My favorite activity for my first week in Sydney. I can see from this trail how people can become…read moreenamored with the city. Easy access From Bondi Junction, a 20 minute bus ride depending on where you want to start. I walked 90% of the trail because i wanted shorter Bus route. FYI, the bus is within the building of Bondi Junction above the train station not street side. Reminds me of some of the cliffs along the beaches of California. Some tips. Bring swimming trunk, lotion, sun protection, and water bottle. There are refill stations along the way and bathrooms. Not much shade even on this cloudy day. Multiple beaches along the route where you can take a dip. Restaurants are also accessible, but I prefer a picnic lunch so you can enjoy the views with the plenty benches and the beaches. Some have some shady seating options. I went on a weekday so I'm guessing on weekends more crowds. The beaches often have showers and restrooms.

An amazing, 4 mile walk! Truly breathtaking in all the ways possible. From the beautiful,…read morepicturesque spots, to the graveyard and most perfect blue water I've ever seen, this walk was worth every minute, every mile and every step. One of the most memorable, special moments of my time in Sydney. Pictures don't do it justice, but the memories will last a lifetime. Stop along the way at clovelly beach, dolphin look out, and take in natures finest when you finally make it to the Bondi icebergs!

Pass through famous Cronulla and head north on a road that appears first to take you to an…read moreindustrial estate then a wasteland, and you come to Kurnell, a surprising little beach side suburb on the southern edge of Botany Bay. Kurnell is at the entrance to Kamay Botany Bay National Park, a park that pays tribute to the headland's extraordinary history and natural beauty. It is the site of the first contact between Aborigines and European explorers - Captain James Cook landed there in 1770, with his colleagues naturalist Joseph Banks and botanist Daniel Solander (hence Botanist Bay, which is now Botany Bay). There are monuments to several of the early European explorers, as well as exhibits that explain the location's historical Aboriginal significance and the impact European settlement has had on it. Walking tracks from a central Visitors Centre head around a loop taking in the various monuments, and towards the ocean coast where the sea pounds the limestone cliffs incessantly. Views are spectacular, especially on a sunny day when you can truly appreciate the beauty of the endless Australian sky. In season, Cape Solander is a popular whale-watching spot, and you can also choose to trek all the way along the coast back to Cronulla (around three hours). At the Visitors Centre there is a small museum, and education centre used by local schools, a gift shop and a kiosk selling coffee, drinks and snacks. Toilets are available and there is no shortage of excellent potential picnic sites.

Nice park, and manageable by walking. It seems a little too geared for cars to me, though, with…read moreroads going right through the middle of it. And if you're on the wrong side it's hard to ignore the refineries, desalination plants, and airport takeoffs. But on the right side there are paths through the bush, dramatic cliffs, and whale-watching from the shore. Cooks' landing place also has a memorial.

We took a walk down to this pretty park from our nearby apartment. It's got a bit of everything -…read morewalking/running paths, great water views, tennis courts, play equipment for the kids and more! We walked along the bay for a bit, and stopped at the marina for a drink. There are signs warning you that sharks have been spotted in the bay, so not a place for a refreshing dip. But if you have a boat, it sure seems like a nice place to dock it. For a place so close to the CBD, it was quiet and felt like smiles away from the noise of the city.

Rushcutters Bay Park has a few hidden gems (ok maybe not that hidden) that are great if you are…read moreactive or not. The monkey bars at the south end are actually a great area to do a workout. Watch out for peak hour - right after work - sometimes there are groups of people being coached in that area so you might need to wait for specific stations. There are tennis courts at the south west side of the park - book them online but if you try for early evening there are some people that have standard bookings each week. Later at night is good since they have a great lighting system. Even better is during the day with fewer people around. There is a cafe here that is decent for a coffee but there are so many other coffee shops nearby that you may want to walk a bit. At the Cruising Yacht Club there is a restaurant as well. Fantastic outdoor deck seating and fish and chips are ok. Of course nice cold beer is available as well. You can get reservations and some weekends are very busy. Never tried the indoor seating (why would you when you are by the harbour?). The whole park is dog friendly so be prepared for some visitors if you are having a picnic. Some dogs running 'free-range' but never had a problem. Just make some new friends.

Although at the time I didn't know the name of this place, I had discovered it while driving around…read morelooking for locations to do some photography. And yes, it's a great place for taking pictures, try the sunset for pictures of the harbour panorama. Or, if you're the more professional type, and have some clients or models, try this location for some beautifully backlit head shots and group photographs After a while it was no longer a place I'd go to do photography, but to take girls I'd met, it's the perfect view, quiet and intimate and relaxed. Take a bottle of wine, a blanket, and maybe some cheese if you're getting hungry, it's incredibly romantic sitting on the grass, and soaking up the views. If you're getting to 'hot' there, cool off in the beach besides the park, it's also very secluded enough for some skinny dipping. It's always open, and a great venue for families during the day, and couples during the night.

