Looking for a pram-friendly walk around Sydney’s North Shore? Taking your baby or toddler for a walk in the pram is one of the easiest ways to keep fit. But finding new and exciting places to explore that are pram-friendly can be challenging. Well, wonder no more! We’re coming to the rescue with an extensive list of lovely pram-friendly walks around the North Shore that are suitable for wheels too!
- Balmoral Beach Loop
- Lavender Bay
- Taronga Zoo to Bradley’s Head
- Lane Cove National Park
- Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden
- Apple Tree Bay
- Cumberland State Forest Sensory Trail
- Parramatta River Foreshore
- Manly to Shelly Beach
- Narrabeen Lagoon
- The Bay Run
- Bicentennial Park
- Centennial Parklands
- South Head Walk
Pram-friendly walks on Sydney’s Lower North Shore
1. Balmoral Beach Loop
Stop by Bathers’ Pavilion for a coffee or lunch
Start at the south end of The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach
The promenade here offers a stunning pram-friendly waterside stroll. Park at the southern end and head to the large oval that you loop around, then follow the path alongside the beach towards the iconic Bathers’ Pavilion. The café has a fireplace in their back room for cooler days, and there’s a variety of delicious teas to rejuvenate.
Looking for more places to eat by the water? Check out our top 10 child-friendly waterside cafes.
2. Taronga Zoo to Bradley’s Head and Middle Head
Start at Bradley’s Head Road, Mosman
Enjoy the elevated harbour views surrounding Bradley’s Head. Drive to the peninsula, then follow Bradley’s Head Road to Taronga Zoo (you can even pop in for a visit!), then continue all the way to Middle Head (via Headland Park and the Gunners Barracks) for a worthwhile five-kilometre round trip.
3. Lavender Bay to Kirribilli
Start at King George Street, Lavender Bay
From Lavender Bay, follow the waterside path overlooking the city all the way around to Sydney’s Luna Park. Continue past the Olympic Pool until you arrive under the Harbour Bridge. Catch your breath from the last two kilometres before pushing up Alfred Street to Milsons Point railway station and the delights of Kirribilli. Very Sydney! Head there during the Jacaranda season in Spring, and you can enjoy a very scenic backdrop while you walk.
4. Lane Cove National Park
Walking across the weir to the café and playground
Start at Riverside Drive, Macquarie Park
This peaceful paved road winds through dense, secluded bushland that you follow with the pram, passing picnic tables and barbecues. On the weekend, the boat shed hires out rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and family-friendly pedal boats. This piece of paradise is perfect for a day out, right in our backyard!
Pram-friendly walks on Sydney’s Upper North Shore
5. Ku-ring-ai Wildflower Garden, St Ives
Start at Mona Vale Road, St Ives
Pack some lunch-to-go and take the kids exploring in this lovingly nurtured natural garden – an urban oasis offering paths (many that are cement) through 123 hectares of bushland including ponds, waterfalls and gullies. There’s lots to explore at Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden!
6. Apple Tree Bay at Bobbin Head
Push the pram on the boardwalk over mangroves
Start at Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Bobbin Head
This popular waterside national park boasts activities including walking, fishing, barbecues and picnic shelters, water sports and cafes – the perfect place to park and start a pram-friendly walk to Apple Tree Bay, it’s just a few kilometres round trip.
7. Cumberland State Forest Sensory Trail, West Pennant Hills
Sensory Trail
Start at 95 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills
This is a natural oasis to relax and explore with the kids and the grandparents, too. The Visitor’s Centre has easy parking, a cafe, and hands-on information about the local flora and fauna. The Sensory Trail is a 350-metre looped walking track that is flat and even. The best part is that the track is studded with suggestions for educational or even just fun activities!
Pram-friendly walks around the Northern Beaches
8. Manly to Shelly Beach
A short flat stroll from Manly to Shelly Beach. Image: hellomanly.com.au
Start at Sydney Road, Manly
This pram-friendly walk is gorgeous on a sunny day (and even better during the week when it’s quieter). Walk along the Corso towards the main beach, passing play equipment and water fountains along the way. Then, turn right and head south towards the Manly Surf Club. Follow the path around the headland past breakers and surfers to reveal a picturesque cove. The beach backs onto a grassed area for a barbecue picnic, or try a treat from The Boathouse Shelly Beach cafe.
9. Narrabeen Lagoon
Walk around Narrabeen Lagoon
Pittwater Road, Narrabeen
This is a decent walk! The coastal bushland trail is about 8.5 kilometres long and will take you just over an hour to walk at a pace with your pram with no stops. Otherwise, enjoy a stroll! Pack a picnic and enjoy the outdoors with the pram, plus scooters or bikes, from either Jamieson Park, Berry Reserve, Middle Creek, or Bilarong Reserve car parks. Even better, you can even feed the ducks there!
Other fabulous pram-friendly walking paths in Sydney
10. Parramatta River Foreshore
Image Credit: sydney.com
Start at Bowden Street, Meadowbank
Commencing on the north side of the Parramatta River, Meadowbank’s easy access point welcomes mums with a pram-friendly pathway that snakes east along the water towards the Gladesville Bridge. It’s a great way to explore the river with the kids.
11. The Bay Run
Image credit: The City of Canada Bay
Start at Henley Marine Drive, Drummoyne
With cafes, parks and fitness equipment all along this seven-kilometre loop of Iron Cove Bay, this walk offers delightful waterside scenery while enjoying a great work-out with a pram, and even your dog! A popular track, it’s wide, flat and there is a separate bike path for safety.
12. Bicentennial Park
Start at Bicentennial Drive, Sydney Olympic Park
Open every day from sunrise to sunset, the pathways among the mangrove wetlands and green grassy hills have been designed just for mums passing by water-play areas, playgrounds, nature discovery areas, picnic shelters, barbecues, toilets and the Waterview in Bicentennial Park cafe.
13. Centennial Parklands
Start at Darley Road, Randwick
Sydney’s most iconic ‘people’s’ park offers everything for a day out in the Eastern Suburbs, including a near four-kilometre long flat walking path, rollerblading or bike hire, horse riding, playgrounds, cafes, and barbecues. Pack a day bag and enjoy all the activities to really wear the kids out.
14. South Head, Watson’s Bay
Image Credit: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Start at Old South Head Road, Watsons Bay
Enjoy the Circular Quay ferry (parking is limited), then head up the hill towards Camp Cove. The short cobblestone path takes you past gun emplacements and up to the iconic Hornby Lighthouse. Don’t forget to look back up north and keep an eye out for whales on the horizon.
Written by: Karina McBride
