Explore Sydney’s best-kept secrets with this guide to hidden gems, including stunning lookouts, fascinating historical sites, and heritage landmarks.
Sydney is renowned for its iconic tourist attractions, historical landmarks, stunning national parks, and picturesque beaches.
While the city’s famous landmark attractions deserve their spotlight, it’s the hidden gems scattered across the city that truly showcase Sydney’s diverse character, charm, and history.
From old shipwrecks and heritage-listed bridges to urban mangroves and unique vantage points, we’ve compiled a list of 17 hidden gems and secret places in Sydney that are well worth exploring.
1. The Bible Garden in Palm Beach
Most people visiting the Palm Beach peninsula know about the Barrenjoey Lighthouse and the amazing views from the top of the headland.
But for an even better vantage point, the Bible Garden is a hidden gem you shouldn’t miss. This peaceful spot faces the main beach from the south and is beautifully tucked away.
The garden itself is small but well-maintained and serene. It’s a Christian garden featuring a series of grassy terraces that lead to a viewing platform with spectacular views of the area.
Read our guide on the best gardens in Sydney for more of these unique spots.
2. Sphinx Memorial in North Turramurra
The Sphinx Memorial is a sandstone monument built in the 1920s to honour those who served and lost their lives during World War I (1914–1918).
This remarkable structure was created by Private William T. Shirley, a returning soldier, as a heartfelt tribute to his fallen comrades. After being restored, the monument was rededicated in November 1995.
Shaped like a sphinx with accompanying pyramids, the memorial is roughly 1/80th the size of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt.
Located near the North Turramurra entrance to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the Sphinx Memorial is also one of the highlights along the Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Walk.
3. Rose Seidler House in Wahroonga
Designed and built in 1950 by Austrian-born Australian architect Harry Seidler, the Rose Seidler House is a heritage-listed house museum located in Wahroonga, a leafy Sydney suburb.
Originally built for Seidler’s parents, the house was seen as a groundbreaking design, offering a bold and optimistic vision of suburban living in a modern era.
When it was completed in 1950, the Rose Seidler House quickly gained fame as “the most talked about house in Sydney”. Over seventy years later, it remains an architectural icon.
Now managed by Museums of History New South Wales, the Rose Seidler House is open to visitors every Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
4. Manns Point Lookout in Greenwich
Manns Point is perched at the southern tip of the Greenwich peninsula, overlooking Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River.
This small park extends to a stunning lookout where you can take in fantastic views of the city skyline, along with the many headlands and islands in the Harbour.
Despite offering one of the best vantage points in Sydney, Manns Point remains a bit of a hidden gem, perhaps because it is tucked away from the city’s more famous tourist spots.
Read our guide on the most beautiful lookouts in Sydney for more of these stunning vantage points.
5. The Coal Loader in Waverton
The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability in Waverton serves as a hub and community meeting point for North Sydney Council’s sustainability initiatives.
A standout feature is the Coal Loader Platform, a modern green roof that ranks as one of Sydney’s largest publicly accessible green spaces.
This unique sandstone platform is designed as a versatile recreational area, with scenic Harbour views adding an extra touch of appeal.
Read our guide on Balls Head Reserve which also includes a section about the Coal Loader.
6. Sawmillers Reserve in McMahons Point
Sawmillers Reserve in McMahons Point is a peaceful spot with plenty to offer, but its most fascinating feature is the old shipwreck resting along the shoreline.
The reserve sits on the site of a former timber mill, which had its peak productivity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
After the site was vacated in the 1980s, local residents pushed for the land to be turned into a public reserve, and it has been enjoyed as such ever since.
Today, Sawmillers Reserve retains several relics from its industrial past, with the wrecked Maritime Services barge standing out as the most eye-catching.
7. Wendy’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay
No list of hidden gems would be complete without mentioning Wendy’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay, just north of Sydney.
While this stunning garden is no longer much of a secret, thanks in part to the rise of social media, it remains a wonderful spot to visit.
Created by Wendy Whitely in the 1990s, the garden is now part of the Lavender Bay Parklands, a network of green spaces and parks in the area.
Read our guide on the Lavender Bay Foreshore Track which includes this beautiful secret garden.
8. Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout
The Pylon Lookout on the Sydney Harbour Bridge is, in our view, one of the best tourist spots in Sydney, yet it remains surprisingly under the radar.
Part of the reason may be that the entrance is tucked away inside one of the bridge’s four massive pylons.
However, the entrance fee is well worth it. The views from the top are spectacular, and the small museum inside is an unexpected treat.
Read our guide on the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout with more information and photos.
9. Queens Beach in Vaucluse
Sydney Harbour is dotted with small, hidden beaches tucked away from the suburban streets, and Queens Beach in Vaucluse is one of these charming little gems.
Located along the popular Hermitage Foreshore Track, Queens Beach is as tiny as it is beautiful. At high tide, it might even disappear from view!
If you are looking for a bit more space to relax and sunbathe, continue a little further north to Milk Beach, another stunning spot with a touch more room to spread out.
