The Inner West punches well above its weight for free family activities. Between Sydney Park, the Iron Cove Bay Run, Camperdown's nature playground, and one of Sydney's most active council events calendars, there's genuinely a lot here for families. Here's the full rundown.
Sydney Park (Alexandria/St Peters)
If you only visit one park in the Inner West with kids, make it Sydney Park. It's 44 hectares right on the edge of Newtown and St Peters, and it's entirely free.
The standout feature is the playground — it's built around four massive heritage brick chimneys from the park's former brickworks, and it's one of the more imaginatively designed playgrounds in Sydney. There's also a large wetlands area with walking paths, open grass for kicking a ball, and a café (the Pavilion) if you want coffee.
The park is busy on weekends but large enough that it never feels crowded. It's a reliable pick whatever the weather, and the chimney playground gives you at least an hour of entertainment for kids of most ages.
Address: Sydney Park Road, St Peters. Free parking on site. Redfern station is about a 15-minute walk.
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park
A very different kind of park. Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is a small heritage cemetery-turned-public-park in Newtown, and it has one of the best natural playgrounds in the inner city.
The playground is built on a gentle hill with wooden climbing structures, a sandpit, a water play area, and a lot of open grass. It feels less manufactured than most council playgrounds, and kids tend to spend a long time here. The heritage graves are still in situ around the edges, which some kids find interesting (and parents find easy to explain as a bit of local history).
Address: Church Street, Newtown. Easy walking distance from Newtown station.
Petersham Park
A classic suburban park with a good playground, an open oval, a basketball court, and free barbecues. The play equipment caters to a wide age range — there's a toddler section and a bigger kids section. The park is almost always quiet on weekdays, which makes it a good option if you want space without crowds.
Address: Crystal Street, Petersham. 10-minute walk from Petersham station.
Iron Cove Bay Run
The Iron Cove Bay Run is a 7km loop path around the bay between Drummoyne and Leichhardt. It's completely flat, paved, and free, and it runs along the waterfront the whole way.
You don't have to do the full loop — the section between Leichhardt Park and Rodd Park is the nicest stretch, and it's easy to walk the foreshore for 30–40 minutes before turning back. There's a small playground at Leichhardt Park at the northern end.
For families with bikes or scooters, the path is excellent — almost no car interaction and enough to keep going for a while.
Ashfield Park
Ashfield Park is the biggest open green space in Ashfield, and it's a solid all-rounder. There's a good playground (recently upgraded), open oval, a skate park, a free outdoor gym, and duck pond. The park tends to be busy on weekends, particularly with young families.
Address: Charlotte Street, Ashfield.
Libraries
Inner West Council runs good libraries with regular free events for children:
- Leichhardt Library — regular story time sessions, school holiday programs
- Balmain Library — popular story time sessions (book ahead, they fill up fast)
- Ashfield Library — regular family programs
- Newtown Library (Camperdown) — in the old town hall building, good children's section
Most sessions are free to attend with booking. Search "Inner West" on Discover to find current library events.
Council events
Inner West Council runs a strong free events program year-round — outdoor cinema nights, school holiday workshops, community festivals, and more. Events are scattered across different parks and venues through the area.
Browse all upcoming Inner West free events on Little Rascal — pulled directly from the council and updated weekly.
Victoria Park (near Glebe)
Technically in the City of Sydney area, but worth including because it's right on the Inner West boundary near Glebe. Victoria Park has a large playground, open grass areas, and the Victoria Park Pool next to it if you want a swim. The park is free; the pool has entry fees.
Address: City Road, Glebe. Easy walking distance from Redfern or a short bus from Newtown.
On a rainy day
A few reliable wet weather options:
- Annandale Music Arts and Culture (AMAC) — check their term program, often includes cheap/free kids workshops
- Any Inner West Library — free, warm, and the kids sections are genuinely good
- Marrickville Library has a good toy section and extended hours
Updated May 2026. Know a great free spot we've missed? Let us know.