Looking for something different to do with the kids? These North Shore hidden gems offer history, stunning views, and experiences you won’t find at all the standard spots. From architectural icons to secret gardens, here’s where to explore next…
Tired of the same old North Shore playgrounds and cafes? These impressive hidden gems offer families something completely different – from exploring WWII bunkers and secret harbour gardens to stepping inside iconic modernist architecture and spotting wildlife in pristine bushland.
Whether you’re looking for free things to do in Sydney with kids, searching for unique North Shore activities, or wanting educational days out that don’t feel like school, this guide showcases the best-kept secrets across suburbs from Lavender Bay to Manly. We’re talking architectural icons, heritage sites transformed into sustainability hubs, enchanted gardens created by Australian artists, and coastal reserves where Indigenous history meets stunning harbour views.
Most of these North Shore attractions are free or low-cost, perfect for school holidays, weekends, or those days when everyone’s bored with the usual routine. From toddler-friendly nature walks to adventures that’ll impress teenagers, here are eight extraordinary places hiding in plain sight on Sydney’s North Shore…
- Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay
- North Sydney Coal Loader, Waverton
- Balls Head Reserve, Waverton
- Middle Head, Mosman
- Nutcote, Neutral Bay
- Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives
- Rose Seidler House, Wahroonga
- North Head Sanctuary, Manly
1. Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay
This enchanting harbour-side garden began as one woman’s way of channelling grief into beauty and has become a beloved North Shore sanctuary.
After artist Brett Whiteley’s death in 1992, his former wife Wendy transformed an abandoned railway site into a lush, meandering garden that cascades down from Lavender Street to the harbour’s edge. Twenty years of planting, sculpting and nurturing have created a magical landscape of winding paths, Moreton Bay fig trees, sculptures, and harbour views.
It’s free to visit, perfect for a family picnic, and feels worlds away from the city despite being just over the Harbour Bridge. The steep paths and stairs make it challenging for prams, but older kids will love the sense of discovery as they explore hidden corners and fairy houses tucked throughout. Pack a picnic and settle under the iconic fig tree for one of Sydney’s best free experiences.
- Address: Lavender Street, Lavender Bay NSW 2060
- Website: wendyssecretgarden.org.au
- Opening Hours: Open 7 days, dawn to dusk.
- Admission: Free entry
2. North Sydney Coal Loader, Waverton
Coal Loader, Waverton
This heritage industrial site has been transformed into one of Sydney’s most interesting community spaces. Once a coal transfer depot serving Sydney Harbour from the 1920s to the 1990s, the Coal Loader is now a Centre for Sustainability with community gardens, an Aboriginal bush foods garden, weekend farmers markets, and the historic coal loading tunnels to explore.
The elevated platform offers million-dollar harbour views, and the site cleverly blends its industrial past with a sustainable future. Kids can see chickens in the chook run, explore native plantings, and learn about sustainability while parents appreciate the unexpected beauty of adaptive reuse.
The quarterly weekend artisan markets are excellent, there’s a cafe on site (though currently closed), and the parklands surrounding the centre are perfect for letting kids run free with harbour views as a backdrop.
- Address: 2 Balls Head Drive, Waverton NSW 2060
- Website: northsydney.nsw.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Centre open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 10am-4pm. Parkland areas open 24/7.
3. Balls Head Reserve, Waverton
Balls Head Reserve, Waverton
This bushland reserve at the tip of Waverton Peninsula offers something truly special: Indigenous rock engravings, remnants of quarantine depot history, and spectacular harbour views, all within bushwalking distance of the city.
The Cammeraygal people used this area for thousands of years, and their presence is still visible in art sites, middens, and a spectacular petroglyph of a marine creature. Walking the interconnected trails feels like proper bushwalking despite being ten minutes from Waverton station, and the harbour views across to the city are magnificent.
The reserve connects to nearby Carradah Park, where you can see the circular remnants of old BP oil tanks now integrated into parkland design.
It’s perfect for families looking for a nature experience without driving far, with picnic facilities and BBQs, taking full advantage of the harbour views.
- Address: Balls Head Drive, Waverton NSW 2060
- Website: northsydney.nsw.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days
- Admission: Free entry
- Parking: Free, non-metered parking is available along Balls Head Road
4. Middle Head, Mosman
Middle Head, Mosman
On the tip of the Mosman peninsula, Middle Head offers families a perfect blend of military history and coastal beauty. This harbourside headland features decommissioned WWII fortifications, gun emplacements, and tunnels that children love exploring. The network of walking trails connects coastal bushland with historic military sites, and there are cafes with stunning harbour views for refuelling.
Middle Head Cafe and Burnt Orange both offer family-friendly dining with wraparound balconies overlooking the harbour. The old fortifications date back to the 1800s, and exploring the bunkers gives kids a tangible connection to Sydney’s defence history. Walking tracks link Middle Head to Balmoral Beach and neighbouring Georges Heights and Chowder Bay, so you can make it as short or as long an adventure as your family needs.
