Berry Island Reserve Playground and Bush Walk, Wollstonecraft 

Berry Island Reserve Playground and Bush Walk

Berry Island Reserve is beautiful and has an awesome playground! Until I was invited for a play date at by a friend, I didn’t even know  Berry Island Reserve existed. I also didn’t know anything about Wollstonecraft except for the fact that it had a train station.
Berry Island Reserve Bush Walk and Playground, Wollstonecraft, Sydney

Where is Berry Island Reserve

Situated at the end of Shirley Road Wollstonecraft, 2065 is the reserve. In the below map the pin is the reserve and the blue dot, the massive blue dot is where the playground is.

 

There is parking on the street but there wasn’t any available on the day we visited due to a lot of residential building in the area.

 

In terms of public transport, you can take the train to Wollstonecraft Station as it is a ten minute walk from the station. Personally I would never take the train because of the hill. Coming from the reserve you have to walk up this insane hill. It’s enough to make you want to put up a tent on Shirley road and never leave.

What is Berry Island Reserve

Berry Island Reserve is an protruding piece of land just off from Woolstonecraft. The first bit is a big open area for picnics and playing. To the left of that is a great little playground. Beyond the open area and the playground is a walk into the bushes and the end of the “headland / island”.

The walk is called the Gaydan Track and it shows off some of the areas Aboringinal History.  

Berry Island Reserve Playground

The playground is fantastic!! It has been “custom designed” and you can tell – every is perfectly set in the natural bush. The jungle gym is surrounded by trees which are perfect for hiding in or exploring from the jungle gym, there are a variety of slides and swings and plenty of rocks to walk on. There are plenty of climbing ropes and ladders too – just what my son ordered.
There is just enough grass to picnic on while watching the fish in the water.
Berry Island Reserve Bush Walk and Playground, Wollstonecraft, Sydney

Berry Island Reserve Bush Walk and Playground, Wollstonecraft, Sydney

 

Berry Island Reserve Bush Walk – The Gaydan Track

The Gaydan Track it is a beautiful walk to the point of the Island and back around to the same starting point.

 

While it says online that it should take 20 minutes but I think its a bit longer when you’re with children. Not only do you have to go slowly for them because of the obstacles on the path but you will find yourself stopping to look at mushrooms, lizards and huge rocks.

 

Great scenery and views

During the walk you feel a million miles away from Sydney until you spot the bridge peeking through the trees. You also get little glimpses of the Westfield tower and then the Anzac bridge in the distance. This is all beautifully framed by the trees overhead and the water in the foreground.

 

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Is the walk child friendly?

We chanced the Gaydan Track and it was really lovely except when my three year old needed to be carried. This then sparked the one year old running down the track because no one was holding her back.

 

If you are going with more than one child I recommend you take more than 1 adult. There are lots of rocks and tree trunks to trip up on and the sides of the walk fall away to the water. The lookout is fenced but its not very well constructed. You need to hold on to your children throughout the walk!

 

Berry Island Reserve Facilities

 

The park is well shaded and as you can see there are benches for weary mums and dads.

There are toilets as you enter the Reserve on your left and BBQ facilities with a couple of picnic tables.