It is possible that you've never heard of Illoura Reserve. Even an expert in Sydney geography could be forgiven for reaching for a street directory, or hastily perusing Google maps.
The cause of confusion is undoubtedly the fact that Illoura Reserve was once known as Peacock Point, and is a point of natural beauty and significant cultural interest in East Balmain.
In some ways, exploring Sydney's foreshore is an exercise in assessing how striking the view of the Harbour Bridge is from various vantage points. Certainly, with its panoramic views of Cockatoo Island and the Bridge, Illoura Reserve is well positioned to compete with other optimal locations around Sydney.
Accessible via
Darling St and Weston St, Illoura Reserve is a ten minute drive from Sydney's CBD.
For a more scenic route, it is possible to catch a
ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain, a journey, which taken to its conclusion will pass through not only Balmain East, but also Balmain West and Birkenhead, within a whisker of the Birchgrove to Woolwich route.
The first sight that you will se from the ferry is a low-standing sandstone wall, protecting the park from the rising tide. Within the reserve itself, there are various pathways and viewing platforms from which it is possible to take in the sights of Sydney's famed harbour.
As you can see in the picture accompanying this article, there are points of historical interest along the Balmain foreshore, including the anchor that sits on the grass under the purview of the Anzac Bridge.
