parramatta | 9633 9926 | Facebook | Instagram

Taj Indian Sweets’ gujiya and ghever

Imagine an empanada or a curry puff but instead of a savoury filling it’s jammed with a sweet, creamy mix of semolina, milk, and nuts - that’s gujiya. Ghever is an intricate disc-shaped sweet both syrupy and crunchy. Ghever is only available at Taj Indian Sweets’ in August for the Teej Festival, while guijya is available most of the time. Ramesh Sharma tells us no other sweet shop sells them, but these things are hard to fact check. 

91 Wigram St, Harris Park | 9633 2118 | Facebook

Sun Ming, the specials scrawled across the wall

Like Temasek, Sun Ming is an institution that’s been delivering the goods to Parramatta locals for decades. As there are many southern Chinese restaurants with ridiculously long menus, it’s hard to check which dish is unique to Sun Ming but the specials scrawled on the wall are a good bet. 

145-149 Church St, Parramatta | 9689 2178

Circa Espresso, probably something

One of Parramatta’s best cafes, if not the best, but hard to include on lists like this because their menu changes with the season. As it takes in inspiration from so many places (Middle Eastern traditions and the modern Australian café scene particularly), the menu often includes unique dishes you wouldn’t find anywhere else. 

21 Wentworth St, Parramatta | Facebook | Instagram

Great Roots

Every Wednesday, Church Street’s Centenary Square transforms into Parramatta Farmers Markets, and in that marketplace is the best potato stall in Sydney. Compared to the incredible range and quality available at Keith Platt and Anthony Cremona’s stall, supermarket potatoes are like bricks of chalk. If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘what are you talking about? potatoes are potatoes’, imagine you’ve only eaten floury Gala apples and then one day you’re given a crisp, nectar-sweet Pink Lady. Apples are apples until the day you eat that, Pink Lady. Do you want the same experience with a potato?

Centenary Square, Parramatta, 181-191 Church St, Parramatta | 9806 5315 | Facebook

Open Wednesdays 7:30am - 2:30pm

Beatdisc Records

One of the last stalwarts of Sydney’s record stores, and one of the only remaining anywhere in Western Sydney. Unsurprising for a two-and-a-half-decade old record store, it has a cult following both locally and among rare-vinyl collectors all over Sydney – you might experience that yourself in the store listening to Pete Curnovic, the owner, or any of the customers chatting to each other. But not let that intimidate you, if you want to walk in and say something vague about what you’d like to listen to, or some personality traits of the birthday-holder you’re buying for Curnovic preach a no-judgement zone. Pre-COVID they also had gigs in there, like NPR’s tiny desks but with louder bands, look for their socials if you want a completely unique night out.

11/181 Church St, Parramatta | 9891 9330 | Facebook | Instagram

Homage Speciality Coffee

When it comes to pure coffee bean quality and barista experience, there are three Parramatta cafes that stand way ahead of the local market, Circa Espresso, Meraki Merchants and Homage Speciality Coffee. But this isn’t a list of great places to eat (you can find those here), Homage is included here for it’s range of beans and its coffee making equipment. On the shelves during our last visit, they stocked bags from some of Sydney’s best, most sustainability-forward roasters – Double Tap, Sample, Five Senses and Stitch) – as well as an assortment of do-it-at-home equipment to make the most out of the beans you’ve just bought.

1/71 - 73 George St, Parramatta | Facebook | Instagram

Desiworld Supermarket

Easily one of the best Indian supermarkets in the area and a good contender for the same category Sydney-wide. It wins extra marks for variety and the friendly staff. On the first point, Indian is an over simplification it’s also a Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi grocer. Even the Indian range is sourced from many states so no matter the style of Indian cooking you’re planning, they should have what you need. If you don’t have anything in mind and you’re mindlessly browsing 40 brands you’ve never heard of, ask the staff ‘hey, what’s your favourite brand of yoghurt, tamarind, spice or rice’ and you’ll get an honest answer. 

21-23 Cowper St, Parramatta | 8626 4800 | Facebook 

Aje Athletica 

Aje was born in 2008 with the idea that there was something missing between relaxed coastal attire and the more conservative inner-city looks. Athletica is the activewear line from the same brand, with the same idea – wear it to the beach (or a riverside picnic in this case) and then to your Pilates class afterwards. Any purchase here also comes with a pinch of social initiative as, unlike many of their competitors, Aje has much more rigorous commitments to sustainability.  

