The big backyard

Parramatta’s most loved outdoor space is sprawling Parramatta Park. Enjoy the loop track, explore historic buildings or amble through the Aboriginal Landscape Trail.

With delightful flower gardens, water play areas, three playgrounds - including the much-loved Domain Creek with trampolines, flying foxes and birds nest swing all shaded by gum trees, put it top of your to-do list.

Hands-on history

Early Colonial history is vividly brought to life at Elizabeth Farm, the 1793 estate of the MacArthur’s, Australia’s wool pioneers. With a relaxed policy throughout the homestead, kids can run wild in the self-contained gardens, touch the exhibits and get hands-on with farm chores; washing, baking damper and churning butter the old-fashioned way. For hungry tummies bring a picnic or head to the tearooms next-door.

Going bush

For a City wilderness, Lake Parramatta Reserve has beautiful bushland teeming with native species. Hike one of the three bush-walking trails, bring bikes for an off-road adventure and be sure to check out the dam.

In summer the lake is patrolled by lifeguards and a swimmers delight, also popular with for-hire stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and paddle boats. Bring a picnic, spark up a BBQ or grab a cheeky snack at the café.

Water play

The city is bursting with fantastic outdoor spaces to run, play and relax in. But at James Ruse Reserve not only can the kids try out the gnarly skate bowl but in summer, beat the heat with the City’s largest water play area.

With water jets, fountains, tunnels and tipping buckets, a non-slip surface and plenty of shade why not bring a picnic, fire up the BBQ or order a takeaway from Harris Park or Eat Street?

Step back in time

Re-imagine early settlement with a visit to Old Government House, the convict-built home of Australia’s first Governors. Explore the rooms and discover how the Burramattagal people, the traditional owners of the land played a part in its construction. And when the history gets too much, head outside to Parramatta Park and run wild!

Paddle, float and swim

Want to cool off or just burn off some steam? Check out the great local swimming facilities at Epping Aquatic Centre and Macarthur Girls High School Pool, or head over to Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. With lap pools and additional shaded toddler pools, there are plenty of reasons to splash around. Or if you want to experience swimming in the great outdoors, why not plan your next day out at Lake Parramatta.

Jump on a Bike

Bike lovers big, medium and small are warmly welcomed in Parramatta. Follow the easy loop trail around Parramatta Park or for those with energy in spades continue on the 7km River Cycleway to Sydney Olympic Park.

Float down the river

Make the journey part of the fun by taking a RiverCat to Parramatta from Sydney Circular Quay (Wharf Number 5).

The Inner route goes via Cockatoo Island and the outer via Sydney Olympic Park, both of which make great stopovers or day trips.

End to end it’s a seventy-minute ride; tell the kids that originally it was a week’s journey and today there are plenty of bridges, buildings and stops along the way to keep everyone entertained.

Visit the Transport NSW website for more information.

River runs

The local Darug people lived along the banks of the Parramatta River for thousands of years before Europeans floated down from Old Sydney Town.

Today Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture is still an integral part of life in the city and families love to explore the Riverside walkway.

Discover the bold and colourful footpath paintings that artist Jamie Eastwood has created to re-tell the story of local Aboriginal history across time.

The Foreshore Park and its “wheeee” slide is a must-do to burn off steam and at the Barry Wilde Bridge Fountain see who can get wet!

Festival a go-go

For entertainment, food and culture in one hit the city has a bunch of family-friendly events and festivals each season.

Lunar New Year is a vibrant celebration of Asian culture, Prince Alfred Square becomes a winter wonderland for Winterlight, for funfair rides, groovy tunes and market stalls there’s Spot on Festival, Burramatta Day at our First Nations WARAMI festival offers up lots of fun and summer highlights include Sydney Festival, Australia Day Fireworks and much more. 

Escape to Parramatta Park 

Perfect for a lunch break walk to escape the humdrum of the 9-5, Parramatta Park is a 10-minute walk from the CBD. Take a break from sitting at your desk all day and walk down to the park to stretch your legs, hear the breeze in the trees and the sun on your face.

You can access the park via the George Street or Macquarie Street gatehouse and take the walking track loop for as long as the office can spare you. The entire park loop goes for 3km and is fairly flat, with only moderate inclines, but you can take a shorter loop if you prefer. 

On your way back to the office you can pick up lunch from Georgie Boy near the George Street gatehouse entrance or Gatehouse Tea Rooms, near the Macquarie Street gatehouse. Parramatta is the people's park and is there to help you disconnect from the frantic pace of city life and reconnect with nature. 

Lake Circuit Walk – Lake Parramatta

This is a 4.3km circuit loop through 75ha of lush remnant bushland that circles the 11ha man-made lake.

A mix of wildflowers, shrubs, trees and grasses of the Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest offer a truly glorious experience, where hollows in the trees make homes for Sugar Gliders and the root buttresses cater for the Echidnas.

