Pack Your Picnic

Pack your basket with gorgeous food and pull up a patch of grass in the picnic capital, writes Donna Coutts

Sydney’s great asset is its great outdoors. So why eat inside when you could be out by the harbour? There’s no shortage of perfect picnic spots. And we have plenty of praise for beautiful food shops at which you can pick up the makings of a gourmet spread. Here are some of our favourite shops and spots. Head out, stock up and tuck in.

Mrs Macquaries Chair 
The Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Tel: 9231 8111. www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Major-General Macquarie was the Governor of New South Wales from 1810-1821. His wife, Elizabeth Macquarie, reportedly sat at this spot and watched for ships arriving from England. You can sit here too, on a sandstone bench cut into the headland at Mrs Macquaries Point in The Domain, just outside the Royal Botanic Gardens. Or take your picnic and wander until you find a lawn, a seat or a tree that suits your needs. There are open, sunny lawns such as Farm Cove and shady, hidden corners. The gardens are open 7am-8pm in summer and entry is free. Walk from Circular Quay ferries or trains or from city hotels.

Pack your basket at David Jones Food Hall (55-77 Market Street, Sydney;  tel: 9266 5544, www.davidjones.com.au)
The difficulty will be leaving without buying enough for everyone in the gardens that day. There’s everything imaginable and of the highest quality, from fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, wine, cheeses and chocolates to sushi, sandwiches and much, much more. 

McKell Park
Northern end of Darling Point Road, Darling Point. Tel: 9391 7000. www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au
You may not be invited but you’re more than likely to share the beautifully manicured lawns around heritage-listed Canonbury Cottage with a wedding party. It’s not a negative: there’s plenty of grass and knockout harbour views and the weddings add to the special-occasion feel of McKell Park. You can sit right at the water’s edge and have a dip, too. Open 7am-dusk. Ferries stop at Darling Point Monday–Friday on the Watsons Bay route from Circular Quay. 

Bottega Del Vino (Shop 1, 77 Macleay Street, Potts Point; tel: 9331 8333, www.bottegadelvino.com.au) is worth making a side trip to on your way to McKell Park, particularly if you’re coming from the city or inner east. Actually, it’s so good it’s worth a trip no matter where you plan to picnic. There’s everything from wine, bread, cheese, hot pies and much, much more. Leave room in the basket for some Adriano Zumbo pastries.

Nielsen Park
Greycliffe Ave, Vaucluse. Tel: 9337 7333. www.nielsenpark.com.au
No one will notice if you only loll about, take in Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House views and eat. But if you’re feeling energetic, walk up to Mount Trefle, along the Hermitage Foreshore Track and take a dip at Shark Beach, which has a netted section and is calm and safe in all but the worst weather. There is a kiosk for last-minute purchases and a café if you’ve forgotten your basket. Open every day 5am-10pm. 

Stop off on your way to the park at Parisi’s of Rose Bay (21 Dover Road, Rose Bay; tel: 9371 2411), a glamorous store for everything good and gorgeous in food. Everything top of the range is here, from fruit and vegies to a huge range of ham. 

Eat with the animals at Taronga Zoo
Bradleys Head Road, Mosman. Tel: 9969 2777. www.taronga.org.au

This has to be one of the best zoo locations, with extraordinary harbour and city views and expansive gardens and lawns. There are cafés, coffee carts and ice cream stalls or, if you can get to Mosman on the way, pack your own picnic basket. You can’t bring alcohol into the zoo but you can buy it from the outdoor Café Treetops and there is a bar within the Taronga Food Market at the zoo. Take a spectacular 12-minute ferry ride direct from Circular Quay or a ferry to Mosman for your picnic shopping first.

Fourth Village Providore (5a Vista Street, Mosman, tel: 9960 7162, www.fourthvillage.com.au) includes a walk-in fromagerie that has to be seen to be believed and plenty of fresh produce and other perfect picnic foods. If you like to spread your purchases, there are many great food shops along Military Road, Mosman.  

Other spots we love

Ashton Park, Mosman, adjacent to Taronga Zoo

Wendy’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay, created by Wendy Whiteley

Cremorne Point, Cremorne, where there’s a public harbour pool

Chowder Bay, Clifton Gardens Beach, on the foreshore at Mosman

Chinamans Beach and Rosherville Reserve, Mosman