Grab your sunscreen, grab your hat, grab your water bottle and grab your towel. We're off to
Balmoral Park!
Situated alongside the lovely
Balmoral Beach, it contains an oval, a
skate park, a fitness circuit, sporting equipment, cricket nets and toilet facilities, as well as a carpark. That makes it a wonderful place for you and the kids to spend a lazy day.
If you want, you can bring a hamper, and enjoy a relaxing lunch on the sand or the grass. Alternatively, you can bring your wallet and let the nearby shops or cafes do the work for you.
Should you be keen on an easy and interesting stroll, you can take the
Balmoral Self Guided Heritage Walk, which begins at the park, leads along Balmoral Beach, and then ends at the end of the adjacent Edwards Beach.
For those keen on a harder workout, there's a more challenging – but more scenic and historic – path you can take. Beginning from the south-eastern corner of the oval, a set of stairs leads up and up and up. Follow it to the top, cross Middle Head Road and join the dirt track on the other side. While showcasing
stunning coastal views to the left, it will lead past colonial military installations on the right, before ending at
these 19th century fortifications. It's a return journey of about three kilometres.
The only negative about Balmoral Park is the parking, especially during peak times. While patient and energetic people might be able to find a spot in a distant side street, everyone else will have to use the metered bays along The Esplanade – if there are any remaining. However, the area is serviced by
public transport.
Finally, dogs are prohibited at the park.
