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Sydney Olympic Park

Visiting The Park





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Biodiversity at the Park

Sydney Olympic Park is an urban biodiversity hotspot. More than half of the Park’s 600 hectares supports important habitats for native species, including:
  • over 400 plant species
  • over 180 bird species, including migratory shorebirds 
  • 7 frog species, including the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog
  • 10 bat species 
  • 10 reptile species 
  • many species of fish
  • thousands of invertebrate species
More information is available regarding biodiversity at Sydney Olympic Park

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Bird watching

Sydney Olympic Park provides excellent bird watching opportunities. The diverse habitats of the Park support migratory, nomadic and resident birds – a total of more than 180 native species have been recorded.
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The best places to watch birds in the Park are:

  • The Waterbird Refuge (refer Park Map O12), a 4 hectare estuarine wetland featuring a bird hide and other vantage points from which large numbers of ducks and waders can be readily seen, including migratory species such as the Bar-tailed Godwit and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
  • The Northern Water Feature (refer Park Map F15), a freshwater wetland inhabited by resident waterbirds such as  the Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Black Swan, Australasian Grebe. A walkway that extends over the wetland provides good viewing opportunities of these and other species. Look out for nests and chicks, particularly in spring and summer.
  • The Eastern Water Quality Control Pond (refer Park Map), another freshwater wetland frequented by ducks and other waterbirds. The reeds fringing the wetland provide habitat for the Australian Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird, and the secretive Baillon’s Crake and Buff-banded Rail. There is a hide and other good vantage points to view these birds.
  • Throughout the Park shrubby areas provide habitat for small woodland birds. Look out for species such as the Superb Fairy Wren, Double-barred Finch, Spotted Pardalote, Grey Fantail and Brown Honeyeater. Birds of prey like the Black-shouldered Kite and Nankeen Kestrel can often be seen hunting over open, grassy areas, and the River Walk (refer Park Map A3-O2) is a good place to spot White-bellied Sea-eagles.
  • The Birds Australia Discovery Centre,where you can watch live action from a White-bellied Sea-eagle nest via EagleCam
 

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birds australia discovery centre

Birds Australia Discovery Centre

Learn more about Australian birds and their habitats through a range of informative displays and activities at the Birds Australia Discovery Centre in Newington Armory (refer Park Map H7).

More information is available at the Birds Australia Discovery Centre website.


mangrove boardwalk

Mangrove Boardwalk

Experience the largest stands of mangrove forest along the Parramatta River by walking or cycling along the floating wooden boardwalk at Badu Mangroves in Bicentennial Park (refer Park Map O15).

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Like all mangrove forests in Sydney, Badu Mangroves is dominated by the Grey Mangrove Avicennia marina. Look out for the abundant crabs and snails that occur in the mud. You may also see wading birds such as the White-faced Heron and the more secretive Mangrove Heron foraging or roosting amongst the mangroves. Small birds such as the Yellow Thornbill, Silvereye and Grey Fantail may also be seen and heard amongst the mangroves as they flit through the forest, and Golden Orb-weaving Spiders are abundant in the autumn months when they build their webs in the mangrove canopy.

 

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Brick Pit ring walk

Brickpit Ring Walk

Take a bird’s eye view of endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog habitat and other unique features of the Brickpit from the Ring Walk (refer Park Map K14), an elevated circular walkway.

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From the Ring Walk you can see both naturally-formed and constructed ponds that the Green and Golden Bell Frog uses for breeding, with surrounding reeds, rock piles, long grass and weedy vegetation that the frogs use for shelter and foraging.

Interpretive material around the Ring Walk explains the Brickpit’s industrial history and unique geology, the evolution of Green and Golden Bell Frog habitat, and the development and operation of the Park’s innovative water recycling scheme (WRAMS).

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narawang wetland

Narawang Wetland

Meander along walking paths and a reed-fringed boardwalk at Narawang Wetland (refer Park Map G10). The Green and Golden Bell Frog and other frog species can often be heard calling from the ponds during the warmer months, and you may even see one if you are lucky.


green and golden bell frog

Frog Walk

Follow our Frog Walk to experience the Park’s frog habitats and learn about management of the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog.

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The Park's extensive freshwater wetlands support seven frog species, including the Green and Golden Bell Frog. There are 70 constructed frog habitat ponds around the Park, and there are also 11 road underpasses that allow frogs to safely move between habitats while avoiding road traffic. Six kilometres of frog fencing, made of black shadecloth with an overhanging top, guide frogs through underpasses and prevent them from hopping onto the roads.

The Frog Walk takes in the Brickpit Ring Walk, where you have a bird’s eye view of frog habitats, and nearby underpasses and frog fencing at Wentworth Common and Kronos Hill. Find out more about the acrobat_icon_small.gif Green and Golden Bell Frog and the Frog Walk (PDF 726KB)

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Heritage Railway Discovery Tour

Heritage Railway

Take an explosive trip around the historic buildings of Newington Armory on the heritage-listed narrow-gauge railway, and learn about the Park’s remnant Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and the different bat species that inhabit some of the heritage buildings.

More information is available about the Heritage Railway Tour experience and the other attractions at Newington Armory.