Read our guide on the most beautiful secluded beaches in Sydney for more of these unique stretches of sand.
10. Paddington Reservoir Gardens
Paddington Reservoir Gardens is one of those hidden gems in Sydney that many people have heard of or seen in photos but never actually visited.
This state heritage-listed site has an almost Roman feel to it, reminiscent of ancient ruins found in Europe.
The gardens incorporate the former Paddington Reservoir, which was part of Sydney’s third water supply system in the 19th century.
Since its reopening in 2009, the site has become a fascinating blend of the reservoir’s original foundations, boardwalks, and beautifully designed garden beds.
11. Fred Hollows Reserve in Randwick
The Fred Hollows Reserve is a unique two-hectare natural park in Randwick, surrounding Glebe Gully between Alison Road and Clovelly Road.
A scenic walking trail winds through the reserve, featuring boardwalks and a footbridge that let visitors immerse themselves in the area’s diverse vegetation.
Along the path, you’ll find benches and viewing points where you can pause and soak in the peaceful, picturesque surroundings.
The walkway can be accessed from Alison Road in the south or Bligh Place in the north, offering a quick escape from the nearby suburban streets.
12. Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord West
Located in Rhodes Park in Concord West, the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a nearly 1-kilometre-long path connecting Rhodes Station and Concord Hospital.
Officially opened in 1996, the walkway serves as a tribute to the Australian troops who fought in Papua New Guinea during the 1942 Kokoda Track campaign.
The path winds through a parkland setting and features several audio-visual information stations, each detailing key locations and battles from the campaign.
The centrepiece of the walkway is a circular area with granite walls engraved with striking photographic images of the campaign, creating a moving and reflective experience.
13. Shipwrecks of Homebush Bay
Homebush Bay is the final resting place of several shipwrecks, remnants of an old shipyard where vessels were decommissioned and discarded.
Four abandoned freighters remain visible, with the SS Ayrfield standing out as the most remarkable. Over time, it has transformed into a floating forest, with nature reclaiming its space.
These fascinating wrecks have become a favourite spot for photographers. The best way to view them is by taking a walk along the Waterbird Refuge in Sydney Olympic Park, leading to The Promenade in Wentworth Point.
Read our guide on the shipwrecks of Homebush Bay which explains how and where to find them.
14. Badu Mangroves in Sydney Olympic Park
The Badu Mangroves ecosystem is situated in Sydney Olympic Park, next to Homebush Bay, with Bicentennial Park to the south and the Waterbird Refuge to the north.
A network of boardwalks winds through the mangroves, giving visitors the chance to explore this unique ecosystem up close.
The history of this hidden gem is intriguing. The mangroves were left untouched during the land reclamation projects in the Homebush Bay area throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the Badu Mangroves make up the largest remaining intertidal wetland along the Parramatta River. This thriving ecosystem is home to a rich variety of plant and animal species.
15. Brickpit Ring Walk in Sydney Olympic Park
Despite its size, the Brickpit Ring Walk in Sydney Olympic Park remains a hidden gem that many Sydneysiders have yet to discover.
This elevated circular walkway overlooks a large pond that was once the site of a bustling brickyard.
When Green and Golden Bell Frogs were found here during preparations for the 2000 Summer Olympics, the area was repurposed as a water storage facility and frog habitat.
Years later, the walkway was constructed, offering visitors a chance to learn about the site’s fascinating history and its current ecological significance.
Read our guide on the Brickpit Ring Walk for essential visitor information and lots of photos.
16. Knapsack Viaduct in Glenbrook
In the Lower Blue Mountains, the impressive Knapsack Viaduct can be found in the Glenbrook area, accessible via a scenic walking track.
This sandstone arch bridge is a remarkable feat of 19th-century engineering, quietly tucked away from view.
Built in the late 1800s as part of the Lapstone Zig Zag railway, it once connected the Emu Plains and Blaxland train stations.
Although the railway closed in 1892, the viaduct and other relics remain and can be explored on a moderately challenging bushwalk.
Read our guide on the Lapstone Zig Zag Walk for the full story.
17. Lennox Bridge in Glenbrook
Another hidden gem in this area is the Lennox Bridge on Mitchells Pass, which served as the main road into and over the Blue Mountains long before the Great Western Highway was built.
The Lennox Bridge isn’t too far from the Knapsack Viaduct, which makes exploring both historical sites a great day adventure.
Constructed in the early 19th century, this stone arch bridge spans Lapstone Creek and is still open to cars today.
A small car park at the eastern end of the bridge provides easy access for visitors to explore the area. Mitchells Pass is one-way, so you’ll need to enter via the Great Western Highway in Blaxland.
Congratulations and many thanks to AJ. I always read Sydney Uncovered on Fridays. It’s suggestions are so varied and informative. Although, at 78, I have completed many of the walks and visited lots of the destinations, the suggestions awake happy memories and inspire me to go back to these places, which happily I can still do.
Ian, thank you so much. Very glad to hear that you are enjoying our content!