Fun Things To Do Around Sydney By Area - Northern Beaches
Warriewood Cnr Jacksons Rd & Garden Street, basically behind Warriewood Square. Built for toddlers, fully fenced with 4 gates, with a huge sandpit, slippery slide & cubby house with a large sunshade, winding path for small bikes, 3 picnic tables, park benches, 2 bins, 2 taps, and around 10 parking spots incl a disabled parking spot. There are an additional 4 covered picnic tables and a swing set outside the enclosure. The nearest toilet facilities are at Warriewood Square which is a 2 minute walk away, there's a bus stop nearby, but you could also walk from Pittwater Road bus stop (which has more frequent buses) which would be about a 10 minute walk. Reviewed by bettibeetle 6/4/2000
Mona Vale next to Mona Vale Library. A small park with cubby house and sandpit. Part of a much larger park that has bike tracks for older kids. No seating for parents, bins outside the fenced area, and toilet facilities available at the Library. Reviewed by bettibeetle 20/4/2001
Mona Vale Beach. Between the beach and the carpark. Unfenced, but lots of play equipment suitable for all ages including climbing, slippery dip, swings. Also a bike path. Has lots of seating for parents consisting of park benches. Also covered picnic tables. Plenty of bins, and toilets are available by a short walk through the carpark to the beachside facilities.
Newport Beach next to the Surf Club and near the end of the shops. A smaller park. Fully fenced with swings and play equipment. Toilet facilities available at the Surf Club.
Frank Beckman Reserve at Terrey Hills, Booralie Road and Yulong Avenue, next to the local library, opposite the shops. This park, which is fully fenced with 3 entrances, has new play equipment built on a soft fall surface with a winding path and 2 small bridges for small bikes. Play equipment consists of 2 swings, a small toddlers area with a springy seat, slippery dip etc, another area for a larger climbing toy with slippery dip. A large covered BBQ 2 picnic tables, park benches & bins make up the remaining facilities. Reviewed by bettibeetle 22/5/2000
Berry Reserve Children's
Park at Narrabeen, Pittwater Road, next to the Baby Health Centre &
the Tramshed. Fully enclosed large park with 2 slippery disps (one
with climbing), 2 older-style swings & various other outdoor toys for
toddlers. Plenty of seating, including a small gazebo-style covered
area, lots of bins. Winding bike path, no shade cloth, but plenty
of natural shade with mature trees. Good parking (right next to park)
and good access to public transport. Nice views of the lake.
Toilets at the opposite end of the carpark.
Another set of swings and
a slippery dip next to the toilet block, but this is not fenced and probably
better suited for older children. Reviewed by bettibeetle
22/5/2000
Collaroy Beach next to the Surf Club, Pittwater Road at Collaroy Beach. Built for toddlers, fully fenced with 3-4 gates, picnic tables and park benches, small path for bikes, slippery slide, swings, miniture boat with activities and more. Unfortunately there are no bins here, so walk outside the enclosure for a bin, or take your rubbish home again. Toilet facilities are at the Surf Club, a minute walk away. Parking is plentiful, and the bus stop is a 5 minute walk at the shops on Pittwater Road. Reviewed by bettibeetle 6/4/2000
Mona Vale at Mona Vale Memorial Hall main entrance off Pittwater Road opposite Newsagency (next to library). Held every weekday from 9.30am to 11.30am. Has craft, painting, playdough, and lots of freeplay with bikes, climbing and more. There is a rotating roster for the mums to set up and clean up, bring craft, set up & clean up painting, and to bring snacks and clean up kitchen. Bring your own snacks for the kids. Easter, Christmas, Mini Olympics etc have a special craft and pressies for the kids. And a Girls Night Out at a local restaurant is arranged. Sing-along at end of each playgroup. Cost: Yearly Membership $19.80, Each Term $16.00 - to be paid for ist week of each term. Terms follow the school terms. Phone the NSW Playgroup Association to obtain more details (see previous page).
Waterworks at Manly, West Esplanade - Phone: 9949 2644 This place has been there for decades, I remember having birthday parties there! Mainly consisting of huge tunnel slides with gushing water it is great fun for summer. There is also a beginner's slide for the younger children, but there is a height limit. It's supervised at both ends, and there's a shady area with seating for parents to wait at. Lockers also available. Open 10-5 summer weekends & school holidays. Cost:$10 per hour or $17 for the day. Recommended for ages 8 and over. Reviewed by bettibeetle 7/4/2000
Play Planet at Brookvale. Set in the industrial area of Brookvale this has a very large area for small kids with lots of indoor equipment. A smaller area is set aside for toddlers and babies. The coffee shop/cafe is set at the front.
