Treating dad this Father’s Day doesn’t have to break the bank
You don’t have to clean out your piggy bank this Father’s Day, on 6 September; there are plenty of free walks and rainy-day activities available for everyone to enjoy. Here are a few of our favourites.
Wendy’s Secret Garden
Wendy Whiteleys’s Secret Garden isn’t really a secret anymore. The garden is nestled in Lavender Bay, not far from Sydney Harbour Bridge and is like an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney.
There are tiered gardens, great views to the Harbour Bridge, different pathways to check out, sculptures and probably a few brush turkeys. Seats are scattered throughout, the perfect place to bring a picnic or a takeaway coffee and enjoy the serenity. There are steps and steep inclines so if you have mobility issues, visit wendyssecretgarden.org.au for advice.
Bradfield Park Heritage Walk
The Bradfield Park Heritage Walk is a self-guided interpretive trail through the heritage-listed Bradfield Park North, located between Burton Street and Lavender Street. The walk commemorates the impact that the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge had, when 3,000 people were affected by the loss of up to 500 homes and shops. Visit northsydney.nsw.gov.au
Cremorne Point Foreshore Walk
Cremorne Point Reserve has sweeping harbour views from an easy loop-walk on paved paths that will take about 40 minutes and you can learn about the Indigenous history of the area with signage along way. There are some great picnic areas to enjoy the views. To drive there, turn off Military Road at Cremorne into Murdoch Street, head towards Milsons Road and follow it to the end – though parking is limited. You can also catch a ferry to Cremorne Point or take the Cremorne Wharf bus from Neutral Bay Junction. Visit northsydney.nsw.gov.au
Walk in the steps of artists
Follow the Mosman Art Trail and walk in the steps of well-known artists and see where they got their inspiration. The trail is a unique walk with signage at the spots that inspired local artists. It’s a 10 km circuit but you could just do certain sections if you like. QR codes give access to audio recordings read by actor Claudia Karvan, who explains the history of each work. If it’s raining, catch an exhibition at the gallery. Visit mosmanartgallery.org.au
Have a chill day at home
Chill with popcorn and your favourite movies or play some fun board games – get the whole family involved. Maybe there’s a difficult 1,000-piece jigsaw you have been meaning to get stuck into and dad could help finish it or maybe you’d like to build some Lego. You could throw down a rug in the lounge and set up an indoor picnic or if dad is a foodie, you could rustle something up together in the kitchen. Whatever you do, your dad will just love spending time with you.