This place was declared a Fauna Sanctuary in 1960 and since then major regeneration projects have brought the bushland back to life and improved the water quality, making Lake Parramatta lovely for a dip if you’re having a crack at this one in the warmer months.

Keep in mind this trail is completely impassable in wet weather, and on a fine day will take around 1hr and 55 minutes to loop. 

Waterfall Walk at Hunts Creek Reserve

The Waterfall Walk passes along Hunts Creek Reserve from Parkland Road, Carlingford to Statham Avenue, Carlingford.

Following 3.4km of uneven earth path, you'll climb rock and wooden stairs to pass over Hunts Creek Waterfall, also known as Balaka Falls. The walk takes just under 2 hours return to walk and has a range of plant and animal life to look out for. 

Hunts Creek may be between four Darug tribal areas, the Burramattagal, Bidjigal, Terramerragal and Wallumattagal. It was also described as the cleanest waters of the area by the early European settlers who used the water for making illegal peach cider. 

Settlers Walk – Toongabbie to Northmead

This 3km walk takes roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes return, beginning near Toongabbie station and continues to Oakes Road Winston Hills where it joins the Pemulwuy Loop.

Forming the most Western Section of the greater Toongabbie Creek Walk, the trail takes you through the Cumberland River Flat Forest where the huge majestic red river gums are home to a variety of native birds, possums and bees.

This walk is on the traditional land of the Darug Tooga tribe and passes through the Third Settlement of Australia which began as a military and convict barracks built of mud and slab wood huts. A great choice for a spot of history with your steps.

Water Dragon Way – Winston Hills, Quarry Branch Creek

Traversing through a series of gorgeous remnant bushland reserves, Water Dragon Way runs between Moxhams Road, Northmead and Goodin Road, Winston Hills, along the eastern side of Quarry Branch Creek.

This 2.3km, 1 hour and 40-minute return track is a consistent incline when walking south to north so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Standout bushland features Smooth-barked Apple and Blackbutt trees, with Moxham Reserve home to several endangered species of plants, bats and birds.

Keep your eyes peeled for a number of historic convict quarries along the way, as well as the natural wetlands.

Pemulwuy Loop – Northmead, Winston Hills and Old Toongabbie

Offering incredible insight into the natural diversity that still exists in the gullies and reserves around the area, the Pemulwuy Loop is named after a Darug First Australian man who led the resistance against the Europeans spreading west from Sydney Cove.

The richness of the history of this trail is matched only by the beauty of the Sydney Blue Gums which dominate the more fertile gully.

Traveling from Moxham Road in Northmead to Edison Avenue, Winston Hills, this trail skirts the south bank to Hammers Road, Northmead, then back up the east bank of Quarry Branch Creek to Moxham Road.

This walk will take just under two and a half hours return, and is 5.4km long. The track surface is natural earth as well as rock and wooden stairs, so this walk is not particularly well-suited to wetter days. 

Swim in the Lake

With the lake open for swimming from October each year, the summer season is the time to shake winter off and reserve a spot by the water.

Fully patrolled by lifeguards, the designated swimming area is safe for children to splash and paddle and big enough for adults to get some laps in.

For those more interested in a leisurely lounge around the water, BYO floatation device and lounge on the water to your heart’s content.

People wishing to swim at Lake Parramatta are recommended to do so in the designated swimming area when it is supervised by lifeguards.

Before swimming, it’s important to recognise the risks, check water conditions and understand your own swimming abilities. It is also recommended that people never swim alone.

Visit Swimming at Lake Parramatta for more advice.

Hire a boat

Whether you’re an experienced kayaker, or perhaps are looking to woo a date with a romantic daytime paddle in a row boat, there are plenty of options for hitting the waterways at Lake Parramatta Reserve.

Hire your choice of boat from Parramatta Rowboats with kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, stand up paddle boards and row boats on offer. All levels of ability are welcome to enjoy a few hours on the water.

For hire fees and details of hire, visit Parramatta Rowboats.

Bushwalk around the tracks

Take a stroll around one of four walking tracks that join to make the Lake Circuit in the reserve. The HERITAGE PATH Grade 1: 300m one way Follow the surfaced wheelchair assisted accessible path around from the visitor hub to the Dam Wall Lookout. Short steeper ‘wheelchair assistance required’ sections occur. The ARRUNGA BARDO WALK Grade 2: 900m one way Starting from the Arrunga Bardo Garden follow the evenly surfaced bushtrack past Lake Parramatta’s finest views to the Arrunga Bardo (Calm Waters) Lookout. The RESERVOIR TRACK Grade 3: 600m one way Steep steps, a creek crossing and rocky track surfaces make this a grade 3 outing to a fine viewpoint. The UPPER LAKE TRACK Grade 3: 2100m one way Connects Reservoir Lookout with Arrunga Bardo (Still Waters) Lookout via the top of the lake and the LAKE CIRCUIT Grade 3: 4200m loop / 2 hrs Link the Heritage Path, Arrunga Bardo, Reservoir Track and Upper Lake Track together for a memorable lap of the lake.