Storytelling at Local Libraries
Avalon Library, Council Arcade, Avalon Parade - Phone: 9918 3013. Last Tuesday of each month at 10.30am, not including school holidays. No charge.
Mona Vale Library, in the centre of Mona Vale, next to the Memorial Hall. Every Thursday at 10.30am, not including school holidays. No charge.
Dee Why Library, Pittwater Road - Phone: 9942 2449. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.15am, not including school holidays. No charge.
Belrose Library, Glen Street - Phone: 9452 3211. Every Wednesday and Thursday at 10.15, not including school holidays. No charge.
Forestville Library, Starkey Street - Phone: 9452 5706. Every Tuesday at 10.15, not including school holidays. No charge.
Warringah Mall Library at Brookvale, Shop 650 Level 2 (2 levels above Franklins, near the Hoyts Cinema top level) - Phone 9942 7999. Every Wednesday and Monday at 10.15am, not including school holidays. No charge.
Manly Library, Market
Place - Phone: 9976 1720. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11am,
not including school holidays. No charge.
Warringah Aquatic Centre at Frenchs Forest, Aquatic Drive - Phone 9451 8000. Indoor heated pool - one larger and one toddler's pool. Swwimming classes available. Children's parties also available. Reviewed by bettibeetle 7/4/2000
Narrabeen Lakes. There are heaps of little beaches available around the lake area. Great place for a picnic with quiet waters for the kids to have a little paddle or swim. Try also at Berry Reserve at Narrabeen. Reviewed by Bettibeetle 6/4/2000
The Basin at Pittwater, via Palm Beach Ferry Service. Palm Beach Ferries Phone 9918 2747 (Ferries run hourly from 8am to 6pm). A great picnic area for a full day out. Sheltered quiet beaches, grassed area with lots of trees with tables. There are toilets available and outside showers and taps. Camping there is also available (phone 9974 1011 Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park). Reviewed by Bettibeetle 6/4/2000
Mona Vale Beach, Surfview Road. Huge beach with 2 bays. One side is rougher surf, but the smaller more north end has gentler waves. Two beach pools available - one for big swimmers and one for the littlies. Recommend you don't go at high tide as the waves will crash against the pool - too much of a temptation for the kids (I know I found it exciting when I was younger!) Toilets, showers etc are at the Surfclub, a couple of takeaway shops at each end of the carpark, and a open playground with picnic tables etc across the road from the carpark. Short walk for those travelling by bus - get off at Pittwater Road near the Bus Depot and walk 10 mins to the beach. Parking at beaches in this area attract a parking fee - display & pay. Reviewed by bettibeetle 7/4/2000
Child-friendly Restaurants & Cafes
Cafe Mirrabelle at Bonds Nursery at Terrey Hills, Mona Vale Road, just before the turn off to Terrey Hills Shopping Centre. This is actually a plant nursery, but they have recently added a cafe with a children's playground. The cafe is completely covered and overlooks the play area (play area is unfortunately not covered - could do with some shade cloth). The menu is pretty standard cafe style and prices. Reviewed by bettibeetle 28/4/2000
Cafe Piermonte at Hills Flower Market at Terrey Hills, 287 Mona Vale Road. This is actually a flower shop, but they have recently expanded to include a restuarant/cafe, which overlooks a children's play area (seems to be the in-thing at the moment, but then that's great for us!). The usual cafe style menu, and prices. Reviewed by bettibeetle 6/5/2000
Waratah Park at Duffys Forest, Namba Road - Phone 9450 2377. This is where the TV series "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" was filmed. Wander along the paths to find many Australian native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, emus etc. You can see the TV set of the series still there. Have a picnic, BBQ facilities available or eat at the kiosk. Open every day from 10am to 5pm. Entry Adult $12.90, Child $6.50, Family $34.90 Reviewed by Bettibeetle 6/4/2000
Strollers Pramwalkers Group. Walking group for mums. Babies must be at least one month old or have clearance by Doctor. Meet up at the following places: Narrabeen Post Office at Narraben shops on Pittwater Road (next to Woolworths), 9am every Tuesday and Thursday. DY Surf Club at The Strand at DY,9am Tuesdays and 2pm Thursdays. North Steyne Surf Club at North Steyne Road at Manly 2pm Tuesdays and 9am Thursdays. NOTE: No walk during the Easter Week.