Best BBQ and picnic parks in St Ives
Hassall Park is the top pick for a barbecue in St Ives, with BBQ facilities beside a picnic shelter and tables in the shade. What separates the BBQ and picnic parks here is the mix. Barra Brui Reserve has tables and toilets for a sit-down lunch, Putarri Avenue Reserve has a shelter on a lawn circled by a bike track, and the Knoll offers barbecues among native plants.
Quick picks
- Best for a BBQ: Hassall Park has barbecue facilities beside a picnic shelter.
- Best for a sit-down lunch: Barra Brui Reserve lists picnic tables, toilets and a playground.
- Best for a small lawn picnic: Putarri Avenue Reserve has a shelter on a grassed area circled by a bike track.
Hassall Park: a BBQ beside a shelter and a playground
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
If a barbecue is the goal, Hassall Park is where to head. The BBQ facilities sit beside a picnic shelter, and picnic tables are in the shade at one end of the grassy areas. You can picnic under the trees, and the playground is nearby, so the kids have somewhere to go while the food is on. Little ones get a climbing caterpillar, a slide and swings, and older kids get a rock wall. Parking is in the on-site car park off Mona Vale Road, and it's worth arriving early for a space.
Best for: Cooks who want a playground close by
Barra Brui Reserve: tables, toilets and a playground for lunch
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Barra Brui Reserve is the better choice when you want to skip the barbecue altogether. Picnic tables are listed among its facilities, along with toilets and a playground, so you can sit down, eat and let the children run around. Compared with Hassall Park and Putarri Avenue Reserve, it is the largest at about 5 hectares. Its text names no barbecue, so plan on a meal that doesn't need cooking. Drivers can park on site.
Best for: Picnics with toilets on site and no barbecue needed
Putarri Avenue Reserve: a shelter on a lawn with a bike loop
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
Putarri Avenue Reserve is a small reserve, about 0.19 hectares, built around a large grassed picnic area. Seats are spread around the lawn, and a shelter and a picnic table sit at the edge of the open area. The looped bike track runs around the lawn and past the playground, which keeps children busy while you eat. Its text names no barbecue or toilets, so it suits a light lunch. Cars can park along Rosedale Road or Putarri Avenue.
Best for: Small picnics where kids can ride a bike loop
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near St Ives
The table compares St Ives parks on the facilities that matter for a barbecue or a picnic.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Hassall Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 2.Barra Brui Reserve | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Putarri Avenue Reserve | – | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 4.Knoll Native Garden | ✓ | – | – | ✓ | – |
How we picked
We ranked the parks on BBQs, covered seating, tables, toilets, a playground and size. A dash marks a detail the park's own information doesn't give, not an absence. Hassall Park comes first because its BBQ, shelter and tables are all named. The Knoll also has barbecues and appears in the table, though its picnic area sits in a wider native garden.
FAQ
Which park in St Ives has free BBQs?
Hassall Park has BBQ facilities beside its picnic shelter, and the Knoll Native Garden has barbecues too. Our information doesn't say whether either is free, although entry to the Knoll is free all year round.
Can I have a picnic at Barra Brui Reserve without a barbecue?
Yes, Barra Brui Reserve lists picnic tables among its facilities, and toilets and a playground are on site. Cooking on site isn't mentioned, so bring food that's ready to eat.
Does Putarri Avenue Reserve have a shelter for picnics?
Yes, a shelter sits in the open areas of Putarri Avenue Reserve, near the large grassed picnic area and a picnic table. It's a dry place to sit when the lawn is busy.
Is a playground close to the picnic spots in St Ives?
Yes, at Hassall Park the playground is close to the picnic shelter and BBQ, with a climbing caterpillar, slide and swings. Putarri Avenue Reserve also has a playground close to its lawn.