Barangaroo Reserve opens six hectares of restored harbour foreshore parkland on the Sydney CBD waterfront

Barangaroo Reserve is a six-hectare public park on the Sydney harbour foreshore, located on the western edge of the CBD between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the International Towers development. The reserve opened to the public in 2015 as part of the $6 billion Barangaroo precinct redevelopment, which transformed a former container terminal and naval base into a mixed-use area of parkland, commercial towers, residential apartments and cultural facilities. The reserve is managed by the City of Sydney and is open daily from 6am to 10pm, with free entry and no booking required.

The park's design is based on the concept of headland park, which restores the natural shoreline that existed before European settlement. More than 75,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses have been planted across the site, with species selected to reflect the vegetation that would have grown on the headland before the arrival of the First Fleet. The plantings include Sydney red gum, Port Jackson fig, banksia and warrigal, and they have been arranged in dense clusters that provide habitat for birds, lizards and insects. The park also includes a series of wetland areas that filter stormwater before it enters the harbour, improving water quality in the adjacent Blackwattle Bay.

Walking and cycling paths

The main path through Barangaroo Reserve is a 1.2-kilometre waterfront walkway that runs from the northern tip of the reserve at the Harbour Bridge to the southern boundary at the International Towers. The path is sealed and level, making it suitable for walkers, joggers, cyclists and people with mobility aids. The path is separated from the road and pedestrian areas, and it provides continuous harbour views across to the North Shore, Luna Park and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The path is popular with commuters who cycle from the inner west to the CBD, and it is also used by tourists who want to walk from the Rocks to the Barangaroo wharf.

A second path runs along the top of the headland, providing views across the reserve and back toward the city skyline. The headland path passes a series of lookouts, picnic areas and public art installations, including the 2018 sculpture by the Aboriginal artist Judy Watson, which commemorates the Gadigal people's connection to the land and water of the Sydney Harbour area. The sculpture is located near the southern entrance to the reserve, and it is accompanied by a series of bronze plaques that explain the history of the site from an Indigenous perspective.

Cultural and community facilities

Barangaroo Reserve includes the Barangaroo Visitor Centre, which is located near the southern entrance and provides information about the park's history, ecology and cultural significance. The visitor centre has interactive displays, a small cafe and a shop selling books and gifts. The centre also runs free guided walks each weekend, with rangers and volunteer guides leading groups through the park to explain the native plantings, the wildlife and the Aboriginal history of the site.

The reserve is also home to the Barangaroo Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which is located in the southern section of the park near the Watermans Cove. The centre presents exhibitions and public programs that explore the history and culture of the Gadigal people and other Aboriginal groups from the Sydney region. The centre's permanent exhibition includes artefacts, photographs and oral histories that document the impact of European settlement on the harbour foreshore, and it also provides information about the Gadigal people's ongoing connection to the land and water.

Public transport and access

Barangaroo Reserve is accessible by public transport from the Circular Quay station, which is a five-minute walk across the Harbour Bridge. The reserve is also served by the Barangaroo ferry wharf, which is located at the northern tip of the park and provides services from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Parramatta. The Wynyard train station is a 10-minute walk from the southern entrance, and there are bus stops on King Street and Clarence Street that are within a 15-minute walk of the reserve.

The park has limited car parking in the Barangaroo carpark, which is located beneath the International Towers and is accessible from Hickson Road. Parking is free for the first two hours on weekdays, and it is free all day on weekends. The carpark fills quickly on fine weekends and public holidays, and visitors are encouraged to use public transport, walking or cycling to access the reserve.

The City of Sydney's Barangaroo Reserve page is at cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. The Barangaroo Delivery Authority's website is at barangaroo.com. Explore more Sydney parks and public spaces at the Culture & Escapes hub.

Explore more Sydney parks and public spaces at the Culture & Escapes hub Read about Sydney's city precincts and development at The City hub