NearMeBest BBQ and picnic parks in North Sydney
Last updatedStart with St Leonards Park if you want barbecues with shelter, tables and toilets in one large park. Kesterton Park and Ted Mack Civic Park suit a meal without a grill, each with a shelter and tables in a different setting. Pick by group size, and by whether you need to cook.
Quick picks
- Best for a crowd with a grill: St Leonards Park, where barbecues share a 15-hectare site with toilets and a playground.
- Best for a meal with a view: Kesterton Park, where a covered seat looks out over the harbour.
- Best for a shaded lunch: Ted Mack Civic Park, with shade, seats and accessible picnic space in the centre of town.
St Leonards Park for a big family barbecue
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
St Leonards Park is the one to choose for a group. Its open lawns and heritage landscape give a long afternoon room, and its barbecues sit beside picnic tables and shelters. Public toilets line Miller Street, and a playground with many accessible items keeps the children busy. Parking is on the nearby streets, where spaces are timed, and North Sydney Oval shares the site. At 15 hectares it is the largest of the three picks, by a wide margin.
Kesterton Park for a meal with a harbour view
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Kesterton Park is the pick for eating with a view. A roofed spot with a table and benches sits near the water, and extra seating is dotted through the grounds. The waterfront seating looks out over the harbour, and the ferry wharf is a short stroll away. A fully enclosed playground with a toddler Rotanet and an accessible swing keeps little ones busy. Wirra Birra Park, just along the foreshore, is the nearby option if you need a barbecue.
Ted Mack Civic Park for an accessible lunch in town
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Parking
Ted Mack Civic Park suits easy wheelchair access and a relaxed midday break. The terrain is easy, the accessible toilet is reached by a ramp, and an accessible picnic area sits in the park. Parking is limited to the surrounding streets, though the adjoining Ridge Street car park helps. No barbecue is named for the park, so it suits a meal better than a cookout.
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near North Sydney
The table below sets out what each park in and around North Sydney offers on barbecues, shelter, tables, toilets, a playground and parking.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.St Leonards Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Kesterton Park | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Ted Mack Civic Park | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| 4.Wirra Birra Park | ✓ | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.Oberon Park | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside North Sydney | |||||
| Forsyth Park · Neutral Bay | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Watt Park · Lavender Bay | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Milson Park · Kirribilli | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wendy Whiteley's Garden · Lavender Bay | – | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
The comparison counts grills, shelter and toilets double, then tables, a playground and size. A pick needed six known details and at least one of a barbecue, a shelter or picnic tables. Unknown details show a dash in the table, so no cell hides a guess. Parks below that bar stay in the table, listed with what they do have.
FAQ
Where in North Sydney can I cook a barbecue with a shelter overhead?
St Leonards Park has barbecues beside its shelters, so you can cook under cover. Dogs need to stay at least 10 metres from the barbecues and the playground.
Can I have a picnic at Kesterton Park without a barbecue?
Yes, Kesterton Park's covered seat and tables suit a meal, and the seating overlooks the harbour. Pack your own cooking gear, since no barbecue is named for the park.
Is Ted Mack Civic Park a good place for a shaded lunch?
Yes, Ted Mack Civic Park has shade, a shelter, seats and picnic tables on rolling lawns under mature trees. The central position suits a midday break in the city.
How far is the ferry wharf from Kesterton Park?
The wharf is about 50 metres from Kesterton Park, at the bottom of High Street. Its waterfront seating makes a quick stop before or after a ferry ride.