Best BBQ and picnic parks in Pyrmont
Pirrama Park is the best all-round pick for a barbecue or picnic in Pyrmont, with barbecues, shaded picnic shelters, toilets and a playground in the one park. The parks here differ most in what sits beside the barbecues: a playground for the kids, a cliff-top harbour view, or how hard it is to find a car space nearby.
Quick picks
- Best all-round: Pirrama Park has barbecues, shaded picnic shelters and toilets, with the playground close by.
- Cook and play: Waterfront Park puts its barbecues near a toddler playground.
- Harbour picnic: Giba Park offers cliff-top picnic tables and a view across the harbour.
Pirrama Park: barbecues, shelters and toilets by the playground
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
A family barbecue with the kids in tow works best at Pirrama Park, where the barbecues, shaded shelters and toilets are all in the one park, with the playground close by. Barbecues, picnic shelters and toilets are all confirmed here, and neither of the other picks confirms the full set. Public benches sit under the picnic shelters, and there is also shade over the lawns. Its toilets stand by the playground, and at least one is accessible. The water play is free and runs from 8am to 6pm, except on Tuesdays. Paid street parking is the main option, though a wheelchair-accessible lot serves the park.
Best for: a family who wants to cook under shade with toilets close by
Waterfront Park: cook lunch and let the toddlers play
- BBQs
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Waterfront Park is the one to pick if you want to cook and let little ones play in the same visit. Its barbecues sit close to the picnic area, and that area is near the playground, which has a swing set with a toddler swing and a red spring ride. There are picnic tables and seating, bins and public toilets on site. Bowman Street has the parking, though weekend spaces are scarce, so plan to get there early. The grounds are terraced across several levels, which gives more places to sit and eat, and the trees, grass and waterfront views make it a pleasant place to linger.
Best for: parents who want to cook and let toddlers play in the same visit
Giba Park: cliff-top picnic tables with harbour views
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Giba Park is the pick for a picnic with a view. The picnic tables sit up on the cliff top, and the outlook takes in the Anzac Bridge, the Harbour Bridge and Balmain across Johnstons Bay. The cliff top is also a place to see the New Year's Eve fireworks over the water. Barbecues and covered shelters aren't mentioned for Giba, so it suits a picnic rather than a cookout. Its toilets and playground are confirmed too. Reaching the cliff top means steep stairs from Pirrama Road or a nearby lift, and the street parking is limited, timed and paid, so allow time to find a space. Go off-peak for fewer crowds on the cliff top, and allow about 45 minutes for a typical visit.
Best for: picnickers who want a view over the harbour and don't mind the stairs
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Pyrmont
The table ranks every park here by how well it suits a barbecue or picnic, with the picks first and a dash wherever a detail is unknown.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Pirrama Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Waterfront Park | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Giba Park | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.James Watkinson Reserve | ✓ | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.Pyrmont Bay Park | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Pyrmont | |||||
| Illoura Reserve · Balmain East | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ewenton Park · Balmain | – | – | – | ✓ | – |
| Thornton Park · Balmain East | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Origlass Park · Balmain East | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
How we picked
Each park was read for barbecues, covered shelters, picnic tables, toilets, a playground for the kids, parking, shade and size, plus its setting and how busy it gets. A pick needs six confirmed details and at least one barbecue, shelter or picnic table, which gives each section material to work with. Gaps in the text appear as dashes in the table, and a dash is not a no.
FAQ
Which park in Pyrmont has barbecues?
Pirrama Park, Waterfront Park, James Watkinson Reserve and Pyrmont Bay Park all have barbecues. Pirrama is the only one of them with shaded picnic shelters and toilets as well.
Can I have a picnic at Giba Park?
Yes, Giba Park has picnic tables on its cliff top, with wide views over the harbour. A public restroom is on site, which helps with a longer stay.
Are there toilets at Pirrama Park?
Yes, public toilets stand next to Pirrama Park's playground, and one of them is accessible. They're open during daylight hours, so they suit a daytime barbecue more than an evening one.
Is parking hard near the Pyrmont picnic parks?
Parking is hardest near Giba Park, with timed, paid spaces on the surrounding streets. Pirrama Park has paid street parking and a wheelchair-accessible lot, while Waterfront Park's spaces on Bowman Street fill quickly on weekends.