Best BBQ and picnic parks in Mount Wilson
Waterfall Reserve is the best pick for a picnic after a walk, with a shelter shed at the end of a rainforest loop past the falls. Mount Wilson has few BBQ spots, so the choice comes down to what you need: a covered shelter, a wide lawn, or a bench on a village corner. Cathedral Reserve gives the widest ground, and Founders Corner suits a quick stop.
Quick picks
- Best for a covered shelter: Waterfall Reserve, with a shelter shed at the end of its loop walk.
- Best for a wide lawn: Cathedral Reserve, a big field you can camp on and picnic across.
- Best for a quick stop: Founders Corner, a village corner with benches and toilets nearby.
Waterfall Reserve: a shelter shed after the falls walk
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
Waterfall Reserve is where to go for a shelter shed beside a rainforest walk. The picnic area sits at the end of a 1.1 km loop past the lower and upper falls on Waterfall Creek, so you can eat when you finish. The reserve has one public toilet, which matters in a village with few facilities, and it is free to visit. The shelter is the only covered spot in this list. No BBQ facilities are mentioned, so bring a lunch that needs no cooking.
Best for: A shelter after the falls walk
Cathedral Reserve: a wide lawn with parking at the edge
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Parking
Cathedral Reserve gives you the widest ground to settle into. Its large field is unpowered camping ground, and tables are dotted across the grounds. The toilets are long-drop rather than flush, and there are no BBQ facilities, so pack a cold lunch. Campfires are allowed only in designated areas, and no booking is needed. It is also the handiest starting point for the Cathedral of Ferns walk.
Best for: Wide lawns and parking at the edge
Founders Corner: a bench stop on the village corner
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
Founders Corner is a corner stop where The Avenue meets Mount Irvine Road. Toilets are on the opposite side of the road, across from the Turkish Bath Museum, and one of them is a unisex disabled toilet. Barbecues are not here; the village's barbecue facilities are at Cathedral Reserve. There are no waste bins, so take your rubbish home. The setting is bushland, which suits a short lunch and not a long afternoon.
Best for: A bench stop in the village
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Mount Wilson
The table lines up every BBQ and picnic spot in and near Mount Wilson on the same features, with dashes where a detail isn't known.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Waterfall Reserve | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 2.Cathedral Reserve | ✗ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Founders Corner | ✗ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.Breenhold Parkland | – | – | – | ✓ |
| 5.Cathedral of Ferns | – | – | – | – |
| 6.Sloan Reserve | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
We looked at BBQs, covered shelters, tables, toilets, a playground for the kids and the size of each reserve. Mount Wilson has few cooking spots, so the picks lean on shelter and toilets. Gaps show as dashes in the table, so check the details that matter most to you before you set out.
FAQ
Which park in Mount Wilson has free BBQs?
No Mount Wilson park on this page has a BBQ we can confirm. Founders Corner's listing points to barbecues at Cathedral Reserve, but Cathedral Reserve's own listing says it has none, so check before you pack a grill.
Are there toilets at Waterfall Reserve?
Yes, Waterfall Reserve has a single public toilet, and it is one of only a few in the village. It sits in the reserve itself, so you can use it before or after the walk.
Can I take my dog on a picnic in Mount Wilson?
Cathedral Reserve allows dogs, which is uncommon for a reserve in the Blue Mountains. Breenhold Parkland takes dogs too, but only on a leash.
Is there parking at Cathedral Reserve?
Yes, Cathedral Reserve has space to park at the edge of its field. The campground runs on donations, so there is no fixed fee.