Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve is one of only a few specialised gardens in Sydney devoted entirely to Australian native plants.
The reserve covers an area of 2.2 hectares and is crossed by four kilometres of sealed paths. Many plants are labelled, and a section has been established to display Aboriginal food and medicinal plants. The vast array of native plants forms a delightfully relaxing garden and is home to multiple birds and other native fauna.
There's plenty to do while you're there; explore the gardens, enjoy a picnic or barbecue, take in the city views and get inspiration for your own garden.
Sylvania Par Three is a welcoming, easy‑to‑play golf course set across 15 acres of level, well‑maintained grounds in Sutherland Shire. Designed to be accessible and enjoyable, the course is ideal for golfers of all ages and abilities.
The club hosts a range of social competitions throughout the year, creating a relaxed and enjoyable way to play. Visitors can also try Soccer Golf — a fun twist on the traditional game that combines soccer skills with golf rules, offering a playful experience for groups, families and first‑time players.
18 holes two players two hours. Drinks delivered to your bay. In the heart of the Sutherland Shire, Kirrawee. Indoor Golf for everyone.
Their vision is to create a space where the love of golf is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, time or schedule.
The Bay is the local heartbeat of the game. A place where technology, hospitality, and community converge to make golf more flexible, inclusive, and socially vibrant than ever before.
Their passion in holding corporate golf events in the Sutherland Shire is also second to none. They love to hold team building events for all sized businesses in the Sutherland Shire.
Step away from the stress of the world and enjoy the peace in the Sutherland Shire's own slice of heaven. Your haven awaits in one of endota's eight treatment rooms, including four double treatment rooms for couples.
Enjoy a relaxation, pregnancy or remedial massage, body exfoliation and clay wrap or allow their diploma-qualified skin therapists to help you address your skin concerns with their advanced facials and professional skincare prescriptions and beauty services. Bring someone special, a group of friends or enjoy some alone time in their haven of wellness.
They are conveniently located inside the Tradies Club. Park in the ample free undercover parking and follow the walkway to the main entrance. They are inside the foyer past the concierge desk. There is a cafe on-site and a rewards programme for members.
endota spa Gymea is South Eastern Sydney's suburban retreat for pure relaxation.
Hazelhurst Arts Centre is a spectacular arts complex offering exhibitions, art courses and workshops, artist talks and special art events. Set amid extensive landscaped gardens, the combination of a major public gallery and community gallery with a comprehensive arts centre, state-of-the-art theatrette, gallery shop and terrace cafe is quite unique providing a "complete creative" resource.
The Hazelhurst Gallery presents an exciting and varied annual program of exhibitions drawn from state and national collections. The Broadhurst Gallery exhibits and sells local artists' work in a regularly changing program. Workshop studios include a print workshop and ceramics studio with the original Hazelhurst cottage on the grounds utilised as an artist-in-residence space. The theatrette hosts a regular programme of films, performances and lectures.
Located five minutes' walk from Gymea Railway Station (Illawarra Line) and a 40 minute drive from Sydney's Central Business District.
Gymea Village boasts a wide range of retail shops, restaurants and cafes. Gymea Village truly has something for everyone. The outdoor village atmosphere is a relaxing alternative to indoor shopping centres.
The convenient location of Gymea Village makes it easily accessible via car or train. Parking is offered both on the shopping strip and in a parking area next to the train line on the southern side of the village.
Meet friends in one of the many cafes and restaurants, enjoy in lunch at the Hazelhurst Cafe, see an exhibition at Hazelhurst Arts Centre and indulge in dinner at popular Fior for a rustic Italian cuisine.
Gymea Village also has a wide range of essential services including real estate, post office, chemists, medical and dental.
Make Gymea Village your next shopping destination.
The park offers the perfect trilogy, featuring a children's playground in Seymour Reserve, a gorgeous picnic area complete with electric barbecues and finally, Moore Reserve is a great place for dogs.
Between the wetland and Oatley Bay sits an off-leash zone for dogs. There is a larger unfenced area along with a fenced leash-free play area.
Moore Reserve is a great connector for locals to either walk or cycle through the park to Oatley Shops or visit the neighbouring popular sports ground, Renown Park.
The circular shared pathway is a great way to keep fit with your bike.
Moore Reserve offers a large parking area if you are planning to visit by car.
