Parsley Bay Reserve, Beach & Playground

One of the most idyllic park-playground-beach combos in the East. Excellent for avoiding the crowds, peace and quiet, safe baby and toddler swimming & finding shade on a hot day.

Hidden half way up a residential street and down a steep lane lies one of the best-kept secrets in the Eastern Suburbs. The absolutely stunning Parsley Bay Reserve is a park, a beach, a bushland walk, and a great kids playground all in one. Being a bit off the beaten track and with limited parking at the reserve itself, keeps this glorious space clear of the masses.

The large flat grassy and dog free reserve slopes gently on to a beautiful clean flat beach then into the most perfect wave-less shallow bay with protected swimming area which makes this reserve an ideal safe relaxing play spot for your little ones.

The reserve is ringed completely by large trees so you’ll always be able to find good shade at any time of the day. There’s no BBQ’s but plentiful picnic tables under the trees making it an ideal venue for your kids birthday party. There are public toilets with showers and a kiosk for drinks, coffee, sandwiches and snacks.

There’s a little bush walk leading to a little waterfall and bridge over the bay, see if you can spot the resident water dragons on the way.

The well maintained Parsley Bay Playground is excellent for the under 5s, with good easy climbing for toddlers; partly shaded with trees, there’s a nice climbing fort with tunnels and 3 slides, a see-saw and 4 swings, 2 with baby buckets.

During weekends and school holidays the reserve is at it’s busiest, but never busy enough that you can’t find a good patch of space to call your own. The car park gets full up quickly so arrive early if you want a spot right on the reserve otherwise you need to park on the surrounding residential streets and get your stuff down the little lane.

Shhhhhh! …. If you visit on weekdays out of school holidays before 3pm you’ll be lucky to find 10 people enjoying this incredible place.