Shop 3075, Level 3, Westfield Parramatta, 159-175 Church St, Parramatta | 0439 443 425 | Facebook | Instagram

Mama’s Mart

Parramatta’s local Filipino grocer. Compared to Desiworld, Mama’s Mart (formerly Chowking Oriental Foodmart) is miniscule but what it lacks in range it makes up for in character and snack-availability. The fridges are often packed with Filipino stews, noodles and sweets made my local Filipino home cooks. The range of both cooked meals, packaged snacks and grocery goods can vary, check their FB for specifics on what you need. 

118 Church St, Parramatta| 0466 073 099 | Facebook 

Need to wine and dine a client, got a date that deserves more than a bar drink or a pub dinner, or a have special anniversary coming up? Fine dining isn’t the only option for grandness and spectacle. Parramatta has a banquet of unique bars and restaurants that offer up something a little out of the ordinary to make you and your +1 feel liked your worth the time and a few extra dollars. 

Mud crab and more at Temasek

Temasek is one Parramatta’s oldest and best restaurants. Like many great Chinese-Malaysian restaurants the menu has many gears, lunch time laksa and Hainan chicken rice is one, another is massive plates of Australian seafood: mud crab doused in Temasek’s famed black pepper or chilli recipes, Malaysian style butter almond king prawns, fish head curry, and whole fish wrapped in a banana leaf and roasted. 

71 George St, Parramatta | 9633 9926 | Facebook | Instagram

Champagne towers and whiskey flights at Nick and Noras

Have you ever drunk from a champagne tower? How would you feel if one was delivered to you now? Imagine it, rolling in on a trolley with an elegantly dressed waiter politely asking your name. Extravagant right? But instead of it being served at your work desk, it’s served in an elaborate and luxurious art-deco bar that also serves more than 600 whiskeys, cocktails that come with a side of theatre and literal cigars. 

Level 26/45 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 8646 4930 | Facebook | Instagram

Whole duck at Lilymu

It looks like a Cantonese roast duck – bronzed skin, juicy meat on the bone and a small pool of extremely rich sauce. From all of those must have duck requirements, the Lilymu duck fits the bill but so do a lot of roast ducks. Where Lilymu’s recipe differs is in the extra flavour brought on by the Thai aromatics infused during the prep of the duck, and the fact the duck is stuffed with Lao-style sausages. Add a few cocktails, maybe a pandan old fashioned, and you’ve got yourself a meal like no other in Sydney. 

Parramatta Square, 03/153 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 7809 4952 | Facebook | Instagram

Straight to dessert at Cicciabella

Like Maruice Terzini’s other venues (Iceberg’s and RE), Cicciabella is generally an excellent time (the traditional Italian fare made with quality local produce, the atmos and the drinks list will assure that), but few things will make a night feel more exceptional than waltzing into a venue and straight up ordering a tiramisu, a banoffee pie plus one Sicilian margarita and a mandarin americano. The waitstaff will know you’re there for a good time and so will you.

Parramatta Square, 01/153 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 8090 6979 | Facebook | Instagram

Tajima wagyu double hanger steak mbs 6+ at Ruse Bar & Brasserie

The most luxurious, marbled steak in Parramatta, and up there with some of the best in Sydney. The only item that eclipses the hanger in price is the next item on Ruse’s menu, a 5-score-marbled Rangers Valley tomahawk – both going for $150kg or more. Ruse isn’t any bog-standard steakhouse either. The Paul Kelly design and the service matches both the quality and the price of the steaks.

Parramatta Square, 04/12 Darcy St, Parramatta | 9169 0835 | Facebook | Instagram

The banquet menu at Bayti

Take four or more friends, tell them all to come hungry and get ready for one of the best Lebanese banquets in Sydney. The huge meal is set in a modern dining space under the SKYE Hotel and delivers 12-hour slow-roasted lamb shoulder, tahini spiced whole snapper, handmade pastries and a total of 12 starters including homemade flatbreads.

SKYE Suites, 45 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 9709 6588 | Facebook | Instagram

The setting at Lachlan’s Old Government House

A world heritage building housing a restaurant, tours, and high teas. It may not have the same culinary renown as the venues listed above but the vine-covered patio that looks out on the garden is a setting that isn’t replicated anywhere else in the area.  

