Exploring the best waterfront parks in Sydney
<p><strong><em>Robyn Kennedy loves to explore and photograph Sydney and surrounds. Her blog <a href="http://www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Life Out & About</span></a> has become a passion, sharing ideas for outings in and around Sydney - charming gardens, bush walks, art galleries and inspiring places to eat!</em></strong></p>
<p>Tucked neatly in behind Balmain and surrounded by water on three sides, Birchgrove makes for an inspiring outing. The waterfront reserves and attractive homes with their large shady trees and well-tended gardens are just some of its many charms. From Ballast Point and Mort Bay parks there are some superb views to the city and harbour bridge, a perspective that not too many visitors to Sydney would recognize.</p>
<p>Where: Birchgrove – Sydney Inner West – 5km West of CBD</p>
<p>Allow: 1/2 day</p>
<p>Getting there: Ferries – Buses – Drive 15 mins from CBD</p>
<p><strong>Ballast Point Park</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Ballast Point Park, 4 Ballast Point Rd Birchgrove, industrial remnants resurrected. Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></p>
<p>The Ballast Point park inspired our outing to Birchgrove. What was once the old Caltex oil depot has been transformed into an intriguing nature reserve. Some of the old rusted industrial detritus has been resurrected to form an impressive outdoor sculpture, with wind turbines to generate power for the site!</p>
<p>Surrounding the large circular sculpture are a series of winding paths, shady wattle trees and massive rock walls constructed of rubble from the site. If you look east you will enjoy some fantastic views back to the city, with a few very colourful wharf buildings on the Balmain foreshore.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Ballast Point Park, 4 Ballast Point Rd Birchgrove, view to the city. <em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></em></p>
<p>I discovered Ballast Point Park on the recommendation of a local shop owner (thank you Emel). Off I went in search of the park, weaving my way through the backstreets, admiring the lovely homes and getting myself a little lost along the way… all part of the adventure. I eventually stumbled on the large gated entrance to Ballast Point. Excitedly I raced around in the half dark snapping pics, but it was just a little too dark and lonely to venture further into the park. I knew I had to return!</p>
<p>On the following Saturday afternoon my partner and I headed off to Ballast Point Park filled with enthusiasm, it was a beautiful spring day and our spirits were high. We spent a good amount of time exploring all the paths and photographing sculptures and views from every angle, well I did!</p>
<p><strong>Mort Bay Park</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Mort Bay Park, Mort St Birchgrove, views to the harbour bridge and city. Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></p>
<p>We were pleased to find that the Ballast Point waterfront path led to the adjacent Mort Bay Park, affording similar views to the city, Harbour Bridge and the Balmain Thames Street Ferry Wharf.</p>
<p>What was in the latter half of the 19th century Mort’s Dock, the largest shipyard and engineering workshop in Australia, is now a leafy park with large grassy playing fields and remnants of the site’s industrial history.</p>
<p>Many locals were out and about enjoying the park, families, kids, couples, dogs… and even a fully naked man with football in hand, playing an imagined and quite serious game of footy, I think he was winning.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Mort Bay Park, Mort St Birchgrove , views to Balmain and the old dry dock, kids playing in the low trees. <em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></em></p>
<p><strong>Birchgrove Park</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Birchgrove Park, Corner of Rose & Grove Streets. Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></p>
<p>With waterfront on three sides it’s not surprising to find yet another park with water views to the harbour bridge. Named after the suburb, it is a large spacious park with playing fields and tennis courts… and lawns flowing down to the water’s edge.</p>
<p>Surrounding the park are a number of heritage listed terrace houses. Large trees and beautifully cared for gardens make it a pleasure to wander the streets. There’s also a fabulous little corner shop, ‘Gladstone Store’ where you can grab a cappuccino or bite to eat.</p>
<p>I’ve also been told that Birchgrove Park Oval is the ‘spiritual home’ of rugby league in Australia, with the first professional match being played there in 1908! Maybe a pilgrimage site for the many thousands of footy fans in Australia… thankfully not on the day I was there. Birchgrove Park is an easy 5-10 minute walk from Ballast Point Park along Wharf Road.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Birchgrove Park, surrounding homes and the Gladstone Store. <em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></em></p>
<p><strong>Eat and drink</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Charlotte Café, 127 Rowntree St, Birchgrove (near the corner of Cameron St). Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></p>
<p>Birchgrove has a few options for eating, including a number of traditional old pubs. Although I have to admit I’ve not had time to try them out yet.</p>
<p><em>Charlotte Café </em>is a locally loved café positioned in a small enclave of shops. Located just a few blocks from the Mort Bay park. On my third outing to the area and feeling somewhat like one of the locals I grabbed a seat at the window to enjoy a large ‘healthy’ wrap and cappuccino… and to take in the ‘tiny village’ atmosphere. I did manage to resist the delicious looking homemade muffins!</p>
<p>I then wandered over to Birchgrove Park and was delighted to find the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.gladstonestore.com.au/" target="_blank">Gladstone Store</a></strong></span>. This tiny corner store with its few small stools on the footpath had a very welcoming feel. I’m guessing it is quite popular with the locals and visitors alike. This is a place where one could easily spend time quietly enjoying homemade treats, a cappuccino and the park views. You could also consider the <em>Gladstone Store Picnic Box, </em>packed with a selection of their tasty goodies. Unfortunately I only had room for a juice. </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Gladstone Corner, 37 Grove St Birchgrove (Cnr Bay St). <em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></em></p>
<p><span>Close to Mort Bay Park is the </span><em>Dry Dock Hotel</em><span>, boasting ‘Balmain’s Oldest Licensed Hotel’… that’s quite a claim! They had a small restaurant at the back of the hotel serving food that looked pretty tasty and surprisingly healthy! Maybe next time we will have to do a pub crawl.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Dry Dock Hotel, 22 Cameron St Birchgrove. <em><em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy.</em></em></em></p>
<p><strong>Getting there </strong></p>
<p>There are plenty of ferries from Circular Quay to Birchgrove/Balmain:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>East Balmain </em>– end of Darling St</li>
<li><em>Balmain – </em>Thames St Wharf near Mort Bay Park</li>
<li><em>Birchgrove </em>– end of Louisa Rd.</li>
</ul>
<p>You could catch the ferry to East Balmain and wander through the streets for 20 mins to Mort Bay Park. A further 10 minutes around the waters edge will get you to Ballast Point Park. Then walk Wharf Rd for 5 mins to Birchgrove Park. Lastly, follow Louisa Rd to the end where you will find the Birchgrove Ferry.</p>
<p>The area is also served by a number of buses.</p>
<p>Alternatively, you could drive! It’s only about 15 minutes from the CBD to Ballast Point Park.</p>
<p>Have you ever explored this beautiful corner of Sydney? Share your tips in the comments below.</p>
<p><em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy </em></p>