Poulton Park entices visitors with its sporting facilities, scenic trails, vibrant birdlife, and an array of activities for all ages to enjoy. Sports enthusiasts will find their paradise with two synthetic football fields and three netball courts awaiting play. The synthetic football fields are designed to provide a high-quality playing surface that remains consistent and safe.
Embark on an adventure through the picturesque trails alongside Oatley Bay Creek, immersing yourself in the serene ambiance. Settle in for a delightful picnic at charming tables alongside the children's playground that is a paradise for young adventurers.
Discover the vibrant creation of First Nations artist Danielle Mate, whose artwork adorns the newly installed bat caves as part of Poulton Park Naturalisation and Habitat Development project.
Nature lovers will be captivated by the vibrant array of birdlife that call this park home. Seek out your favourite feathered friends amongst the lush greenery.
Carss Park Bush Park offers a mix of history and modern fun. Since 1924, it's been a favourite spot, once loved by Scottish craftsman William Carss.
Today, it has lots to enjoy, like the By the Bay Café and Grill, sports fields, bushland walks, and play areas.
There are picnic spots, BBQ areas, and even a place to swim and with plenty of parking, a stage, and more, it's got all you need for a great day out.
Carss Park Bush Park is also home to the Carss Cottage Museum. The Museum focuses on collecting items relating to Kogarah's past and present history.
Carss Park Bush Park is a special place where the old meets new, welcoming everyone to make memories of nature's beauty.
Renown Park is a beautiful green space that offers locals and visitors a welcoming natural retreat. Renown Park is nestled in the Georges River, providing picturesque views of the lush landscapes, which makes it a popular spot for outdoor activities and relaxation.
Renown Park is known for its spacious, well-maintained grounds, which are perfect for a range of recreational activities. The park features open lawns ideal for picnics, ball games, and relaxation, as well as pathways that wind through the area, perfect for a leisurely walk, jog or bike ride.
The Pavilion is a leading centre for arts and entertainment in Sydney's south. Presenting an eclectic program of comedy, music, theatre and dance, it offers audiences a diverse range of performances year‑round.
This contemporary, flexible venue features high‑quality technical facilities and seats up to 686 guests, creating an immersive and engaging cultural experience.
Sutherland Shire is known for its strong local performing arts community and passionate audiences, with The Pavilion providing a home for these companies alongside a dynamic program of Australian and international productions. Designed by acclaimed architects CHROFI and NBRS Architecture, the venue is recognised for its thoughtful and distinctive design.
In March 2014 E.G. Waterhouse National Camellia Gardens was named by the International Camellia Society as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence. It is one of only 40 International Camellia Gardens of Excellence in the world and the only garden of this kind in New South Wales.
Located in Caringbah overlooking beautiful Yowie Bay, Camellia Gardens is a favourite with Sutherland Shire residents and visitors alike.
The garden began as a project under the 1970 Captain Cook Bicentenary program, and the first plantings were made in 1969. They are named after the late Professor EG Waterhouse, a leading world authority on camellias, who lived in Sydney. The garden has grown over the years into its present beauty, in part to the generous donations by numerous groups and individuals.
While you're at the Camellia Gardens be sure to stop in at The Jade Teahouse, a cafe that merges the indoors with the visual inspiration of the gardens for a range of organic teas, along with vegan, dairy free and gluten free goodies.
Nestled along the Georges River, Lime Kiln Bay, and Jewfish Bay, Oatley Park covers 45 hectares of Sydney's prime bushland, attracting visitors year-round. Families enjoy picnics at Steamroller Park, featuring the Inclusive Adventure Playground with a 12-metre play tower, slide, flying fox, and custom swings set among extensive landscaping.
For those interested in history, the historic Oatley Castle, built in 1937, offers facilities like electric barbeques and can be hired for private events. The park's Jewfish Bay Baths, one of New South Wales' largest swimming enclosures at 320 metres, provides a perfect spot for a refreshing swim.
Walkers and cyclists can enjoy the wildlife of Oatley Park, which is home to over 310 plant species and 107 bird species. As you cover the park's pathways, you might also encounter numerous reptiles, possums, bats, and echidnas along your journey.
Significant too are traces of Aboriginal heritage, including rock carvings and shell middens, evidencing thousands of years of history of the Bidjigal people of the Eora nation.
Oatley Park remains a treasured spot for all who appreciate natural and historical richness.