The Green Point Reserve is amongst Sydney's most precious green spaces, primarily because it offers…read moreviews of the entrance of the Harbor at Watson's Bay. I'm proud to say that this reserve was the first opportunity I had to witness panoramic views of the city and it's natural splendor. You can see the entire skyline from here. Moreover, it is the best place to photograph The Gap, which is the massive ocean cliff that drops straight into the Tasman Sea. Around the reserve you can find some eucalyptus forest and other native fauna (the only thing better would be if wild koalas were hanging from the trees!). Ultimately, I think that it is best served as a place for picnics, as it is quiet and covered in lush grass. The only draw is that it is very hard to find some shade since most of the area open. Regardless, only requirement is that you bring your camera and walk down to the South Head area for spectacular photo ops. It's open 24/7, but I'm sure sunset is the best time to come.

What a fabulous green space. Sydney is full of wonderful areas to sit or take a walk and just enjoy…read morenature. This being the largest park and smack in the middle of the city, it is quite impressive. Large mature trees, walkways, seating areas, multiple fountains, memorials, an art gallery and even a museum. My favorite part was the huge chess game and the watching the folks playing getting into heated discussions as bystanders were taking sides of the two players and loudly voiced their continued advice. What a fabulous addition to the city. The only problem are the birds as seems to be the case all over Sydney. Mostly the Ibis, which seem to be also called bin chickens. They are everywhere, quite aggressive and therefor not so well liked.

Hyde Park is absolutely lovely! It's home to such a bunch of grand trees like I've never seen…read morebefore! It's obvious by the lushness of this park that it's well taken care of and a national treasure. It's easily accessible by foot and the Museum station. It's close to all kinds of attractions and has amazing city views from all angles. I definitely recommend visiting it and maybe sitting to have lunch if possible. If you're into chess, there's a human sized chessboard.

Bicentennial Park is a heritage site, opened in 1980's to celebrate Australia's bicentenary in…read more1988. Things to do - Walk, run or Cycle along the pathway - Feed the ducks and fishes - Hire a Bike - Enjoy a picnic on the grass - Barbecue or just grill corn - Ponder at the Sundial structure - Exercise on the bars and rails - View the surroundings from the Treillage Tower - Bird watch with or without binoculars - Seek solitude at the Hedge - Visit the wetlands - Sip coffee at Lillies Cafe If you want to get away from the city without leaving the inner suburbs head to bicentennial parklands. Avoid the weekends, if you're looking for peace and quiet time.

Great spot for picnic, barbecue, bike ride, or gently walking around. There is a kids play area,…read morelots of bike tracks (and a bike hire facility). Lots of different areas of vegetation to explore. There's a few ponds, the river and also an area with fountains. Parking can be quite difficult on the weekends though

If Lara Bingle was a beach, she'd be Camp Cove…read more Of course, we're talking the fresh-faced, brown-skinned, salt-tinged Lara Bingle of yesteryear though, before she got commercial and dated cricketers with dicky backs and Hollywood, ahem, stars. Back then Lara was young and happy and carefree. She didn't have any big problems like a crappy reality show, she was blissful and sun-kissed and fun to hang out with, she had no pretentions and was small but really gorgeous and she had some great rockwalks and a little kiosk at one end. And sure, parking was tough but it was always worth it. I LOVE YOU LARA BINGLE. YOU ARE THE TASTE OF SUMMER.

Bon, je l'avoue, je suis très difficile en matière de plage... Je n'aime pas quand c'est trop…read moretouristique (coucou Bondi), j'aime bien quand le sable est pas trop cracra, et plus l'eau est transparente, mieux je me porte (reloue, vous avez dit reloue ?). C'est pourquoi maintenant que j'ai trouvé Camp Cove, je compte en faire ma plage number one. Située à Watsons Bay (j'habite Vaucluse, c'est donc assez prêt de la maison, en plus !), quartier que j'adore-mon-dieu-donne-moi-une-maison-la-bas, Camp Cove est une plage assez bien cachée. A ne pas confondre avec l'étendue de sable au port de Watsons Bay, Camp Cove se situe à 10 minutes max du port. Et si vous vous aventurez dans les environs du parc national juste à côté, vous aurez une vue magnifique de la skyline de Sydney. Amateurs de surf s'abstenir, ici il n'y a pas de vagues. Amateurs de natation, cet endroit est fait pour vous. ------------------------------------ I've something to tell you, I'm pretty tricky about beaches... I don't like when there is too many tourists (yes, I'm French, so a little bit a tourist, but I avoid Bondi as much as I can), I love when the sand is clear and when the water isn't too dirty (This is me, helllloooo). That's why, when I discovered Camp Cove, which is pretty closed to my house, I can tell you it's my beach number one ! I really love Watsons Bay, the warf, Beach Club, the view, and now I can add Camp Cove, which is pretty well hidden. You have to walk like 10 minutes from the warf, and just enjoy this amazing place ! You can also have a walk closed to the beach in the National Park and have a wonderful view to Sydney's skyline ;) Surfers, sorry, this place is too calm for you ! Swimmers, what are you waiting to go there ?