Parramatta Park Corner Pitt St and Macquarie St, Parramatta | 9687 2662 | Facebook | Instagram

Want to know more about Sydney’s Indigenous origins? Parramatta is a great place to start. Our city has a rich Indigenous history that you can spend an entire day learning about alone or with friends and loved ones.

Parramatta is home to an array of educational centres, resources, and facilities dedicated to helping modern-day folks learn more about the area’s Indigenous origins. From Parramatta Park to the various archaeological sites to the Parramatta Heritage & Visitors Information Centre, there’s no shortage of enriching educational experienced to participate in.

Get started on your journey to learning about Aboriginal and Indigenous history in Parramatta today.

History Revealed in Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is the first place to start if you are looking to learn more about Indigenous history in Parramatta. It has a strong connection to the Burramatta people and is home to thriving native fauna and flora, which today are the same as they were before European settlement.

Parramatta Park houses many historically significant sites of relation to the indigenous community, including St John’s Cathedral. This site is where Governor Macquarie first hosted a gathering for local Aboriginal clans in 1814. The cathedral is still used today for an annual event.

Warami Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural Tour

The Warami Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural Tour is another reason to visit Parramatta Park. The guided tour takes you on a leisurely walk along the river in Parramatta Park. It is a great way to connect with an Aboriginal traditional custodian and learn more about the Darug people’s lifestyle and culture in Parramatta. You will learn about Aboriginal relationships with the land, hunting strategies, and how they used native plants.

Traditions Rediscovered at Parramatta Heritage & Visitors Information Centre

Parramatta Heritage & Visitors Information Centre provides you with a comprehensive introduction to Parramatta, recounting settlement traditions as well as indigenous culture and history. It has a wealth of resources to help you learn more about Indigenous history in Parramatta, from guided tours to educational webinars to school holiday programs.

The centre’s Council Archives holds thousands of historical records dating back to 1846, many concerning indigenous communities of different timelines. You can access maps, photographs, and film footage when exploring the archive and even dig through more detailed annual reports.

Parramatta Heritage & Visitors Information Centre also sports several cultural collections, containing over 100,000 culturally significant objects - mostly comprised of indigenous ceremonial gifts and artworks. You can view the artworks and crafts by contacting the centre and filling out a research enquiry form.

The Past Uncovered at Archaeological Sites

Archaeology is one of the best methods for uncovering the past and learning about the history of a culture or community. There are many confirmed and potential archaeological sites in Parramatta that have provided important evidence of indigenous Australia's history and growth.

Moreover, the City of Parramatta also has many heritage conservation areas which display parts of indigenous culture and history. There are 18 heritage conservation areas in Parramatta, most of which are located in Epping, Granville, Harris Park, Rosehill, and Sydney Olympic Park.

These sites help preserve the pattern of subdivision, building and landscaping style, and streetscapes of Parramatta’s past. Aboriginal heritage such as rivers, creeks, mountains, missions, and post-contact sites are also protected by the Parramatta Council. 

The Parramatta River in particular is rich in geological and palaeontological history, having developed flourishing life for hundreds of thousands of years. The ancestors of the Burramatagal people are known to have settled in Parramatta River. Learn more about the foundations of Parramatta River here.

History Relived at Baludarri Wetlands

The Baludarri Wetlands is another place to explore if you are looking to learn about Indigenous history in Parramatta. The wetlands were traditionally a resourceful place for the Darug people, filled with fish, medicinal plants, and shelter sites.

The wetlands were named after a young Burramatagal man, Baludarri, who was one of the first Indigenous Australians to initiate trade with early settlers. You can learn more about Baludarri here with our mini documentary.

Currently, an eye-catching Jamie Eastwood designed artwork displays proudly along the foreshore, depicting Parramatta’s history from an Aboriginal perspective. The Reconciliation Soundscape can also be heard near Lennox Bridge. Take a stroll through Baludarri Wetlands and acknowledge the traditional owners of this land.

Discover Parramatta’s Indigenous History

There are many ways you can learn about Indigenous history in Parramatta. From participating in a guided tour through Parramatta Park, to visiting heritage sites, to contacting the Parramatta Heritage & Visitors Information Centre, there are many resources available to you to learn about of the origins of the land. Get started at Parramatta today.

Image: Jodie Choolburra