The Iglu Guide | Blog
The top Summer Hill spots to stretch your legs after study
Finding time for exercise is a great way to take a break and refresh your body and mind during the term time grind. Getting out into the fresh air is even better, as it can really improve your overall wellbeing. Whether it’s a stroll round the park, a quick set of swim laps or a regular walking meet with friends, Sydney’s Inner West has you covered, with plenty of options right on your doorstep. And if the weather’s not playing ball, you can always head to Iglu’s in-house gym to get your body moving. Here’s what’s right on your doorstep.
Local parks
When you fancy a quick stroll outside to break up the day, Summer Hill and surrounds have plenty to offer. Just on your doorstep, Darrell Jackson Gardens is the perfect spot to enjoy some fresh air, meet friends for a picnic, or even have a hit of tennis.
Petersham Park is slightly further afield, but a popular hangout spot and well known for its famous cricketing history with local legend Don Bradman. Today, it is characterised by an impressive set of Anzac gates constructed in memory of the locals who left to fight in WW1.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, take a bush walk through the leafy Cadigal Reserve, inhale the fresh air in Leichhardt’s Pioneers Memorial Park, or wander through the aromatic rose gardens of Ashfield Park.
For the perfect picnic spot, you can’t beat the waterside Rodd Park. Overlooking the Paramatta River, this is one of the inner west’s most scenic spots.
Walks and trails
This area is certainly not short of a trail or two, and Summer Hill is the perfect springboard to access some of Sydney’s finest. Don’t miss out on the popular Bay Run, a flat 7km loop that circles the water by crossing over the Iron Cove Bridge. Pleasantly passing through mangroves and parklands, the track is frequented by bicycles, prams, commuters and more, so it pays to pick your timing wisely.
Glebe Foreshore Walk is another waterside route that will give you amazing views of the harbour, as well as the ever-impressive Sydney skyline. Start out at Glebe’s Bicentennial Park and be sure to stop off at one of the many greeneries along the way before you finish up in Pyrmont.
Further afield but worth a visit, the interesting Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway runs alongside the Paramatta River and serves as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in WW2.
Dive in
There’s nothing like a refreshing swim to wash all your worries away, and Sydney certainly has plenty of that on offer. Take a dive into the salty ocean water under the protected care of Dawn Fraser Baths, just a short bus ride away. This heritage-listed swimming baths has been open to the public since 1882 and as the oldest pool and swimming club in Australia, it has a very proud and rich history.
If saltwater’s not your thing, but you love the idea of open-air swimming, head over to the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre in Petersham Park. Open from October-April every year, you can paddle away to your heart’s content and enjoy some spectacular views across the park as you go.
And for a more natural swimming spot, check out the little-known Cabarita Beach on the Paramatta River. Part of a wider project to open up more access to swim spots on the river, this secret waterhole is the ideal place to enjoy the natural surrounds before heading back to your desk. Fully refreshed and ready to go!
Photo from Time Out Sydney
