Bronte Park

Bronte Park sits in a green gully running down to the sand behind Bronte Beach, in Sydney's sought-after eastern suburbs. Wrapped around the back of one of the city's loveliest beaches, it's a much-loved local park that combines shady lawns, picnic facilities and a famous playground with easy access to the ocean and the coastal walk.

The appeal is that classic eastern-suburbs combination of beach and parkland: somewhere families gather for picnics and barbecues, kids play, and walkers pause along the celebrated Bondi to Bronte coastal route. With the historic Bronte Baths and the surf right there, it's a perfect spot to spend a relaxed day by the sea.

With a 4.7 rating from more than 2,500 reviews, it's a firm favourite. The park is free and open year-round, but facilities, parking and beach conditions vary, and it gets very busy on warm weekends and over summer, so it's worth checking conditions before you go — and arriving early for a good picnic spot, and taking sun protection for the more open areas near the sand.