Fagan Park Loop
A Gentle Ramble Through Gardens and Parkland
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A relaxed loop through the themed gardens, bushland and historic farm precinct of Fagan Park in Sydney’s Hills District.
Distance: 3–4 km Time: 1–2 hrs
Steps: 5,000–7,000
Level of Difficulty: Easy -
Gardens of Many Nations, especially striking in autumn
Netherby homestead and historic farm buildings
Australian Garden & Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest
Carrs Bush Discovery Track bushland trails
Children’s Forest nature play space
Main playground & Eco Garden
Lakes, bridges and picnic areas
Numerous shelters and coin-operated electric barbecues
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Fagan Park is open every day, except Christmas Day from 7am until 5.30pm (or 6.30pm during daylight saving).
The walk is largely pram and wheelchair friendly though some areas may be less accessible in wet weather
Dogs permitted but must be on lead
Two main parking areas: Arcadia Rd (main) and Carrs Rd
Parking fee applies ($6 per vehicle; annual pass available for locals)
Picnic shelters and electric barbecues available
Coffee van usually open weekends and school holidays
This easy loop walk explores Fagan Park, a large heritage parkland in Sydney’s Hills District that feels something like a miniature botanical garden. Spread across 55 hectares, it combines themed gardens, lakes, open lawns and remnant bushland with a historic farm precinct at its centre.
I’d not heard of the park until recently, when I stopped in to eat breakfast before visiting a nearby nursery. I ended up spending the whole morning here, wandering between gardens, bush tracks and bridges, and following the gentle loop described below. While the walk itself is short and accessible, there’s plenty to explore along the way, so you’ll likely want to take your time.
WALKING THE TRAIL
Netherby Homestead
I walked the loop anti-clockwise from the main Arcadia Road entrance, though you can start anywhere. The loop is a suggestion only - you’ll find plenty to distract you off the path.
First stop, Netherby Homestead, home to the Fagan family who purchased the land on which the park sits in the 1850s. The Fagans raised seven children here and the farm they established operated first as an orchard and later as a cattle farm. In 1980, their descendants Bruce and Ida Fagan donated the property to the people of NSW, with Hornsby Shire Council appointed as sole trustee for the park. The park was officially opened up to the public in November 1988.
Netherby, Fagan Park
Netherby was built in 1900 but the cottage next door is even older. You can visit the house and surrounding gardens and outbuildings to learn about the daily lives and operations of the family and farm.
Children’s Forest
Beyond the homestead is a pathway leading to the Children’s Forest, a recently completed nature play area designed to encourage exploration and connection with the natural environment. It includes informal trails, a pond, sculptures and a yarning circle, with further stages planned.
Entrance to the Children’s Forest
Playground & Eco Garden
The main playground is a short walk from the Children’s Forest and not far from the Arcadia Road entrance and car park. It features a large climbing frame, flying fox, liberty swing and other play equipment. It’s a very popular spot with children of all ages though perhaps the small playground in the Australian Garden is better suited to little ones.
Eco-Garden Scarecrow, Fagan Park
The Eco Garden, adjacent to the playground, showcases environmentally friendly gardening techniques through displays and onsite workshops. Here you’ll find fruit trees, a herb garden, compost heap and worm farm and the most funky scarecrow I’ve ever seen.
Exotic and native gardens
Heading down from the playground toward the lake, you’ll be entering the Gardens of Many Nations. When the park was developed in the eighties, 10 hectares were set aside to create eleven themed gardens, including the Mediterranean, North American, Chinese, Dutch and African Gardens shown below. Many of these gardens feature deciduous trees that add rich red and golden hues to the park in autumn.
The Australian Garden at the end of the park is a peaceful space set among rare and critically endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest. There is a little wooden shack, a frog-filled creek and a small playground and picnic area nearby.
The area is also the starting point for the Carrs Bush Discovery Track, 8.5 hectares of networked short trails.
The paths through these gardens branch off in many directions but if you’re taking the rough loop path suggested on the map, you’ll come back around the other side of the lake, past the African Garden and back to the car park.
Wildlife in the Garden
The bushland and waterways in Fagan Park attract plenty of wildlife. Resident here are possums and various frogs and lizards but it is the birdlife that is most abundant and most visible.
The park is a bird spotting hotspot, according to eBird and over 100 different species have been identified here. Most common among them are ducks, coots and swamphens but I saw many others including king parrots, galahs, various honeyeaters, herons and a whipbird.
