Hyde Park

Hyde Park is the oldest public parkland in the country, a grand, formal green space right in the heart of the Sydney CBD. With its famous avenue of towering fig trees, manicured gardens and the magnificent Archibald Fountain at its centre, it's a beloved oasis amid the city — a place where workers, locals and visitors gather to relax under the trees.

The appeal is that combination of elegant, leafy parkland and a prime central location, bordered by some of the city's grandest buildings and home to landmarks including the Anzac Memorial at its southern end. It's perfect for a lunchtime break, a stroll between city sights or simply a quiet moment beneath the famous fig canopy.

With a 4.6 rating from more than 18,000 reviews, it's one of Sydney's most loved and visited spaces. The park is free and open year-round, but the Archibald Fountain, the Anzac Memorial and any events have their own arrangements, and it's busiest at lunchtimes on weekdays, so it's worth checking details before a special visit — though for a wander beneath the figs, you can simply stroll through any time.