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!

Lets be real there is nothing to do then go on the playground for maybe 5 year olds or play…read morefootball on the oval. not much too do theres a dancehall near the road kids like to come here and i guess it leads over to this pond well not leads but like in the vicinity and behind the hall there is a campfire. Pretty nice spot but there isnt much to do

Hey, promise me something ok? As soon as you read this review please forget you ever read it and go…read moreback to happily splashing around at Balmoral or Manly or any of the fine Sydney beaches in the East and South. Because me and the 12 locals that frequent this beach on even the most perfect beach day don't want you here crowding up this pristine strip of sand. I like finding a free park no matter what time I arrive, I like not lining up for the shower and I like toilet paper in my public convenience dammit. Did I mention there are no shops nearby? You have to walk a whole block and a half to buy some great coffee and food. Pretty inconvenient right? Also if you live in the Northern Suburbs it's actually as quick to get here cutting through Mona Vale road as it is to get to any other beach in Sydney. Wait, forget I said that.

Great beach, if there is swell, some part of Narrabeen will catch it. Wit hsize and the right swell…read moredirection the waves get very hollow and you have a very good chance of snapping your board. you have been warned. If you don't live in Narrabeen DON'T bother paddling out at North Narrabeen. You won't be welcome. It's not as good as everyone says and there simply aren't enough waves to go around, it's already over crowded.

Beaches. Beaches everywhere!…read more Quite frankly, I tend to go to Dee Why beach the most because of the wide variety of food there (my life is literally revolves around food #sorrynotsorry haha) but if you walk a little further down, this is where you'll find Long Reef Beach. This little beauty is also another popular place amongst families during the weekends. It's particularly nice because it tends to not be as packed as the others. However on hot sunny days parking will be hard to find! If you're game, I'd suggest walking from Dee Why beach down to Long Reef and then back before or after dinner. Not only are you burning calories, but you can also take in the beautiful scenery and that amazing feeling of sand between your toes. Win-win in my books!

I was driving down Pittwater Rd in search of the perfect little cafe to have breaky at (ended up…read morebeing Curly's On The Corner http://frid.co/nYr7vT )but could not find anything that suited. Getting hungry and needing a bit of clarity, I spotted the sign for the beach and went for it. What I found was an awesome little surf club and a brilliant beach. Taking my opportunity to stretch my legs I got rid on my shoes and soaked in a bit of sun while feeling the warm, soft sand. Having been to my share of beaches overseas, when you have a blue sky day in Sydney, and you are on the beach (especially on that is not over crowded), there is not much better. As for this club, they have done a great job in providing the essentials for an awesome weekend. There is a the BBQ, covered benches and a little kiosk. So with plenty of parking available, and a great beach just waiting for you, what are you waiting for....? :-)

This little park tucked away in Castle Hill one is fantastic as the paths are long and in a big…read morecircle so, all going to plan, they kids come back to you! There's even a tennis court to potter around on, under cover picnic tables and playground equipment. Love our afternoon here.

We parked on Stone Parade near Davidson Park for what would be a 3km return on an evenly-surfaced…read moretrack through beautiful NSW bushland. A perfect spring morning, saw us, tramping through the Eucalypts and hopping over creeks on our way to 'The Cascades' - large rock platforms over which 2 creeks meet. Armed with a long stick, our son had a great time exploring the rock pools and the creeks whilst we picnicked and looked on. Happy with our play, it was on the return journey that we encountered a 3 metre Python. It oozed slowly across the path as I breathed into a paper bag and reminded myself why I'd left England where the most menacing natural encounter might be with a wasp. Despite the abundance of 'nature' (SSNNNNNNNNAKKKKKKKKKEEEE). It's a great walk with kids that is somewhat challenging on the uphill back, such that I felt justified shovelling in great handfuls of chocolaty trail snack on the way.

Honestly, I really only touched a small part of this park, but I have to admit that it is pretty…read morebig. In fact there are multiple ways to get into the park, including by boat, though that involves you taking a bus all the way to the top of the Northern Beaches (though you can also get a boat from the Central Coast). It's a pretty awesome place to hike, and there are some amazing views as well. Oh, and if you are wealthy enough, there are even houses on the coast that you can pretty much only get to by boat as well.

It was a beautiful day to be at Bayview park. Parking was plentiful, although there were a lot of…read morepeople with boat trailers. We sat at a covered concrete picnic table for awhile, enjoying the boats and birds (especially pelicans) in the brilliant blue water. We decided to stroll in the direction of the dog park, even though we didn't have a dog with us. Best decision ever! It was so much fun watching dogs cavorting on the leash-free beach with their doggy and human friends. There's also a grassy, leash-free area for non-water loving dogs and owners. The pure joy demonstrated by people and dogs playing in the water was priceless.