Experiences at Headland Park and Chowder Bay
There's lots to do at Headland Park. A beautiful location for informal recreation activities, the park also offers organised tours and kid's activity programs. Don't miss the recreation opportunities offered by charming Chowder Bay.
Self-guided walks
Headland Park is a spectacular place to walk. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the bush tracks within the park or explore it as part of a longer trek on one of Sydney's coastal walks taking in Chowder Bay.
More on self-guided walks in Headland Park
More on Sydney's Coastal Walks
Download the Headland Park Visitor Guide & self-guided walk [PDF - 2,414KB]
Tours
Our guides can take you underground to discover the hidden spaces and surprising history of Headland Park and Chowder Bay.
Check out tour dates for Headland Park
Lookouts
Visit Sydney's newest - and one of its most spectacular - lookouts.
Sculpture Park
The Harbour Trust, in association with Sculpture by the Sea, has created a sculpture park within Headland Park. Seven sculptures have been installed so far and will remain in place for two years. They are also for sale. You'll find the sculptures dotted around the walking tracks on upper and lower Georges Heights.
Check out sculptures in Headland Park
Artists' Precinct
Venture up to Georges Heights and wander around Artists' Precinct where a number of different artists have their studios and workshops.
Tennis
The tennis courts at Georges Heights are available for hire. The courts are located off Suakin Drive within Headland Park. Rates are just $12 per hour with a minimum booking of one hour. Rackets and balls are not provided so bring along your own equipment. Booking, including pre-payment, is essential and can be made by contacting the Harbour Trust on (02) 8969 2100 during office hours, Monday - Friday.
Download the conditions of hire [PDF 57kb]
Nature and Wildlife
The bushland in Headland Park provides habitat for a wide range of native species. Keep a look out for water dragons, blue-tongue lizards, ringtailed possums, green tree snakes, kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, currawongs, pacific white face herons and dollar birds. There are also many marine plant and animal species at Chowder Bay. The isolation and restricted access has left the shoreline relatively undisturbed.
Eating
Headland Park and Chowder Bay offer many idyllic settings for picnics, as well as BBQ facilities, casual cafes and fine restaurants. Options range from the lovely waterside locations of the Bacino Kiosk and Cafe and Ripples Restaurant at Chowder Bay or the beautiful bushland setting and harbour views of Burnt Orange at Middle Head and The Tea Room Gunners' Barracks at Georges Head.
Check out cafes & restaurants in Headland Park
Meet our Tenants
Meet our tenants at Headland Park.
Experiences at Chowder Bay
Chowder Bay, named after whalers who made "chowder" from the bay's abundant seafood, is a great place to relax. Enjoy an afternoon on the beach, or a meal by the harbour, or just wander around the complex of historic buildings.
Walks
A great way to visit Chowder Bay is to incorporate it into a walk from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach. There are well-marked tracks along this beautiful bush walk and Chowder Bay is a perfect spot to have a break.
More on self-guided walks in Headland Park
More on Sydney's Coastal Walks
Beaches
As well as its charming maritime village of historic buildings and natural bushland setting, Chowder Bay at the bottom of Headland Park also offers a beautiful beach. The netted enclosure at the western end of the bay is ideal for swimming.
Download the Chowder Bay Visitor Guide [PDF - 4089 KB]
Water sports & Diving
Snorkel or dive to discover the beautiful marine life of Chowder Bay. Plunge Diving are located right on the waterfront.
Or if your prefer to float, you can kayak around the picturesque harbour foreshore! Kayaks are available for hire from Plunge Diving.
Maritime activity
View traditional boatbuilding at a specialist timber boat building and restoration yard at Chowder Bay Sydney Harbour Wooden Boats
Learn and Discover
Learn about the fascinating research on Sydney Harbour's urban marine life of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and see their workshops and tanks on their regular free open days held on the first Friday of each month. Contact SIMS for more information.
During school term, outdoor education provider, Land's Edge provides curriculum-based field studies programs, outdoor education and recreational activities for both primary and secondary students, and in each school holiday period, a four-day, three-night camp full of fun and adventure for girls and boys aged 8 to 12. Contact Land's Edge for more information.
Eating
Chowder Bay offers some lovely waterside eating options. Stop by the Bacino Bar or Kiosk for a coffee or light meal or indulge in the fine dining of Ripples Restaurant on the deck of the former Submarine Miner's Depot.
Check out the cafes & restaurants in Chowder Bay & Headland Park
Accommodation
Affordable group accommodation is available at Chowder Bay with Land's Edge. The facility is located on the foreshore of the harbour, offering spectacular views, and accommodates 75 people in fully refurbished dormitory-style rooms. For details and prices check the Land's Edge website.
Meet our Tenants
Meet our tenants at Chowder Bay.
Further Information
Download the Headland Park brochure [PDF - 635 KB]
Download the Chowder Bay Visitor Guide [PDF - 4089 KB]
