With
Manly being touted as the
new wave of dining and shopping, it is important to familiarise yourself not only with the shops, but also with the pockets of natural beauty that make Manly such an appealing suburb.
Gilbert Park is located on Belgrave Street, one of the main roads that connect to the busy Wharf.
Preserved by Manly Council, Gilbert Park is an ideal location to gain some respite from the fierce sun, covered by the shade of the large fig trees. The park caters for both children and adults, with bench seats and two swing sets.
What is most unique about Gilbert Park, however, is the large aviary birdcage, which provides feeding stations for injured birds. Volunteers tend to these injured visitors, rehabilitating them so that they are safe in the wild.
The aviary itself was built in 1977, and was originally intended to be open to the skies, so that the birds could come and go as they pleased. But, from 1985, the Caley Lorikeet Trust took over the management of the shelter. Since this time, the aviary has been enclosed so that volunteers can carefully monitor the birds.
Apart from representing a delightful distraction for children, it is comforting to see the extent to which local volunteers will go to nurse these injured Lorikeets.
The Park is accessible on a variety of
bus routes, passing through St Leonards, Chatswood, North Sydney, and Macquarie University. Gilbert Park can also be accessed from Manly Wharf.
