Dogs! Yes: dogs!…read more Every afternoon around 5pm Willoughby's dog owners converge on the park for a no-leash, multi-pawed, meaty-tongued extravaganza, a mad panting carnival full of black gums, wild eyes and reckless, relentless bum sniffing. This is humanity at its finest: dog owners are an honest, convivial bunch, and they give great chat. This review could also have read: This is the leafy green heart and soul of suburban Willoughby, a three-tiered recreational park enclosed by tall gum trees wreathed with kookaburras and magpies, encircled by winding walkways and dotted with kids playgrounds. It didn't though. I own a (fat) pug, so the dog angle was far more appealing.

This really is a great park. Full of happy children in the playground!…read more Most of the park is lovely and well maintained. But unfortunately the playground isn't. The large slide has worn and has been repaired with silicon which has begun to peel out, then someone has put duct tape over the top which obviously didn't work. There is also a large hole in the tunnel which presents a tripping hazard. Outside the fenced in area there is a merry-go-round which is at ground level so close supervision is required for young children to ensure they don't accidentally wander onto it. Despite some maintenance issues it is a great park with lots of inclusions and well thought out with equipment to aid in development, both physical and sensory.

Tempe park is a wonderful place for kids to go to on a warm , sunny day . It has something for all…read moreages. The playing equipment is very interesting and most kids are seen enjoying. To add to all the attraction is the flying fox. From an elevated wooden plank about 1.5 meters tall, kids sit on a disk attached to an overhead cable. They're never more than about one metre off the ground as they fly forward around 25 meters and rebound back. There is always a queue of kids for this. As the park is located adjacent to the airport - it's a joy to watch all the kids get excited about the planes taking off and scream with pleasure. There is a huge barbeque area and also a bike path. I really like going to this park - oh yes I forgot to mention the ice-cream man who adds to all the fun.

I love taking my kids to this park. Locally situated in North Parramatta, it has undercover tables,…read morea park with swings/slides and lookouts, plenty of tree cover and open space and a bubbler for when you get thirsty. For the sports minded people, there is a half court basketball court and a half court netball court.

This little park caught my notice as I got off the train at Beecroft. While small, you have to…read morethink that it is designed for small people, so it is really not a huge issue. It has all the swings and climbing gyms required to remove the excess energy from little bundles of joy, and a couple of seats for parents to gather their energy. Most important about this little park is its close proximity to good (and child friendly) cafes. Check out Chickens & Fishheads for a great cup of coffee or tea ( http://frid.co/nuaVb0 ).

This place is massive. By massive I mean 55 hectares. There is so much stuff here it is worth…read morechecking out their brochure/map (pdf) http://frid.co/qFdcqE I have only been here a few times, and that was for the Hornsby Bushland Shire Festival which is on once a year around September. It is always a crowd pleaser. Heaps of food stalls, arts and craft, and shows for the kids makes the day pass pretty quick. This year my boys enjoyed the Sponge Bob Square Pants show the best. While the $5 entrance fee (per car) on the day of the festival is a donation, I believe on any other day the park entrance will still cost you $5. Though for a picnic area this huge, with ponds and bridges, play areas and sand pits, gardens and paths... you will not lack for things to check out. It even has BBQ facilities. You might even want to bring along the push bikes for the kids and let them ride around. Certainly worth checking out if you are in the area.

A top location to take the family for a BBQ, picnic or just a stroll with the kids. There are a few…read moreparks scattered across this large well maintained park and also some nice lakes to feed the ducks. For those in need of a coffee there is also the opportunity to grab one at the cafe near the main park!

An adorable park in The Ponds area. The park has plenty of equipment for the little ones, nice…read moregrassy area to run around and play and a little dock area to spend time with the ducks. The park it's self could do with more shelter and seating area for parents. There's plenty of street parking in the morning however this fills up during the day

While this park is primarily a cricket ground, it is a stunning space perfect for the kids to burn…read moreoff a bit of energy. The best part is off to the side it also has everything you need to have a picnic or bbq. With onsite picnic facilities, including undercover tables, as well as an electric bbq, this is a great venue. My boys of course love the playground. It is much the same as many of the new areas with the primary coloured climbing gyms, but hey... no need to fix what ain't broke. So next time you see a bit of blue sky, drag the kids out and get them to run laps or something... :-)

Stop running in the middle of the city on crowded sidewalks and dangerous roads! Make your way to…read moreJackson's Landing, where the Foreshore promenade, found along the Pyrmont Point Park (say that three times fast!), makes for a relaxing and scenic jog, stroll, or sprinting session. Interestingly, the promenade actually reflects the natural shoreline. I've seen people do yoga and boot camp on the freshly mowed grass as well. Facing Balmain, this innovative waterfront park is beautifully designed and landscaped. The park, including the children's playground, was constructed with recycled and sustainable material. While in the park, you can catch glimpses of the area's industrial history. Huge rusted artifacts are reminiscent of the maritime industry and the Colonial Sugar Refinery that once stood here. Beautiful apartment complexes made of sandstone surround the park, as well as a few cafes and restaurants. The best time of day to come here is around sunset, where panoramic views of the city (from the Anzac to the Harbor Bridge) and the water are lit with an orange glow. I've also heard that jazz festivals take place here during the year.

This park is great for having BBQs because its a little easier to get access to a BBQ stove (as…read moreopposed to the beaches) - and because there is a supermarket and well stocked bottle shop nearby you can easily get supplies for the BBQ. There is also plenty of space for other activities as well as as a very nice view of Sydney Harbour from here. I think this is one of the few harbourside parks which have BBQ cooktops.