Lake Parramatta Reserve
Lake Parramatta Reserve
Lake Parramatta Reserve
4.5
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Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
122
Very good
81
Average
17
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Sarah H
11 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
I absolutely love this place, and visit several times when I’m home in nearby Carlingford during the summer.
The main draw card for me is the swimming. The little “beach” area is so picturesque and a delightful place to spend a couple hours on a sunny day. The water is beautiful and refreshing, and sand has recently been added to the area where you enter the water, making entry and exit easier. There’s a shallow area as you enter that is perfect for kids, but more confident swimmers can swim out further to deeper water within the cordoned area. It’s also possible to swim past the cordoned area into more open water and you aren’t stopped from doing so by the lifeguards. This is especially handy for people with stand up paddle boards, etc.
There are some nice rocky areas and a few picnic tables nearby as well.
A little further up from the water, they have a little park for kids and a grassed area with more picnic tables and barbecues.
You can hire pedalos/kayaks, but it’s quite pricey and can be a long wait. Good fun if you have the time and funds, though.
Parking can be a bit difficult, so would recommend getting there early, especially on a hot day. If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, there’s also street parking at the entrance to the reserve, maybe a 10 minute walk.
There’s a cafe on site that I wouldn’t bother with. Ordered caramel milkshakes and 2 types of cake and they were awful. Milkshakes were tasteless (apart from vague sour milk taste) and the cakes were dry and not very tasty.
The main draw card for me is the swimming. The little “beach” area is so picturesque and a delightful place to spend a couple hours on a sunny day. The water is beautiful and refreshing, and sand has recently been added to the area where you enter the water, making entry and exit easier. There’s a shallow area as you enter that is perfect for kids, but more confident swimmers can swim out further to deeper water within the cordoned area. It’s also possible to swim past the cordoned area into more open water and you aren’t stopped from doing so by the lifeguards. This is especially handy for people with stand up paddle boards, etc.
There are some nice rocky areas and a few picnic tables nearby as well.
A little further up from the water, they have a little park for kids and a grassed area with more picnic tables and barbecues.
You can hire pedalos/kayaks, but it’s quite pricey and can be a long wait. Good fun if you have the time and funds, though.
Parking can be a bit difficult, so would recommend getting there early, especially on a hot day. If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, there’s also street parking at the entrance to the reserve, maybe a 10 minute walk.
There’s a cafe on site that I wouldn’t bother with. Ordered caramel milkshakes and 2 types of cake and they were awful. Milkshakes were tasteless (apart from vague sour milk taste) and the cakes were dry and not very tasty.
Written 29 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona F
Sydney, Australia383 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
As a family we love going to lake parramatta it’s so close to home. You can take your dog on a lead and it’s a great place to walk you dog. Kids missing swimming at this time of year but when the weather warms up we will be at parramatta lake a lot.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Dodgy people!
I went there on Sunday, the 6th if August midday. I went to the “dodgy” guy the business owner had put there to hire a single kayak for one hour. Top of my head it was $40 from previously looking at the website. He said no it’s $50. After the payment went through I checked and showed him the website rates, he said it’s ok I’ll ask my boss to refund you. After I returned the kayak, he said I talked to my boss he will refund you tomorrow. After a few days nothing happened, I tried the Google phone number and the website one, and texting both numbers, zero response!
These dodgy people shouldn’t be allowed to operate the public assets.
I went there on Sunday, the 6th if August midday. I went to the “dodgy” guy the business owner had put there to hire a single kayak for one hour. Top of my head it was $40 from previously looking at the website. He said no it’s $50. After the payment went through I checked and showed him the website rates, he said it’s ok I’ll ask my boss to refund you. After I returned the kayak, he said I talked to my boss he will refund you tomorrow. After a few days nothing happened, I tried the Google phone number and the website one, and texting both numbers, zero response!
These dodgy people shouldn’t be allowed to operate the public assets.
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona F
Sydney, Australia383 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
My family and I just love this place. We have been going after school several times a week since school has gone back. It’s refreshing and a great place to chill any day of the week. I love just floating around on a noodle whilst the children swim . Just a wonderful place.