Yesterweek, in the intense autumnal sun* I walked along the Parramatta riverbank. I was not…read moreunaccompanied. Sunday morning joggers, dog-walkers, touristy hikers passed me by while less active nappers stretched out on the grass. But my Riverside Walk was also accompanied by something else: a colonial soundscape. Before setting out on my self-guided tour of four historically-evocative artwork installations on the river foreshore, I downloaded the FREE podcast "Life Along the Riverbank" via iTunes, which includes four audio tracks and a full colour brochure of the tour. The idea is that the artworks, the text incorporated into these visual works, and the audio conjure up the colonial world of the early 1800s. You get to hear real stories of real everyday people; cons, free men and women, children, aboriginal people of the region - the Burramatta - and soldiers, while you stand in the very spots where their histories unfolded and became entangled forever. The audio tracks are great; the voiceovers capture the accents authentic to the period and the quotations have been pulled directly from primary sources. Some choice sound effects also transport you to a time when Parramatta was a brutal military garrison town. The artworks and soundscape aim to reveal "stories of hardship, love, loss, survival, order and punishment" and in that they certainly succeed! The tour itself is very short in terms of walking distance; beginning just behind the Parramatta Wharf where the Rivercat comes in and ending at the Gasworks Bridge. The audio tracks are also not overly long. I still managed to draw the whole tour out to a couple of hours, however, as I photographed every inch of the spaces at every conceivable angle and, if I'm honest, had a little difficulty finding Stop 2 and Stop 4...but I'll say more on that later. You could do the whole tour much quicker than I did. In fact, the total audio time is approximately 10 minutes. Stop 1 "STORYWALLS" harmonise nicely with the natural landscape as they look like brown hills beneath a beautiful old shady tree. Each "hill" contains text; details of notables who lived in Parramatta; an Aboriginal missionary, a female teacher, convicts (including poor Ann Mash who was sentenced to seven years for stealing a bushel of wheat!), and the painted, spear-weilding Baluderri who "came to Governor Phillip's hut in a violent rage" threatening to kill the white men who had broken his canoe." These people are made more real to you as you listen to the podcast. Stop 2 "THE BACKYARD OF HARRISFORD" was a bit hard to find! I also recommend you actually walk up the path and follow it right past the new apartment blocks there to look at the front of HARRISFORD, which was the original school for colonial children and went on to become the first King's School. Conservation work is currently underway, but there is plenty to see even from the outside. Listen to the podcast to hear the tales of students who used to play there. Stop 3 "SENTRY BOX" - you can't miss this one. A bright red and white striped artistic re-interpretation of a colonial military Sentry Box that once stood here in the 1790s. It is rather gothic-looking with the shovels and pitchforks etc that stick out the top. Inside the Sentry Box are more primary source quotes, which you can listen to on the podcast. Stop 4 "WINDMILL SHADOW" - I walked right over this one just in front of the Gasworks Bridge initially as this artwork is subtle compared to the nearby Sentry Box. It is comprised of charcoal tiles against the otherwise white cement pavement. The charcoal lines represent approximately where the shadow of Howell's mill would have fallen if it were still standing. The audio track for this one was my favourite. A 48-second folk song about Howell's Mill sung in that really open-throated colonial way that you'd normally associate with sea shanties including songs like "Botany Bay." I confess to playing that track a few times before moving on! It utterly transported me to a time when the colonists relied heavily on windmills for the power that would help them survive an incredible unforgiving environment. It's so peaceful here now, but the self-guided tour podcast and these artworks go a long way towards helping you imagine a time when it was anything but. The artworks and the podcast are all part of Parramatta City Council's "Parramatta Stories Project" and were created by historian Michael Flynn and artists Susan Milne and Greg Stonehouse. It's great that Parramatta Council has made such an effort to preserve the incredible historical heritage of Parramatta. *Review was originally written and posted 29 March 2014.

When you get off the Rivercat at Parramatta wharf, you're right at the end of the navigable part of…read morethe river. There's a little weir, with a walkway over the top, and beyond that, parks and walkways along the foreshore. When I arrived on a bright, sunny day, there was a guy fishing over the weir, officeworkers inhaling lunch under the trees and others power-walking, trying ever so hard not to puff. As I sat on the plentiful grass, a kookaburra chased off some somnolent looking pigeons and then flew off over the waterlilies. Never having visited the river here before, I was amazed to see so much green space so near the city centre of Parramatta, and greatly enjoyed my walk up to the Heritage Centre, just over Lennox Bridge. Along much of the way, you can enjoy the 'Riverside Walk' artpiece by Aboriginal artist Jamie Eastwood. It visually represents the history of the area from an Aboriginal point of view. There's little plaques giving a historical backing to the visuals, and would make a great way to educate the kids. This area's been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, and it's quite a legacy to think about as you take each step. The ancient history of this country and its people may not be as visible as the Pyramids or Stonehenge, but it's here, under our feet. It just takes a bit more imaginative effort and interest on our part to conjure up. It's only a ten minute walk or so up to the Heritage centre (and a stop on the free bus loop) and beats pounding the asphalt no end.