If you’ve been looking for a park that’s great for families and fur babies within a beautiful tranquil setting, here it is! Katey Chesterton visits Artarmon Reserve, Artarmon.
My dog Essie was the perfect companion on a recent park visit, to beautiful Artarmon Reserve.
We started off brilliantly as there’s a generous car park with easy access to the reserve, and straight ahead is the dog park where your fur baby can run around to their hearts content and make new friends during their romp. Next to the park there’s a convenient water tap and dog bowl provided, and also a water refill station so you and your furbaby can have a drink.
Facilities
- Fenced sports field which is an unleashed dog exercise area
- Public toilets
- Shady playground
- 2 BBQs. One electric BBQ and picnic settings is adjacent to and level with the top carpark, the other BBQ is near the playground.
- Picnic tables and benches
- Water bubbler
- Two carpark areas
- Bike/walking tracks
On the outskirts of the dog park they have a bicycle track and several nature walks but not all are accessible so you will need to have a look on the Willoughby Council website, or just check it out when you get there to see which one is best for you.
Flat Rock Creek Track and Sculptures
The bush track I chose was Flat Rock Creek which is a dirt track and is accessible but can be a bit muddy especially after rainfall. When you head towards Flat Rock Creek Track the first thing you will notice is artwork made from blue gum logs, representing the gumnuts of three indigenous trees found within Artarmon Reserve -the Turpentine tree, the Red Bloodwood Tree and the Sydney Red Gum.
This sculpture is unique and looks amazing. You can even sit on the logs placed within the sculpture and on a nice day it makes a lovely spot for a picnic or a space to simply sit and unwind listening to the native birds, the striped marsh frogs and the tranquil soothing sounds of the waterfall. The rainforest setting it makes for a wonderful retreat away from the stresses of every day life.
Other tracks include The Artarmon Link Path (Cordia Way) a wide, gently undulating pedestrian/cycle path that runs from Shepherd Road to Artarmon Reserve (entering the reserve on the northern side next to the bowling club) and the Naremburn cycleway that runs under the freeway to Bicentennial Park.
While some areas of the park (like the toilets) aren’t accessible for wheels (like wheelchairs or prams), the good news is there is a pavilion being constructed on the lower section of the park which will have accessible toilets and a playground for children, due for completion at the end of September.
Essential Details:
- Location : Artarmon Reserve, Bura Bura Road, Artarmon
- Getting there: It’s 250m from Artarmon Station or parking on-site in the carpark
- Facilities: Toilets, water station, BBQ and seating areas, mini basketball court
- More details: Artarmon Reserve