Enjoy a picnic, BBQ and the playgrounds

Pull up a patch of grass or choose a rock overlooking the water, bring a book and a basket and spread out for the day.

If a sunny Aussie BBQ in the bush is your idea of a perfect day, get there early to reserve a BBQ and claim your space.

If picnics or BBQ’s aren’t your style, stop for a coffee and one of the many decadent treats on offer at Lake Parramatta café.

Explore Australian History

A significant place for the traditional owners of the land the Darug people, evidence still remains of the regular usage of and occupation by the Aboriginal Burramattagal clan within Lake Parramatta Reserve and Hunts Creek.

Look out for shelter caves, hand-stencils, stone flaking, tree scars and midden deposits as you wander around the site.

The local Aboriginal community and City of Parramatta Council have in recent years established a Bushfoods Garden and Walk to show these remarkable items to visitors so find out how you can be a part of one of these here, or join one of the tours run through the Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre.

Top cycling tracks in Parramatta

Within the Parramatta area, there are many great places to enjoy time on a bike. The top three most popular would undoubtedly be the Parramatta Valley Cycleway, Parramatta Park, and Sydney Olympic Park.

Parramatta Park with great riding and heritage

The Parramatta Valley Cycleway leads to the very popular cycling destination of Parramatta Park which is full of heritage items and natural highlights. 

The 3.2 km loop cycle lane and shared paths are suitable for cyclists of all levels. The loop follows the road around the park with a dedicated cycling lane between the pedestrian and vehicle lane.

The road is undulating which makes it a great place for road bike riders to pace it out, but also great for more leisurely riders who want to take in the sites.

The Park has a rich history and the humble bicycle is a great way to explore it. First gazetted as a ‘People’s Park’ in 1858, it has a rich Aboriginal history playing a vital role in the lives of the Darug people, the traditional custodians.

Parramatta (known as Burramatta) is one of the earliest sites of ancient Aboriginal occupation in Sydney, dating back 39,000 years.

Historic sites to take in on a leisurely bike ride include Old Government House and the Dairy Cottage, as well as the Boer War Memorial, The Crescent, and the Parramatta River. 

For less-experienced riders and kids, there’s a 600 metre path on Long Avenue that is separated from the internal road and only accessible by authorised vehicles.

Sydney Olympic Park – the home of the Olympic Games

One of the many legacies of the Sydney Olympic Games 20 years ago is the 35 kilometres of cycleways for bike riding within Sydney Olympic Park which are ideal for cyclists of all skill levels.

The Park Authority has mapped out several circuits that are suitable for different levels of rider. Most are close to other facilities such as playgrounds, picnic areas, drinking stations and toilets.

The circuits take in Olympic Games venues, bird habitat, heritage areas like Newington Armory, lakes, and great views.

Sydney Olympic Park has plenty of cafes and restaurants to make a quick stop for a coffee or even a meal.

The roads within Sydney Olympic Park also have many on-road cycle lanes for those who prefer to ride on the road, with a number of well-used, relatively flat circuits.

Other places to ride

As well as the top three there are a range of other bike paths and on-road cycle lanes, plus plenty of quiet streets.

T-Way Cycleway

An almost completely off-road cycleway that travels alongside the T-way bus route and Old Windsor Road, this bike path heads northwest through Constitution Hill, Old Toongabbie, Seven Hill and Norwest all the way to Windsor. For riders keen for a longer and peaceful day out, this might be the path for you. 

Cycling map

The City of Parramatta Council has produced a cycling map that you can collect from the Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre or local bike shops. You can also download a copy here. 

Parramatta Heritage Rides

On the map, you’ll find the Parramatta Heritage ride which is a great way to learn about Parramatta’s amazing history. And if you don’t want to navigate your own way you can join a group ride with Parramatta Heritage Rides, a group that runs regular bike tours. The Parramatta Heritage Ride offers a great opportunity to explore stories of years past by bicycle. 

One of the most popular routes starts at the Macquarie Street Gatehouse, passes by the Dairy Precinct, Jail and Old Government House before finishing back at Centenary Square and Town Hall.

Who else can help?

There are several bikes shops in the Parramatta area including several in the CBD. They sell and service bikes and can also provide advice about great places to ride in the area.

Based in the Parramatta CBD is an organisation called Addventageous that provides affordable and accessible cycling programs and services to lots of different types of riders. Founder Charlene Bordley and her team run regular rides, teach people to ride, and even has a bike repair workshop onsite.

For the more serious road cyclists, several cycling clubs operate in the area including Parramatta Cycling Club and Lidcombe-Auburn Cycle Club.

Check out Women Who Cycle, a blog dedicated to getting more women into cycling.