Arthur McElhone Reserve

Amazing hidden little spot with a great view of the harbor/​Elizabeth Bay. Very relaxing. Great picnic spot

Great view of the harbour and never as busy as Elizabeth bay park!
The Koi fish are amazing and the park is small but very pleasant. Take a blanket and people leave you alone. A little further to get a coffee but if you are bringing your picnic goods then no problem.
This park used to be the land in front of Elizabeth Bay house so the views in the distance are great.

I discovered this park on my quest for a wedding ceremony venue and I would have to say, this is one of my most favourite finds in Sydney (Spoiler: it rained like mad on our special day and the venue had to be changed indoors. Oh, the sadness.).
In this small space you will find perfectly manicured lush lawns, a watercourse with a sandstone bridge and ponds filled with koi carp. All that delight along with amazing Sydney harbour views. Its not like other parks with facilities to entice, but instead a beautiful garden that you can enjoy on most days on your very own!
A perfect picnic or chill out place, or venue for those special but intimte numbered occasions.

This hidden little garden has played host to many of my picnics, sunning sessions and general hangover veg-​outs, and I’m not sure I should even be spilling the secret… I think it’s one of the best little spots in Sydney. Very few people know about it or come here, so often it will just be me and the goldfish. Yep, it has giant koi carp swimming about in the ornamental ponds. Pause on the sandstone bridge to watch them, before finding a spot on the lush grass with views of the harbour. This little reserve is so stunningly beautiful, it’s been the site of more than a few wedding ceremonies over the years. Try to nab a park in one of the nearby streets, but watch the time because they’re all limited and the parking inspectors are vigilant.

There are a tonne of parks in Sydney, and many of them have awesome playgrounds, clean toilet blocks, good access, and they are a safe place to let kids run riot. This park… has none of those features… and yet is still one of my all favourites.
It is peaceful. Fish pond. Small bridge. Awesome view. Soft grass. Not much traffic. Simply awesome.
And yet, because of it’s location, nearly no one knows about it. So um… how about we keep this a secret between you and me eh??? :-)