When you play golf at the Beverley Park Golf Club, you will enjoy a challenging par 70 Course that is just as enjoyable walking as carting.
Beverley Park Golf Club is an eighteen-hole public course located in the heartland of the St George district, situated fifteen minutes south Of Sydney Airport, a ten minute walk from Carlton Railway Station and accessible via all of the major arterial roads in Sydney.
Hurstville Entertainment Centre (HEC) is a premier hireable venue in the Georges River area, located in southern Sydney.
HEC features two separate performance spaces that cater for a wide range of entertainment, events, conferences, exhibitions and movies.
The Marana Auditorium boasts the character and charm of a classic ballroom and features a flexible floor plan that can accommodate 921 seated over two levels, or 1,000 standing, including tiered balcony seating.
The Marana Auditorium features a digital sound and lighting system, a 19.5-metre wide x 8.8 metre deep stage, with an additional 9-metre x 2.1-metre orchestra pit.
Other highlights include a grand entrance foyer, box office, cloakroom, and refreshment bar.
The Civic Theatre accommodates 209 seated and is a multi-purpose venue that can cater to film screenings, conferences and seminars, auctions and performances. The Civic Theatre is equipped with a 10.5-metre stage, data projector, digital laser projector and sound system.
Throughout its history, HEC has been host to live performances from AC/DC, Skyhooks, Sherbert, the Wiggles, Ahn Do, Lisa Marie Presley, Play School – Live in Concert, Molly Ringwald, Lah-Lah, The Manhattan Transfer, Don McLean and more.
Hurstville Museum & Gallery opened in 2004. It is the only regional museum and gallery in the St George district.
It is dedicated to preserving the unique history of the St George region, as well as working with local communities to develop exciting art and history exhibitions and public programs.
A popular destination for thousands of local and interstate visitors each year, the Museum & Gallery is a vibrant hub of community activity, with regular talks, programs and special events. The Museum & Gallery also offers a range of syllabus-linked educational programs for primary and secondary students.
It is home to over 6,000 objects and artworks from the local area. Hurstville Museum & Gallery offers a full schedule of high-quality exhibitions throughout the year, coordinates an Artist-in-Residence and public art program and offers a diverse range of public programs for all ages.
The Woronora River is a pristine waterway running through deep valleys and peaceful surroundings. It is a place of great beauty offering boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing, with plenty of opportunity to stop off for a picnic and bushwalking.
Once the domain of the Indigenous Dharawal ‘freshwater people’, the mouth of the Woronora River was noted by the young adventurers Bass and Flinders during their exploration of the Georges River in 1795.
Woronora is said to be an Aboriginal word meaning ‘black rock’.
Whether you're a cricket fan, cycling enthusiast, or history lover, Hurstville Oval offers a rich sporting heritage and community spirit. This multi-use venue features a charming grandstand and the Blackshaw Gould Pavilion, making it a must-visit for sports enthusiasts and history buffs alike.
Home to the St. George Cricket Club since 1921, Hurstville Oval has a notable connection with legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, who played there from 1926 to 1933. Today, it remains the proud base of the St. George District Cricket Club.
The oval serves as a valuable green space for local residents and visitors, providing an outlet for leisure activities, soccer, school sports, and social gatherings. It also hosts community events, making it a cherished hub for diverse recreational pursuits.
Additionally, Hurstville Oval's velodrome enhances its appeal, offering a dedicated space for the St. George Cycling Club to train and compete.
Visit Hurstville Oval to experience Australian sports history and enjoy its vibrant activities today.
Nestled in Sydney's South, Woolooware Golf Course is a tranquil journey through tall gums, melalucas and many indigenous plants. Each hole with subtle mounding and bunkering has its own character, a test for the accomplished and beginner golfer. Woolooware Golf Club is situated in the picturesque Sutherland Shire s, just a short distance from the beautiful beaches of Cronulla.
Apart from a well-maintained golf course, Woolooware Golf Club includes a Clubhouse overlooking the golf course. The course is 18 holes and is available for public use.
