Best BBQ and picnic parks in Ryde
Yamble Reserve is the top pick for a BBQ in Ryde, and its cooking spot sits beside picnic shelters. The others suit different kinds of meal. Pidding Park is the choice for a table near toilets, Santa Rosa Park for lunch within sight of its playground, and Lardelli Park for a table by the water. Check the table before you pack the sausages.
Quick picks
- Best for a BBQ: Yamble Reserve, where the grill sits by the shelters.
- Best for a table near toilets: Pidding Park, with its benches spread across the grass.
- Best for lunch in view of the play gear: Santa Rosa Park.
- Best for a table by water: Lardelli Park, on the edge of its pond.
Yamble Reserve: the one with a BBQ
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Yamble Reserve sets its grill beside picnic shelters that face the lawns. A casual game of ball fits between the grill and the grass, so cooking and playing happen in one spot. Restrooms on site include an accessible block with change tables. Two car parks serve the reserve, and one of them is off Clermont Avenue, which suits anyone who finds walking hard.
Best for: Families who want a BBQ and a shelter in one spot
Pidding Park: picnic tables by the toilets
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Metal benches and picnic tables are spread around Pidding Park, and public toilets are on site, so lunch never means a long walk to the loo. Concrete paths loop the field and suit wheelchairs, giving a level route from the car park. Shade is thin, though: the middle of the field has none, and the tall eucalypts stick to the edges. The park is rated 4 on Google (118 ratings). Cars can also use the street along Pidding Road.
Best for: Picnics with toilets close by
Santa Rosa Park: a shelter by the District Playground
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
Santa Rosa Park has a picnic shelter beside the new fenced District Playground, so the adults can eat with the kids in view. The small fenced playground on Quarry Road is a short hop away. Wheelchair users get their own cubicle in that block. The shelter has the Shrimpton's Creek parklands around it, with open grounds and natural areas. No BBQ is named, so plan a cold lunch.
Best for: Lunch while the kids play
Lardelli Park: a covered table beside the pond
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
Lardelli Park has a covered picnic table close to the playground, and the park lies beside a pond with a path around the water. Shade sails cover the play equipment, and the playground suits children aged 2 and up. Older kids can scoot on the pond path while you eat. Parking is plentiful on the streets around Lardellie Drive and Susan Schardt Way.
Best for: Lunch by the pond
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Ryde
This table sets each park's BBQs, shelters, picnic tables and toilets side by side.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Yamble Reserve | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Pidding Park | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Santa Rosa Park | – | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.Lardelli Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.Ryde Park | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6.Watts Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Ryde | |||||
| Anzac Park · West Ryde | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kings Park · Denistone East | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Carara Reserve · West Ryde | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
How we picked
Our comparison looked at BBQs, covered shelters, picnic tables, toilets, a playground for children and the setting. A park has to offer a picnic facility we can confirm to make the list. A dash in the table means we didn't find the detail, so it is unknown rather than absent. Where a park's picnic gear is listed without a detail, it shows as a dash.
FAQ
Which park in Ryde has free BBQs?
Yamble Reserve has a BBQ beside its picnic shelters. Whether it's free to use isn't stated, so check with the council before you go.
Can I book a gazebo for a picnic in Ryde?
A gazebo can be hired at Yamble Reserve through the City of Ryde. Shelters at the other parks aren't listed as bookable in what we found.
Where is a picnic table close to toilets?
Pidding Park puts its picnic tables and public toilets in the same park. Concrete paths lead round the field and suit wheelchairs, so the tables are easy to reach.
Is there shade for a picnic in Ryde?
Lardelli Park's shade sails cover the play equipment, and its covered table sits close by. Pidding Park's field has no shade in the middle, so bring your own cover there.