Wikipedia:WikiProject Sydney/Parks and gardens

Sydney's Parks and Gardens
They are nearly all free to enter, and offer a more casual atmosphere than the gardens in many European cities. Even in the city parks, walking on the grass is not only permitted but encouraged, and picnics are common.

Royal Botanic Gardens
The largest park in Sydney, and situated next to the CBD, the Royal Botanic Gardens were first established in 1816 and they are now one of Sydney's finest natural assets. The gardens also offer some of the best views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge possible. The 30 hectares of gardens are home to over a million specimens, some of which were planted by the newly arrived European colonists almost 200 years ago. The gardens were also home to Australia's first vegetable patch and you can visit the site where Governor Phillip planted the first European vegetables more than two centuries ago.

The gardens are also home to the Sydney Tropical Centre that is enclosed in an impressive glass pyramid. Deeper within the gardens you'll find the Herb Garden, The Fernery, a formal Rose Garden, Succulent Garden, the newly completed Oriental Garden and a section dedicated to Rare and Threatened Plants of the World which includes a specimen of one of the rarest plants in the world, the recently discovered Wollemi Pine.

Admission is free to all features of the gardens with the exception of the Tropical Centre.

Hyde Park
Hyde Park is the city's central open green space and it was named after the Hyde Park in London, however, its origins are somewhat different. Originally the Park was a racecourse and sporting ground playing host to all manners of competition. Today the only reminder of its early 19th century competitive heritage is the huge playable chess set that features on the western side of the Park.

The tranquil setting is popular among office workers who want some fresh air, a quick siesta or some time out from the concrete jungle. The central pathway through the park is an impressive, tiled, fig lined road linking two of the parks other features, the Archibald Fountain and the War Memorial.

The War Memorial is a 1934 art deco tribute to the Anzac soldiers who fell in the first world war. The memorial stands 30 metres above the pool of remembrance and there is a photograph exhibition underneath the building.

Over the summer months the Park is a hive of activity, particularly during the Festival of Sydney when there is plenty of free entertainment.

Admission to the Park and War Memorial is free.

Centennial Park
Centennial Park's 220 hectares of open space provide the perfect setting for a day out. On a sunny weekend the Park is host to Sydneysiders playing ball with their dogs, horseriding, kite flying, rollerblading, cycling, birdwatching, barbecueing, picnicking and practically anything else you can imagine people doing in the great outdoors. There are many sports fields, as well as equestrian grounds and bicycle tracks.

Since the Park was created in 1888 to commemorate 100 years of British settlement it has been transformed from a bleak and sandy area into a mixture of manicured lawns, rolling open spaces, native and exotic trees, lakes and sporting fields.

The outdoor moonlight cinema operates in the Centennial Park Amphitheatre during the summer months from November to February. The Park also has a restaurant that is open for breakfast and lunch daily with the exception of Saturday when it's only open for breakfast.

Admission to the Park is free. Rollerblades, bicycles and horses are available for a hire fee within the Park, however there are restrictions on where dogs can go, and areas where they must be on a leash.

The Domain
Since the Sydney Domain was set aside in 1788 by Governor Phillip it has constantly battled for survival under increasing pressure from development. The governor's "private domain" originally extended to where Circular Quay is today, however, the completion of the Cahill Expressway, government financial constraints and other construction has, over time, undermined the spatial relationship between it and other remaining natural areas in the vicinity.

The Domain was opened to the Public in the 1830's. In the 1850's it was used for military, sporting and ceremonial events and it has been a gathering place for political meetings and soap box oratories ever since. It is also popular with city workers at lunchtimes.

During the summer months the large grassy expanse is transformed into a venue for outdoor concerts and performances culminating in a huge community gathering for Carols by Candlelight, a Sydney institution, at Christmas.

Admission to the Domain is free as are all of the concerts and performances held there, but be sure to get there early if you want to be able to see the stage.

Cook and Phillip Park
Cook & Phillip Park was opened in 1999. The Park provides almost 4 hectares of public space on the corner of William and College Streets, next to St Mary's Cathedral.

The Park was built in response to the growing demand by workers and residents for inner city recreation space. The Park features indoor and outdoor multi-use courts, an 8-lane 50-metre pool, a leisure pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a gym, an indoor recreation centre, meeting rooms and children's play area.

The Park also has a modern oriental feel about it with water features and grassed terraces throughout. There is also an open lawn, seating areas and a cafe/kiosk open for lunch.

Admission to the Park itself is free. Money is required for the pool and gym. The recreation facilities are open 7 days a week.