Parramatta

Highlights

History, arts & culture

Home to a melting pot of cultures, Parramatta enjoys a vibrant arts and culture offering. The first stop is Riverside Theatre , a performing arts venue that hosts over 1,000 events a year. Next, scope out an exhibition at Pari, an artist-run initiative dedicated to telling hyper-local stories through contemporary art.

Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

Walk or cycle along the pretty Parramatta River, which winds past Old Government House – the country residence of the first 10 governors of the Sydney colony – in beautiful Parramatta Park. Both spots are World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites.

Visit the place where former convict James Ruse successfully grew the colony’s first wheat crop in 1791 and tour the 1835-built Experiment Farm Cottage. Wool pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur owned Elizabeth Farm, an Australian colonial homestead. The site contains the oldest surviving European building in Australia. For more history, visit John Macarthur's Hambledon Cottage Museum.

Elizabeth Farm, Rosehill

Exciting events

Parramatta's year-round lineup of events features world-class performances, major sporting events and much-loved festivals, including Parramatta Lanes, Midwinter Festival, Burramatta NAIDOC, Three Bridges Run and plenty of NRL games.

Just a short stroll from Elizabeth Farm, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse hosts the Golden Slipper – the world's richest horse race for two-year-old thoroughbreds – alongside a packed schedule of race days and special events. Explore what's on to discover more upcoming exhibitions, live shows, guided tours and more.

Parramatta Lanes Festival, Parramatta

Eat & drink

Head to the popular eat streets along Church Street and Wigram Road to find a number of restaurants and cafes, serving an assortment of cuisines, from Asian and Italian to everything in between. Local favourites include Circa Espresso, for its ridiculously good coffee and tasty brunches; Temasek, for its flavour-filled Singaporean-Malay dishes; Pho Pasteur, for its bowls of Vietnamese pho; and Holy Basil for Thai – the Parramatta outpost is just as popular as its sister venue in Canley Heights.

In the Parramatta Square dining precinct, head to Lilymu for pan-Asian and Harvey's Hot Sandwiches for a retro American diner expeirence. For one of the prettiest brunches in Sydney, stop by the Social Hideout.

Friends enjoying drinks at Social Hideout cafe in Parramatta

Social Hideout, Parramatta

Parramatta’s southern neighbour Harris Park, a veritable ‘Little India’, is a guaranteed good feed. The main strip is lit up with dozens of delicious eateries and street stalls, including the popular Chatkazz, Dosa Hut, Ginger Indian Restaurant, Momozz and Jaipur Sweets.

Indian food served on a table at Chatkazz in Harris Park

Chatkazz, Little India, Harris Park

There’s also a buzzy nightlife, with plenty of bars to hop between, including Nick and Nora's, a rooftop champagne bar offering views from the 26th floor. For riverside views, stop by the sprawling, 350-seat Alex & Co for cocktails. The beer gardens at The Albion Hotel also make for a perfect perch on a sunny afternoon.

Nick and Noras, Parramatta

Getting there

A delightful way to travel to Parramatta is by ferry from Circular Quay, gliding under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and along Parramatta River past Sydney Olympic Park to Parramatta Wharf. The scenic trip is about 85 minutes. The train from Central Station is about 25 minutes and the drive is 30 minutes.