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Nielsen Park

Sydney Harbour National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Overview

Replacement of Nielsen Park seawall

Construction to replace the concrete seawall at Nielsen Park is scheduled for completion in June 2024. Shark Beach will be closed during this time. Find out more about the improvements planned for Nielsen Park.

Nielsen Park is located in Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs. It offers sublime views and several spacious picnic areas.

Type
Picnic areas
Where
Sydney Harbour National Park in Sydney and surrounds
Accessibility
Easy
What to
bring
Hat, sunscreen
Please note
  • If you plan to visit Nielsen Park with more than 20 people, (schools, corporate or private) then you'll need to make a group booking in advance. To book, please phone between 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday: 02 9337 5511. 
  • Remember to protect your picnic food and cover it properly so birds don't steal it. Please do not feed the birds here as this may lead to agressive behavior and fines will apply if you're caught feeding wildlife in a national park.

Sydney serves up some of its best outdoor offerings at Nielsen Park, located at Vaucluse in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

It’s one of the most picturesque places for a picnic, boasting three large, sheltered picnic areas and expansive lawns. Relax on the grass and enjoy your lunch beneath a shady fig tree.

Stroll along the scenic foreshore walking track or explore the area by kayak. For a longer walk, explore Bottle and Glass Point or take a 3.6km return walk along the unmissable Hermitage Foreshore track for ultimate views of Sydney Harbour.

Take a virtual tour of Nielsen Park captured with Google Street View Trekker.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Tours and events at this location

  • Greycliffe House exterior, an elegant mid 19th-century Gothic-style house in Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: John Yurasek/DPIE

    Greycliffe House and Nielsen Park heritage tour

    Enter the world of the mid 1800s when you visit Greycliffe House. It's been a part of Sydney's history since its first residents moved in. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the grounds after the tour.

Also see

  • A couple walking out the front gate of Gardeners Cottage in Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: John Spencer/DPIE

    Gardeners Cottage

    Treat yourself to a stay at Gardeners Cottage in the heart of Sydney Harbour National Park. This State Heritage-listed sandstone cottage is located by the beach in beautiful Nielsen Park, Vaucluse.

  • View of Steele Point Cottage from the embarkment with the Sydney Harbour skyline in the distance. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

    Steele Point Cottage

    Wake up to views of the Sydney Harbour skyline at Steele Point Cottage in Nielsen Park, Vaucluse. This fully self-contained heritage accommodation on the harbour foreshore offers a private and secluded getaway for 2 people.

  • Harbour views through the trees at Bottle and Glass Point, Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: John Spencer © OEH

    Bottle and Glass Point

    If you’re looking for a venue boasting impressive water views, Bottle and Glass Point in Nielsen Park will impress. Its views across Sydney Harbour provide a beautiful backdrop to your wedding ceremony, private birthday party, or product launch.

  • Shakespeare Point, Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: John Yurasek/NSW Government

    Shakespeares Point

    With its picturesque bush setting, Shakespeares Point in Nielsen Park, located within Sydney Harbour National Park, is ideal for a day out.

Things to do:

Hermitage Foreshore track

The easy Hermitage Foreshore walk is one of Sydney's great coastal walks. Start at Nielsen Park and take in the views of Shark Island, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the grounds of Strickland House along the way.

Friends walking on Hermitage Foreshore track in Nielsen Park. Photo: Simone Cottrell © OEH

 

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Group of friends stand-up paddle boarding on the water at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Photo: Tim Clark/DPIE

General enquiries

Operated by

Park info

  • in Sydney Harbour National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region

  • Sydney Harbour National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

  • Park entry fees:

    Bradleys Head: $8 per vehicle per day. North Head: $5 per vehicle per day. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Coin payment available at Fairfax carpark machines only. Chowder Bay: Monday-Friday: $3 per hour, to a maximum of $16 per day. Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: $4 per hour, to a maximum of $20 per day. If you hold an NPWS All Parks or Multi Parks Pass, you can park free for up to four hours per day - additional time can be purchased. Car parks operated by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust or Mosman Council are not covered by your pass. Please check signs carefully. Park’nPay: You can also pay for your visit to any area via the Park’nPay app.

    Other fees:

    Landing fees or tour fees apply to visit Sydney Harbour islands. All public visitors to Shark, Clark or Rodd Island, need to pay a $7 per person landing fee. To arrange, please contact 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS). Annual NSW Parks Passes do not cover landing fees.

    Buy annual pass
See more visitor info

What's nearby:

Things to do (92)

Events (1)

Tours (19)

Immersive stories (1)

Camping and accommodation (7)

Volunteering (6)

School excursions (9)