We have put together things to do in Lane Cove from A to Z, perfect if you are having a staycation in Lane Cove or you are looking to do some more things around Lane Cove.
A = Art is alive and well in Lane Cove. Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios has some great exhibitions. Find out more here. You can also sign up for some art classes such as life drawing, textiles, pottery and screen printing. Find our more here or email Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studio and ask them to put your on their mailing list to advise you of Adult and Children’s Art Workshops.
B = Bare Foot Bowls at the Longueville Sporting Club aka the Diddy. The Diddy is a family friendly club and also a great hang out for those who just want a cold beverage.
C = Chow Down at one of our many cafes or restaurants in Lane Cove. Find one you like here or check out our guide to Longuveille Eat Street.
D = Ducks at Burns Bay Bay Reserve. Pop over to feed the ducks at Burns Bay Reserve. But make sure you don’t feed them bread is not good for ducks and they should have a variety of food such as:
Sfd (Safe for ducks)
- Cracked corn
- Wheat, barley or similar grains
- Oats
- Rice (cooked or uncooked)
- Birdseed (any type or mix)
- Grapes (cut in half)
- Frozen peas or corn (defrosted, no need to cook)
- Earthworms
- Mealworms
- Chopped lettuce or other greens or salad mixes
- Chopped vegetable trimmings or peels
- Duck pellets
Nsfd (Not safe for ducks)
- Bread
- Chips
- Crackers and biscuits
- Popcorn
- Sugary food – sweets, chocolateSource: The Guardian
E = Exercise for Free at one of Lane Cove free exercise areas (areas at Blackman Park and the new Hughes Park)
F = Fish at Popular Fishing Spot Cunnighams Reach. Cunninghams Reach is accessed from Burns Bay Road via a loop road below Figtree Bridge. This is a small grassed area with sandstone rocks to Lane Cove River, popular for fishing and picnics.
G = Golf. Play a round of golf at Lane Cove Golf Club. Afterwards relax at the clubhouse.
H = Historic Carisbrook House
Built from local sandstone with a slate roof, Carisbrook stands on an eighteen-acre grant of Burns Bay land originally acquired by John Clarke in 1835. In the early 1880s, as plans for the Fig-Tree Bridge moved closer to realisation, the Brooks family applied to subdivide their land. they set aside a substantial area, more than an acre, and built the stone house, Carisbrook, on it using a honey-coloured sand-stone probably quarried on the Brooks’ land. The rest of the estate was subdivided into standard housing blocks, and auctioned.
The house is Italianate in style, its asymmetrical facade, faceted bay window and low-pitched roof being motifs much favoured by Victorian architects and clients.
Carisbrook remains the oldest surviving house in its area, its fabric largely intact. It was bought in 1969, by Lane Cove Council which maintains it. A permanent conservation order was placed on the house by the Heritage Council of NSW in 1981.
Lane Cove Historical Society has furnished the house to the mid-Victorian period with an extensive collection of antiques and hand-worked household utensils. Guided tours, public programmes, film and photo shoots and other special events are also arranged by this society.
Carisbrook’s magnificent gardens and grounds still run down to Burns Bay, connecting the house with the river which was such a vital element in settlement and transport in its earlier days.
Carisbrook is owned by Lane Cove Council. The collections, tours and other interpretive programs are provided by the Lane Cove Historical Society.
Carisbrook is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday (excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day) from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm.
For further information on Carisbrook House, download the Carisbrook Museum House brochure or visit the NSW Heritage Office Website and search for its listing on the State Heritage Inventory and State Heritage Register.
I = I scream we all scream for ice cream, but not in Lane Cove. In Lane Cove it is Gelato or bust. Gelatissimo is the place to go located in the Lane Cove Plaza
J = Jog. Lane Cove has numerous parks to run around and if you really love jogging, check out our Guide to the Top 8 Bush Trail Runs in Lane Cove or our Guide to Running Hills In Lane Cove.
K= Kingsford Smith Oval. This is one of the off leash dog parks where you can meet fellow doggie lovers.
L = Lane Cove Library is a great place to hang out and enjoy yourself – so much to do. Find out more here
M = Mindarie Park. This is Lane Cove’s newest park and they now have a coffee van available on weekends and school holidays. More info here.
N = Nip that hunger by grabbing the world famous hot chips at Chargrill Charlies.
O = Orienteering might be something you would like to investigate. Check out the local Orienteering Group – Garlingal Orienteers.
P = Pack a Picnic and head on over to the Tambourine Bay Reserve and look out over the water at the new landscaped area that used to be a tidal pool. Check out our top six picnic places in Lane Cove here.
Q = Quench your thirst by sipping on a Spritz from the Spritz Bar at The Alcott.
R = Ride your bike around Lane Cove and check out the public artworks throughout the Lane Cove area. Lane Cove Council has an interactive Streetside Gallery Map includes destinations and descriptions of the artworks to allow you to explore the local area in your own time. We have two bike shops in Lane Cove and they both the sell the newest craze electric bikes. Check out Eurocylces or Renegade Cycles.
S = Skateboard at Lane Cove’s Skate Park – Not everyone knows this, but Lane Cove has a skatepark! The park is located in Blackman Park, which is off Lloyd Rees Drive in Lane Cove West. It has a 24 metre run with various sized quarter pipes, ledges and rail. It is open
November – April: 7.30am- 8.30pm
May – October: 8.00am- 6.00pm
T = Tennis. There are so many tennis courts available for casual hire in Lane Cove. Check out the different clubs here. Just have a hit and a giggle or bring out your inner Serena Williams.
U = Underwater
If you feel like a swim you can head off to Lane Cove Aquatic Centre or the Greenwich Baths.
V = Vroom around the Blackman Park Bike Track – great for the kids.
Here is a great review written by blogger Katie Little on Hello Sydney Kids.
Image Credit: Hello Sydney Kids
W = Walk around some of Lane Cove many Bushwalks.
Lane Cove Council has put together a bushwalk book which you can download for free or buy
Bushwalks Around Lane Cove 7th edition – Free Download
Hardcover books on sale for $9.90!
Available from Lane Cove Library and Lane Cove Civic Centre
Free basic maps of local walks are also available from the Lane Cove Civic Centre.
X = X marks the spot. Play Rock Drop in one our Lane Cove’s many parks. Find our more here.
Y = Yoga – Relax and enjoy a yoga session. There are a few yoga places in Lane Cove all offering different styles of Yoga. You can find them here
Z = Zip into Zaparellis and have a pizza, Zig Zag into Zest for a Coffee or zing into Zivelli’s for a super sandwich or Zjooshyourlook with a trip to Zjoosh
What is your favourite thing to do in Lane Cove? What have we missed – tell us below.
If you are looking for school holiday activities for kids young and old find our more here.
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D = Ducks – please, please, please don’t tell people to feed ducks bread. It is harmful to their stomach and digestive system. Ducks like lettuce. Please do your research first.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention Catherine. When my daughter was little we fed the ducks bread all the time (but only a few slices at the end of the loaf). I looked up a few good articles on this and this was the best one on the variety you should feed them. A few articles said bread in moderation was okay but how do you tell what is moderation.
I will do a link to this article on the blog.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/dont-feed-the-ducks-bread-say-conservationists