Berry Island

Berry Island Reserve is one of those neat little city sanctuaries that only a city like Sydney with its beautiful harbor would have. I take my daughter there — rain or shine — and carry her around the Gadyan Track in a Baby Bjorn. It feels like you are going for a bush walk in the country — you certainly don’t feel like you’re a 10 minute drive and with in sight of the harbor bridge. Make sure you wear good shoes as the track is rocky in areas and muddy when it rains. But don’t let that stop you as it is sure to nourish the most smokey of city slicker souls. The kookaburras are in abundance and whenever I’ve been there during the week I’ve passed only one or two people on the track so it’s not (yet) over run by people.
There is a large open grassy area for dogs to run around (yes dog lovers they’re allowed on a leash in the bushland areas) and a good slide and swing set for the kids to play on.
To get there you follow Shirley Road in Wollstonecraft or walk 5 to 10 minutes from Wollstonecraft railway station. It’s a steep walk down to get to the reserve so even the fittest people be prepared to sweat on the way home.