Best New Family Walks in Sydney to Try This Spring School Holidays
🌿 New Walks to Explore Near Sydney With the Kids
Spring has finally sprung — and after a winter that felt like one long rain shower, Sydney has turned on the sunshine 🌞. The days are warmer, the skies are clear, and with the spring school holidays in full swing, it’s the perfect time to swap screens for sneakers and get the kids outdoors. Whether you’re chasing wildflowers, harbour views, or just a way to burn off that holiday energy, Sydney’s newest walks are ready to deliver.
Here’s what’s fresh, family-friendly, and worth exploring right now.
🏰 Middle Head – Gubbuh Gubbuh to Georges Head (Mosman)
That missing link along the harbour is finally here! This new 3km track winds from Middle Head to Georges Head with jaw-dropping views over Sydney Harbour. Expect restored military fortifications, new lookouts, and plenty of “wow” moments. Great for curious kids who love a story and parents keen for a mini history lesson.
Take the kids exploring along Governor’s Road, where 19th-century cottages lead to the Inner Fort and its underground tunnel network. Head further south to Outer Middle Head to discover a maze of canons, gun emplacements, and even the infamous “tiger cages” used as training structures. Interpretive signage and old photographs help bring the stories of the soldiers who once worked here to life.
Follow the Middle Head – Gubbuh Gubbuh to Georges Head track (3km) for big views and gentle hiking. Short on time? The Don Goodsir track offers a quick detour to the 1801 battery — the oldest fort on the headland. And if you’re visiting on a hot day, Cobblers Beach (yes, clothing optional!) is a short wander down for a dip in a hidden cove.
Quick Guide
- 📍 Middle Head Rd, Mosman
- 🚗 Paid parking at Middle Head carpark
- 🚶♀️ 3km one way (6km return) – not pram-friendly
- 🍎 Bring snacks + water, limited facilities nearby
- ☕ Closest coffee: Mosman village cafés
🌺 Broad Swamp Walks – Gardens of Stone (Lithgow)
Looking for a proper family adventure? The Broad Swamp to Birds Rock walking track in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is a 17.5km one-way trail packed with swamps, creeks, towering forests, deep gorges, and those Insta-worthy sandstone pagoda formations. Just outside Lithgow (around 2.5 hours from Sydney), this track is a great option for families with older kids or teens who love a challenge and don’t mind a full-day hike.
The reward? Sweeping views from Carne View lookout, ancient rock formations you won’t see anywhere else, and the kind of wide-open wilderness that makes screens feel a world away.
Quick Guide
- 📍 Gardens of Stone SCA
- 🚗 Car required, ~2.5 hrs from Inner West
- 🚶♀️ Loop: 6km (1–2 hrs); Long track: 17.5km – not pram-friendly
- 🍎 Picnic spots along the route
- ☕ Best pit stop: Lithgow cafés
🌊 Kangaroo Point Boardwalk (Brooklyn)
There’s a breathtaking new way to soak up the natural beauty of the Hawkesbury River 🌿. The Kangaroo Point Boardwalk – a spectacular 1km elevated path weaving through untouched mangroves and bushland — has just opened, creating a safe and accessible route between Kangaroo Point and Seymours Creek.
Perfect for families, cyclists, or anyone chasing big views and fresh air, the boardwalk delivers panoramic river vistas, shady rest stops, and seamless links to Brooklyn village, nearby bushwalks and even Dangar Island. Just over an hour from Sydney’s CBD, it’s a must for a weekend wander, with coffee and treats waiting at Brooklyn when you’re done.
Quick Guide
- 📍 Kangaroo Point, Brooklyn
- 🚗 Free parking near Kangaroo Point
- 🚶♀️ 1km flat boardwalk – pram + stroller friendly
- 🍎 Picnic tables on site
- ☕ Coffee nearby in Brooklyn village
🌳 Gabrugal Yana (Western Sydney)
This 11km loop walk connects you with Dharug Country and culture, sharing the story of the six Dharug seasonsthrough striking artworks created by First Nations artists. Along the way, you’ll discover six hand-crafted art trees, each representing the changing seasons of this Country.
The trail offers sweeping views to Gulamada (Blue Mountains) and the eastern Sydney skyline. Expect incredible biodiversity — native plants, birdlife, and animals — as well as resting spots and lookouts along the route.
The name says it all: Gabrugal (also known as Cabrogal) are the people of the area around Fairfield and Liverpool, whose clan totem is the mangrove or ship worm. Yana means walk.
Quick Guide
- 📍Gabrugal Yana, Cecil Park
- 🚗 Free parking at Plough and Harrow Park
- 🚶♀️ 11km loop – partial sections doable with kids, not pram-friendly
- 🍎 BBQs + picnic shelters available
- ☕ Coffee: Abbotsbury or Cecil Hills shops
🌿 Want more? Check out this article on a beginner’s bush walk ay Balls Head Reserve.
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