Fagan Park Loop
This is a loop walk through a beautiful park in the Hills District of Sydney.
Fagan park is spread out over 55 hectares and is like a mini-botanical garden filled with lots of things to see and do. I’d not heard of the park until recently when I popped in to eat my breakfast before going plant shopping in a nearby nursery. I ended up spending the whole morning here and taking the walk outlined below.
The trail
I walked in an anti-clockwise direction but of course you can go any way you like. You’ll no doubt want to step off the path at various points to step onto a bridge, explore one of the outer gardens or delve into the park’s history.
The walk is an easy one and for the most part it is pram and wheelchair friendly. There are sections of the park being developed or renovated so you may find these areas less accessible.
Dogs are permitted but they must remain on a lead at all times.
Apart from the walk, which is lovely there is much to explore here so read on for more things to see and do.
History of the park
Set on the traditional lands of the Dharug and Guringai peoples, this tract of land was purchased by the Fagan family in the mid 1850s. The Fagans raised seven children here and the farm they established operated first as an orchard and later as a cattle farm.
Netherby, Fagan Park
In 1980, the house and farm were donated to the people of NSW by descendants Bruce Fagan and his sister Ida, with Hornsby Shire Council appointed as sole trustee for the park. The park was adopted as Council's bicentennial project and was officially opened in November 1988.
The original homestead, Netherby, was built in 1900. 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.
Exotic and native gardens
When the park was developed in the eighties, 10 hectares were set aside to create the Gardens of Many Nations, 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 set off point for the Carrs Bush Discovery Track, 8.5 hectares of networked short trails.
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.
Children’s Forest
The Children’s Forest is a newly opened play and discovery space in the park. Hornsby Shire Council calls it ‘the first park in NSW designed to foster an ongoing sense of connection and responsible stewardship of nature for children’ . It includes informal discovery trails, a pond, hidden sculptures and a ‘Yarning Circle’.
Stage 1 of the plan for the Children’s Forest was completed in April 2024 but it is still to evolve, with more to come including a tree house and cable ferry (funds permitting).
The newly opened (2024) Children’s Forest
Playground & Eco Garden
The main playground is a short walk from the Children’s Garden and not far from the Arcadia Road entrance and car park. It features a 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 tress, a herb garden, compost heap and worm farm and the most funky scarecrow I’ve ever seen.
Other facilities
Fagan Park is a great spot for a picnic..There are numerous shelters and electric barbecues (operated by a $1 coin). The shelters can be hired and specific garden areas can be booked for weddings and other functions.
Pani Cafe operates out of a van and is open on weekends and weekdays in school holidays.
Fagan Park is open every day, except Christmas Day from 7am until 5.30pm (or 6.30pm during daylight saving). There are two car park areas, the main carpark entrance is located off Arcadia Road and another carpark runs off Carrs Road. Parking is $6 per vehicle. Locals can apply for an annual pass.