Pirrama Park

Pirrama Park sits on Pirrama Road in Pyrmont, on the harbour foreshore just west of the Sydney CBD. A beautifully designed waterfront park created on a former industrial wharf site, it's become a much-loved local spot — combining open lawns, a popular playground and a foreshore promenade with lovely views across the harbour to the city.

The appeal is that combination of a scenic harbourside setting and great facilities: room to walk, picnic and relax by the water, a fun playground for the kids, and the calm of the harbour with the city skyline across the way. It's a relaxed, family-friendly escape that captures the waterside side of Sydney life, close to the bustle of Pyrmont and Darling Harbour.

With a 4.6 rating from more than 2,000 reviews, it's a firm favourite. The park is free and open year-round, but facilities and any events vary, and it gets busy on warm weekends, so it's worth checking the surrounds before a special trip — though for a casual walk, a picnic or a play by the water, you can generally just turn up and enjoy the harbour views.