Written 9 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R H
13 contributions
Oct 2022
When I asked for bacon and eggs for breakfast I was told that the owner is MUSLUM and because of that refuses to serve BACON ..
I find it offensive to be told what I am not permitted to eat because of someone else’s religion.
I find it offensive to be told what I am not permitted to eat because of someone else’s religion.
Written 10 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roboSydney
Sydney, Australia197 contributions
May 2022
Great for bushwalks and picnics. We often go for a circuit around the Lake. There is also a cafe and toilets on site.
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
northbeachgirl2015
Christchurch, New Zealand12 contributions
Apr 2022
While staying in Parramatta, I was taken to an unexpected gem in the middle of the city. Expansive hilly grassed areas rolled down to a pictuesque lake. Boats were available for hire the whole lake was surrounded by bush, and there is a walk through this around the lake. It is big enough to take about an hour and it is hilly enough to give one good exercise. Good walking shoes are recommended. The path is easily walked by able bodied people and children. In the picnic area there a good amenities and plenty of shelters to sit at. There is also a cafe, which is operational daily except on Good Friday, which is when I went.
Written 23 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnthonyGum
Sydney, Australia38 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Beautiful place, great place for families, walking and BBQs. We came here and did the walk and had lunch at the local cafe. Well worth the trip.
Written 21 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Walter L
Sydney, Australia22 contributions
Dec 2021
Do visit this park if you wish to have a peaceful and relaxing a picnic to enjoy and you will not regret it
Written 13 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzanne S
8 contributions
Dec 2021
On a nice cool day got to wander along the riverbank and over to the Dairy Cottage, really pleasant space away from the noise and traffic.
Written 25 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mpras1978
Sydney, Australia
Hi, I read online that Lake Parramatta is dog friendly however the paying is from 2014. Anyone know if it still is?
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia45,458 contributions
You can take your dog for a walk in the Lake Parramatta Reserve, but it MUST be on a leash at all times! According to Parramatta City Council you must:
Keep cats out of the reserve and ensure dogs are on a leash at all times.
Remain on the established tracks when walking in the reserve as the bushland is fragile and does not tolerate disturbance and the creation of additional tracks.
No cycling or mountain biking on the narrow walking tracks (except the eastern fire-trail) to minimise disturbance to native fauna and damage to sensitive vegetation.
Expedition98329
Sydney, Australia
Can you bring your own grill/coal bbq?
Kirssten
Sydney, Australia62 contributions
I have seen people do it before. Not that this means that it is legal, but it has been done.
Can you go there on Sunday? I'm not a robot
Greg E
Sydney, Australia88 contributions
Yes you can!
If I want to run the trails should I wear running shoes (ASICS Kayan) or trail shoes (Salomon)?
Noel G
Baulkham Hills, Australia17 contributions
I’ve not done the full loop but would expect you would be better in a pair of trail shoes.
Bill Carlton
Swindon, UK4 contributions
Where do I park if I want to walk around the lake?
sheetal j
25 contributions
There is heaps of parking there. You drive into the reserve and lots of parking few seconds and few minutes away. Parking is also free.
Can you walk across dam wall?
KirstyZee
UK69 contributions
No, but there is a path that takes you down below it and up to the track on the other side.
Misstravel
Sydney, Australia205 contributions
Hi, I want to take some pics of the dam wall, whats the quickest way to get to it?
Kris S
65 contributions
as soon as you enter go left on the path its like 200m away.
not sure if there is a bus direct to the lake
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Claim your listingLAKE PARRAMATTA RESERVE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Parramatta Reserve
- Hotels near Lake Parramatta Reserve:
- (0.74 km) North Parramatta Uniting Venue
- (0.82 km) Bellevue Apartment, Great Amenities and Family Comforts, Parramatta
- (2.17 km) Meriton Suites Church Street
- (2.67 km) SKYE Hotel Suites Parramatta
- (2.24 km) PARKROYAL Parramatta
- Restaurants near Lake Parramatta Reserve:
- (0.09 km) Lake Parramatta Cafe
- (0.42 km) K.B Chickens North Rocks
- (2.26 km) Kouzina Greco
- (2.30 km) Sahra By The River
- (0.68 km) Romano's Pizza & Pasta