Newington Nature Reserve
NEWINGTON NATURE RESERVE
Distance >5 km Steps 7000
Time 1 -2 hours Level of Difficulty Easy
This is primarily a woodland nature walk that begins with a stroll along the Parramatta River and ends in an old armory. It’s an easy stroll, suitable for families with children who will love the nearby playground up the hill in Blaxland Riverside Park.
This loop trail begins and ends at the riverside edge of the park near the entrance to Newington Armoury.
Getting there
The easiest way to access the start of the walk is by car and there is plenty of parking alongside the park and at various points around the perimeter of the walk. I parked up near the playground and walked down to the river and the start of the trail.
Sydney Olympic Ferry Wharf is just a twenty minute walk from The Armory and several buses service the area. Routes and timetables are live on the Transport Info app.
Tips
Sunscreen is recommended as much of the walk is exposed. Mosquito spray too, especially if you’re walking early or late.
There are bubblers at the walk’s start and end but I didn’t notice any in between so take water.
There are cafes here associated with the park and Armory but they’re not always open so best to BYO if you want to take advantage of one of the many picnic spots here.
The trail can get busy with walkers and cyclists on weekends.
Bikes are available for hire at the entrance to the armory (weekends and weekdays during school holidays). Handy if you want to get around and explore more of Sydney Olympic Park.
The path
The walk begins on the edge of the park and heads east toward the Armory. It’s a loop walk so you can go in either direction though I prefer to walk through the woodland first and end at the Armory.
From the Armory the walk continues a short way along a riverside path before turning right into the wooded area. Keep an eye on signage but it’s pretty self explanatory from here on in.
Indigenous history
Sydney Olympic Park is located on the traditional lands of the Wann clan, known as the Wann-gal. The lands of the Wann-gal stretched along the southern shore of the Parramatta River between Cockle Bay (Cadi-gal land) and Rose Hill (Burramatta-gal land).
As you pass The Armory you’ll walk through the Murama Healing Space which speaks to the history of the Wangal in this area over many thousands of years. This community space features a collection of public artworks and installations that share accounts from First Nations Australians on the Frontier Wars, Stolen Generations and more. This space invites vistors to reflect on the connection to Country and the importance of listening and sharing experience and knowledge.
Flora and Fauna
The track you’ll be walking runs through bushland and fragile salt marsh, offering walkers plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.
Newington Nature Reserve is set on 47-hectares that includes critically endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironbark forest, mangrove forest and endangered salt marshes. This ecosystem provides plenty of places for birds and other wildlife to nest, feed and forage and that they do.
According to Birdlife Australia (whose Discovery Centre borders the reserve), Newington Nature Reserve is home to over 200 native bird and animal species. There are also tree frogs and possums and microbats hiding away in the upper branches and hollows of tees. And keep an eye out for snakes which are active here in the warmer months
On my last walk here I saw a lot of little birds like Fairy-wrens, Finches, and a Red-Whiskered Bulbul as well as a number of waterbirds including Herons, Egrets and Black-winged Stilts. Up in the trees I saw nesting Cockatoos, Magpies, and a very vocal Galah. And best of all, I managed to spot what I rarely can, a very sleepy-eyed Tawny frog-mouth looking for all the world like a branch of the tree it was perched in.
Tawny Frog Mouth
Newington Armory
The historic Newington Armory precinct is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. It contains over one hundred heritage buildings some dating back to the 1890’s. Today the Armory operates as an arts precinct, incorporating a theatre, outdoor amphitheatre, artist studios and exhibition spaces.
The Armory hosts free exhibitions throughout the year, plus film festivals, public art, cultural activities and kids activities.
Entrance to Newington Armory
Nearby
Blaxland Riverside Park is worth exploring further, especially if you’re there with kids. The playground is one of the biggest in Sydney and includes a multi-level treehouse, double flying fox, tunnel slides and a huge water-play area (at certain hours). And there are great bbq and picnic facilities if you want to make a day of it
The area down by the river is a nice, peaceful spot (on a week day) to sit in the sunshine and watch the birds and ferries go by. There’s a cafe here but it was closed and up for lease when I was last here in October 2024.
Newington Nature Reserve is part of the larger Sydney Olympic Park. The whole area is huge and there’s plenty to see and do. You could follow this walk up with the longer walk through Bicentennial Park which features great nature trails, wetlands, wildlife, playgrounds and more.