Pack good walking shoes and prepare for harbour views that’ll make you forget you’re only 20 minutes from the CBD.
- Address: Middle Head Road, Mosman NSW 2088
- Website: harbourtrust.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Sunrise to sunset, 7 days
- Admission: Free entry
- Parking: $3-4 per hour and up to $20 per day (depending on the specific location and day).
5. Nutcote, Neutral Bay
Nutcote, Neutral Bay
Step into the world of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie at the harbourside home where May Gibbs created her iconic Australian children’s stories.
Nutcote, designed by BJ Waterhouse in 1925, was May Gibbs’ home for 44 years and is now a delightful house museum filled with her original artwork and personal belongings.
Kids can dress up as gumnut babies or the Big Bad Banksia Man in the children’s room, explore the cottage gardens that inspired her botanical illustrations, and learn about this pioneering Australian author and illustrator who taught generations to love our unique flora and fauna.
The guided house tour brings May’s creative world to life, and the gardens offer a peaceful spot for morning tea at the cafe. It’s a lovely few hours combining Australian literary history with beautiful harbour views, perfect for families with primary-aged children.
- Address: 5 Wallaringa Avenue, Neutral Bay NSW 2089
- Website: maygibbs.com.au
- Opening Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-3pm. Last house tour entry at 2:15pm. Closed Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.
- Admission: Adults $17.50 | Concession $16 | Children $9 (up to 14 years) | Family $50 (2 adults, 2 kids)
6. Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, St Ives
Often described as Sydney’s best-kept secret, this 123-hectare sanctuary of Australian native plants and pristine bushland feels like a world away from suburbia.Established in 1968 to protect Indigenous plants and animals, the garden showcases flora from across Australia, including 18 threatened species, and is set among tall forests, ponds, sandstone outcrops, and seasonal waterfalls.
The walking trails range from the easy, wheelchair-friendly 10-minute Senses Track to the challenging 2-4 hour Mueller Track adventure, with the popular Banks Track boardwalk taking families through wetlands where kids can spot frogs, turtles and lizards basking in the sun.
There’s a playground for little ones, multiple picnic areas with BBQ facilities, and the visitor centre has a wildflower nursery if you want to take some Australian natives home. Best of all, it’s completely free. Pack a picnic, choose your trail based on your family’s energy levels, and discover why this hidden gem has locals returning again and again.
- Address: 420 Mona Vale Road, St Ives NSW 2075
- Website: krg.nsw.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Open daily 8am-5pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Visitor Centre: Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, weekends 10am-4pm.
- Admission: Free entry and free parking
7. Rose Seidler House, Wahroonga
When this modernist house was completed in 1950, it was the most talked-about house in Sydney. Designed by renowned architect Harry Seidler for his parents Rose and Max, the house turned suburban home design on its head with floor-to-ceiling windows, open-plan living, and a seamless connection to the bushland setting. Today it’s a time capsule of mid-century modern design, complete with original Eames, Saarinen and Hardoy furniture. The house sits elevated in natural bushland, with panoramic views toward Ku-ring-gai National Park, and guided tours reveal both the architectural vision and Rose Seidler’s personal story as a recent immigrant who created her dream Australian home. It’s a fascinating outing for older kids interested in design or history, and offers a surprisingly cool escape on hot days thanks to the house’s clever natural ventilation.
- Address: 71 Clissold Road, Wahroonga NSW 2076
- Website: mhnsw.au
- Opening Hours: Sundays 10am-4pm (last entry 2:15pm). Closed Monday-Saturday and public holidays.
- Admission: Free entry, but pre-booking strongly recommended
- Parking: Free parking in residential streets
8. North Head Sanctuary, Manly
Just a short bus ride from Manly Wharf, North Head Sanctuary is a coastal wonderland bordered by dramatic cliffs where natural beauty meets fascinating history. Over 10 kilometres of walking tracks wind through coastal bushland where you’ll spot native wildlife, discover WWII military fortifications, and learn about Australia’s early quarantine practices at the Third Quarantine Cemetery.
The Sanctuary Loop takes under an hour and offers manageable walking for most families, while the Fairfax Trail is perfect for whale watching in season.
History buffs shouldn’t miss North Fort, which was integral to Sydney’s WWII harbour defence, or Australia’s Memorial Walk with its moving tributes to those who served in conflicts over 150 years.
The Visitor Centre (open 10am-3pm daily) provides great context, and Bella Vista Cafe offers harbour-view refreshments. It’s the kind of place where you can combine a nature walk, a history lesson, and spectacular views all in one outing.
- Address: North Head Scenic Drive, Manly NSW 2095
- Website: harbourtrust.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Sanctuary open sunrise to sunset. Visitor Centre open daily 10am-3pm.
- Admission: Free entry
- Parking: $5 per vehicle per day
