Northern Beaches Picnic Spots
Searching for the perfect picnic spot in Sydney’s Northern Beaches? Discover 12 of the best picnic spots scattered throughout Sydney’s northern suburbs and start planning your next weekend out and about with friends and family. Featuring playgrounds, barbecue facilities, incredible views, and more, you’ll find some wonderful picnic spots to explore!
Little Manly Point, Manly
Just a short 10-minute walk from Manly Wharf, Little Manly Point offers great facilities for the whole family. With grassy areas, seating, a playground and more, there are plenty of ways to spend the day in the sunshine. Open during the summer months, the Little Manly Beach Kiosk is also located nearby, perfect for an impromptu picnic.
What’s the parking like? Some on-street parking is available, as well as pay and display parking.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? From Little Manly Point, you’ll enjoy great views of the city skyline.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes, you’ll find both public toilets and showers.
Shelly Beach, Manly
One of Sydney’s best destinations for snorkelling and diving, Shelly Beach also happens to be a good place to spread your picnic blanket and enjoy a meal with a view. Tuck into lunch in the shaded area behind the beach before heading down onto the sand and enjoying a swim at this popular Manly beach.
What’s the parking like? Metered parking is available.
Is there shade? Although there is little shade on Shelly Beach itself, you will find plenty of shady spots neighbouring the beach.
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? No
What's my view? From Shelly Beach, you’ll enjoy views towards Manly Beach
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes. Shower facilities are also available.
North Harbour Reserve, Balgowlah
Situated along the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk, North Harbour Reserve is a great place for a weekend picnic. Meet family and friends for a barbecue with a view, enjoy a game or two of basketball by the water or let the kids run wild across the reserve’s open green spaces. Whether you’re wanting to get active or simply watch the world roll on by, there are plenty of ways to spend time at the reserve.
What’s the parking like? Free parking is available just off Condamine Street.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? From North Harbour Reserve, you’ll enjoy views across North Harbour, towards Manly.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes
Winnererremy Bay Foreshore Reserve, Mona Vale
Perhaps best known for its playground, complete with a flying fox, climbing frames and more, Winnererremy Bay Foreshore Reserve is a great place for a fun day out with the family or a lovely waterside picnic. Overlooking Pittwater, the park boasts a variety of facilities, from shaded picnic tables to bike and scooter tracks.
What’s the parking like? A car park is located beside the playground, with on-street parking also available on nearby Mona Street.
Is there shade? Yes, the reserve’s picnic tables are also sheltered from the sun.
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? Winnererremy Bay Foreshore Reserve overlooks picturesque Pittwater.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes
Dee Why Beach, Dee Why
One of the area’s most popular picnic spots, Dee Why Beach combines a large grassy picnic area with lovely waterside views. Those planning a picnic during the warmer months will enjoy the picnic area’s close proximity to Dee Why Beach, with a patrolled swimming area perfect for cooling off after a meal.
What’s the parking like? Pay and display parking is available at James Meehan Reserve. Parking is free for vehicles displaying a council parking permit.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? The picnic area overlooks Dee Why Beach, offering great open ocean views.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes, with shower facilities also available.
McCarrs Creek Reserve, Church Point
Just a stone's throw from the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, not only is McCarrs Creek Reserve a great place for a barbecue or picnic lunch, but it is also perfectly positioned for swimming, fishing and a host of other outdoor activities. Rally your friends or family together and enjoy a day out in the great outdoors.
What’s the parking like? Metered parking is available.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? No
What's my view? The reserve overlooks the waters of McCarrs Creek.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes
West Esplanade Park, Manly
Just moments from Manly Wharf, West Esplanade Park is a great spot to stop and enjoy a bite to eat before exploring Manly’s top attractions. Watch on as the iconic Manly Ferry arrives and departs from Manly Wharf or enjoy a lovely stroll along Manly Cove on a warm, sunny day.
What’s the parking like? On-street parking is available, with limited spaces also found in the Esplanade Carpark.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? No
Is there a playground? No
What's my view? The park overlooks Manly Cove.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes, with change rooms available too.
Clontarf Reserve, Clontarf
Sitting right behind Clontarf Beach, a trip to Clontarf Reserve is a great starting point for a fun day in the sun. Pack your swimsuit and enjoy a refreshing dip in Clontarf Beach’s enclosed swimming area before settling in for a picnic with beautiful beach views.
What’s the parking like? A paid car park is located onsite, with free on-street parking available nearby.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? From Clontarf Reserve, you’ll enjoy views of the Spit Bridge and Middle Harbour.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes. Shower facilities are also available.
Bilarong Reserve, North Narrabeen
Set between untouched bushland and the waters of Narrabeen Lagoon, unfolding your picnic rug at Bilarong Reserve will leave you feeling as though you’re worlds away from modern life. Kids will also love the challenge of finding the many sandstone sculptures scattered throughout the reserve, depicting everything from dragons to secret doorways.
What’s the parking like? Metered parking is available at the reserve.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? Bilarong Reserve overlooks Narrabeen Lake.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes
Manly Warringah Memorial Park, Manly Vale
Although Manly Warringah Memorial Park may be better known for its hiking trails, water skiing and mountain biking, the park is also a great spot for a waterside picnic. It’s good to note that Manly Warringah Memorial Park can be quite popular, especially when the warmer weather rolls around, so be sure to book a picnic well ahead of time. Picnic tables can be reserved by contacting Northern Beaches Council.
What’s the parking like? Pay and display parking is available.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes, but it is currently being upgraded.
What's my view? The park overlooks Manly Dam.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes
Clifton Gardens, Mosman
Home to sheltered picnic tables, barbecue facilities, a playground and more, Clifton Gardens is a little slice of seclusion set alongside Sydney Harbour. Try your hand at fishing, take a swim in the netted swimming area or let the kids run wild throughout the grassy reserve.
What’s the parking like? Parking is available in a metered car park next to the gardens or for free along Morella Road.
Is there shade? Yes, some.
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? Clifton Gardens offers views across Sydney Harbour, towards Watsons Bay and Vaucluse.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes
Rosherville Reserve, Balmoral
Located slightly further north than Balmoral Beach, Rosherville Reserve is one of Middle Harbour’s hidden gems. Quiet and relatively secluded, the reserve is a great spot to roll out your picnic rug, cook up some barbecue favourites and kick off an afternoon of swimming and fishing down by the water’s edge.
What’s the parking like? On-street and pay and display parking is available.
Is there shade? Yes
Are barbecue facilities available? Yes
Is there a playground? Yes
What's my view? Rosherville Reserve is a grassy reserve overlooking Chinamans Beach.
Are public toilets located onsite? Yes. Changerooms can also be found at the reserve.