Best BBQ and picnic parks in Randwick
Alison Park is the top pick for a barbecue in Randwick, because its barbecue, shelter, picnic area and toilets all sit in one park. The others differ on cost and setting: Simeon Pearce Park's barbecues are free, while Randwick Environment Park has barbecues and covered shelters inside a 13-hectare bushland and wetland reserve. Inglis Park and High Cross Park suit a quick lunch or a shady picnic.
Quick picks
- Most complete: Alison Park has a barbecue, a shelter, public toilets and a fenced playground in the same park.
- Free barbecues: Simeon Pearce Park's public barbecues cost nothing to use, but they go first come, first served.
- Bushland cookout: Randwick Environment Park pairs barbecues and covered picnic shelters with a wetland boardwalk.
- Toilets and a lawn: Inglis Park has barbecues, public toilets and a recreation lawn, though parking is limited.
- Shade for a picnic: High Cross Park has picnic tables among the cenotaph's trees, which keep the seating cool.
Alison Park for a family lunch with everything in one stop
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
Alison Park is the all-round pick for a barbecue in Randwick. The barbecue, the shelter and the picnic area all sit in the park, so a lunch can use all three. Public toilets are on site, which means a long picnic needs no trip elsewhere. The large flat grassed area suits ball games, so a bigger group has room to spread out. A fenced playground in the south-west corner keeps the children close while the rest of the group eats.
Best for: Families who want barbecues, a shelter and toilets in one place
Randwick Environment Park for a barbecue in bushland
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Parking
Randwick Environment Park is the pick for a barbecue in bushland. Barbecues, picnic tables and covered picnic shelters are all here, so a group can cook and eat out of the weather. The reserve's 13 hectares take in parkland, bushland and wetland, and a boardwalk loop around the wetland is wheelchair and pram accessible. A viewing platform looks out over the wetland, and a shared pedestrian and bike path runs through the park, so a barbecue can pair with a walk or a ride.
Best for: Groups who want a bushland barbecue with a walk or a ride afterwards
Inglis Park for barbecues and a recreation lawn
- BBQs
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Inglis Park is the pick for a group picnic on a lawn with barbecues and toilets. You can cook outdoors at the barbecues, and the recreation lawn works for a picnic or a get-together. The toilets sit by the restaurant, so a longer lunch is easy. Parking is limited, and so is street parking nearby, so arriving on foot or by bike is the sensible option. A pram and wheelchair accessible playground with climbing nets, swings and a double twist slide sits in the park for children.
Best for: Groups who want a lawn and barbecues, and who will arrive on foot or by bike
Simeon Pearce Park for a free barbecue
- BBQs
- Picnic tables
Simeon Pearce Park is the pick if you want a barbecue without paying for one. Its public barbecues are free to use, and they are timed to run from 8am until 8pm all year round. Picnic tables, park seats and a litter bin serve a group meal on the grassed and paved areas. The park has no toilets, and the nearest are at Paine Reserve, so plan a stop there. Alcohol restrictions are in force here, so look up the rules first.
Best for: Anyone who wants a free barbecue and can get there early
High Cross Park for a shaded picnic with tables
- Picnic tables
High Cross Park is the pick for a shaded picnic with tables. Picnic tables and seats sit among the cenotaph's trees, which give cool, leafy surroundings to rest in. A drinking fountain lets you refill water bottles, and a litter bin is on hand for after the meal. The park also has bike trails, and the annual Randwick Festival of Cycling draws casual riders and festival-goers, so expect a busier day then.
Best for: Small groups who want shaded tables for a picnic
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Randwick
Below, the parks in and near Randwick sit side by side on barbecues, shelters, tables, toilets, playgrounds and parking, with gaps shown as dashes.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Alison Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Randwick Environment Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| 3.Inglis Park | ✓ | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.Simeon Pearce Park | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✗ | – |
| 5.High Cross Park | – | – | ✓ | – | – |
| 6.Munda Street Reserve | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 7.Leete Park | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8.Fred Hollows Reserve | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nearby, outside Randwick | |||||
| Baker Park · Coogee | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| South Goldstein Reserve · Coogee | – | – | – | ✓ | – |
| North Goldstein Reserve · Coogee | – | – | – | ✓ | – |
| Michael Birt Gardens · Kensington | – | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
The comparison leans on barbecues, shelters and toilets, then picnic tables, a playground, parking and how big each park is. Facts come only from each park's own page, so a detail the page never mentions stays open. A park needs six known details to be a pick, and anything still open shows as a dash in the table, never as a no.
FAQ
Which park in Randwick has free BBQs?
Simeon Pearce Park has free public barbecues that can't be booked. They run first come, first served, so arrive early or be ready to wait.
Which of these parks have public toilets?
You can cook and use a toilet without leaving Alison Park or Inglis Park. Inglis Park's are near the restaurant area, and Simeon Pearce Park has none, with the closest at Paine Reserve.
Where can I picnic in the shade in Randwick?
High Cross Park is the best bet for shade, with tables and seats set under large trees near the cenotaph. Randwick Environment Park's covered picnic shelters are another option if you'd rather sit under a roof.
Is there parking at Randwick Environment Park?
At Randwick Environment Park, spaces sit out front of the Randwick Community Centre, reached off Munda Street. Free parking is nearby too.