Best BBQ and picnic parks in Como
Como Pleasure Grounds is the top pick for a BBQ and picnic in Como, because it has barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and a playground beside the Georges River. Central Avenue Reserve suits a shorter visit, with a BBQ, a covered shelter and toilets on one small grassed site. Carina Bay Reserve is the choice for a picnic with river views, though it has no barbecues or toilets.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Como Pleasure Grounds has barbecues, tables and benches, and toilets on the Georges River.
- Shelter and toilets: Central Avenue Reserve has a BBQ, a covered shelter and public toilets on a small grassed site.
- Picnic with a view: Carina Bay Reserve has picnic tables and shaded seating over the river, but no barbecues or toilets.
Como Pleasure Grounds: barbecues on the river
- BBQs
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Como Pleasure Grounds on Cremona Road has barbecue facilities and picnic areas with tables and benches, right beside the Georges River. Its toilets include an accessible toilet with a change table, which helps on a long outing with children. A pirate-themed playspace sits in the grounds, so the kids can play while the adults cook. Free onsite parking is available, but the car park is small and fills quickly on busy weekends, so a weekday visit is easier. Seating can't be reserved for functions, so arrive early on weekends to get a table. For a longer day, the grounds also have a bike track, a walking loop and short bush tracks, and Oatley station is an easy walk away.
Best for: Families who want barbecues and tables with toilets on site
Central Avenue Reserve: a BBQ, shelter and toilets on one site
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
Central Avenue Reserve is an open, grassed reserve at 37 Como Parade, and it packs the most picnic facilities into the smallest space. It has a BBQ, a covered shelter that suits a group, a picnic area, public toilets and drinking water. The train-themed playground sits beside them, so the picnic and the play happen in one spot. It is a much smaller site than Como Pleasure Grounds, with less room to spread out. The reserve's parking isn't known, so allow time to find a space.
Best for: Small groups who want a BBQ, a shelter and toilets close together
Carina Bay Reserve: picnic tables with river views
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
Carina Bay Reserve has picnic tables and shaded seating with views over the Georges River. It is an unfenced reserve with a large sloping grassy lawn running down to the water, so there is room to spread out. The site has no barbecues and no public toilets, so plan a picnic that doesn't rely on them. A playground sits on site for the children. The on-site car park is small, so weekends can be tight. The sandy beach is tidal, so check the tide before a picnic that ends in a swim.
Best for: A picnic by the water that doesn't need a BBQ or toilets
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Como
The table compares the parks on barbecues, shelters, picnic tables, toilets and playgrounds, so you can see at a glance what each has.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Como Pleasure Grounds | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Central Avenue Reserve | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Carina Bay Reserve | – | – | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 4.Henry Lawson Reserve | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Como | |||||
| Green Point Reserve · Oyster Bay | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jew Fish Point Reserve · Oatley | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Koolangarra Reserve · Bonnet Bay | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Neverfail Bay Reserve · Oatley | – | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
We weighed each park on its grills, covered shelters, tables, toilets, play equipment and grounds size. Grills and tables count most, then shelter and toilets, and a park with all of them in one place ranks highest. A detail we could not confirm shows as a dash in the table, which means unknown rather than missing, so check the park before you rely on a blank cell.
FAQ
Which park in Como has free BBQs?
Como Pleasure Grounds and Central Avenue Reserve both have barbecues. We don't know whether either one is free to use, so check the signs at the park before you go.
Can a family picnic and play in the same Como park?
Yes, Como Pleasure Grounds has a pirate-themed playspace close to its picnic tables and barbecues. Central Avenue Reserve pairs its train-themed playground with a BBQ and shelter.
Can I use toilets at a Como picnic spot?
Como Pleasure Grounds has toilets, including an accessible one with a change table. Central Avenue Reserve also has toilets on site, while Carina Bay Reserve has none.
Which Como picnic park sits right on the water?
Carina Bay Reserve and Como Pleasure Grounds both sit on the Georges River. Carina Bay offers a picnic without barbecues, and Como Pleasure Grounds adds them to the waterfront.