Gannons Park offers a fascinating blend of history and modern amenities for visitors. The park caters to both sports enthusiasts and nature lovers, with top-level sporting fields hosting weekend competitions and a lower level featuring a spacious off-leash dog park. Connected by a shared pathway, frequented by walkers and cyclists, Gannons Park integrates environmental sustainability harvesting up to 26 million litres of water that is used to irrigate the park
Visitors can enjoy facilities such as a large off-leash dog area, shared walking/cycling tracks, a new amenities block, BBQ facilities, picnic furniture, and water stations for both humans and their furry friends. Whether seeking outdoor recreation or tranquil nature walks, Gannons Park offers a diverse and immersive experience for all.
Preserving Sydney's electric tramway history, a wholly volunteer organisation, established in 1955 as the Australian Electric Transport Museum, Sydney Tramway Museum is a pioneer living (hands-on) museum, located since 1988 adjacent to Loftus Railway Station on the Waterfall Line.
The museum provides a nostalgic and educational insight, preserving examples of public transportation in Sydney during the period of tramway operation from 1861 to 1961, with trams operating, plus restoration works-in-progress, exhibits and photos depicting their development and operation.
Trams carry passengers towards Sutherland (1 km) and to The Royal National Park along the former railway line (2 km). From the latter terminus, walks can be taken to Bungoona Lookout (1 km), to Audley (2 km) and elsewhere in the R.N.P. (N.P.W.S.)
Check the website for further details.
The Museum houses an extensive collection of Sydney trams from 1896 to 1952, including the unique prison tram, plus trams from Brisbane, Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, San Francisco, Nagasaki, Berlin, Munich and Milan, enabling comparisons between the different tramcar designs.
The museum also houses Sydney's last remaining double-deck trolley bus, plus a double-deck diesel bus on display. Includes Sydney tram 29, restored to original condition, as would have appeared in George Street from 1899, the start of the electric tram service in the city.
The bookshop sells a range of books, postcards, and souvenirs; the kiosk sells light refreshments.
Jubilee Stadium is the premium sporting venue in the Georges River Local Government Area, with a capacity for 20,000 people. It serves as the host for a diverse range of sporting codes, special events and film productions, while proudly serving as the home ground for the St George Illawarra Dragons. Distinguished by its state-of-the-art Tahoma Couch playing surface, the Stadium is equipped to seamlessly manage back-to-back events.
The Stadium offers 2,000 corporate seats, four dressing rooms, and three multifunctional event spaces. Each event space is designed to maximise natural light and adaptability to suit any style of event.
Conveniently located just a brief drive from Sydney Airport, the stadium offers stunning views across Botany Bay and is a short walk from Carlton train station.
Olds Park in Penshurst unveils its major upgrade with a state-of-the-art skate park, designed to be a hub for both novice and experienced skaters. Overlooking this vibrant space is the "Knucker" Dragon Statue, a striking creation by renowned artist Dillon MacEwan. This sculpture is uniquely crafted from parts of skateboards and bicycles, along with metal salvaged from the original 1970s skate park ramps. It serves as a tribute to the park's rich history while connecting with today's skate and bike culture.
The skate park is just one aspect of Olds Park's multifaceted offerings. The park continues to cater to sports enthusiasts with well-maintained facilities for cricket, AFL, soccer, and netball. It also features lush green spaces for picnics, shaded seating, and children's play areas, making it an ideal spot for family outings. Amenities like public toilets and a shared cycle and pedestrian pathway with exercise stations along the way, mean there is truly something for everyone at this park
Olds Park blends active recreation with cultural enrichment, making it a standout community destination in Penshurst.
A honeycomb-coloured stretch of sand surrounding a wildlife reserve, Towra Spit Beach is a wonderful spot for bird watchers, if you have a boat to get there.
16 kilometres southwest of Sydney, Towra Spit Beach's mix of RAMSAR protected wetlands, sand flats, mangroves and seagrass can only be reached by boat. Be sure to use one of the public moorings when you pull up with your boat to protect the fragile seagrass beds.
The beach can be very busy on weekends and public holidays. If you're lucky enough to enjoy this tranquil beach on your own during the week then pack a picnic to enjoy by its calm waters. Visitors will mostly be of the winged kind; rare migrating birds wade the coastline. Dogs are not permitted and it's critical that endangered migratory shorebirds like the pied oystercatchers remain protected while nesting, roosting and feeding on the beach.
Located inside Towra Point Aquatic Reserve, line fishing is permitted but spearfishing, beach collecting, anchoring, and other activities are not.
The silhouettes of Captain Cooks and Tom Uglys bridges are a reminder that you're not far from the city, even though you'll feel miles away.
