10 of the best skate parks around Australia

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Inspired by our Olympic champions? Here’s where to hit Australia’s best skate parks.

Australia has entered a golden era for skateboarding and the best skate parks in Australia have something to offer everyone from beginners to seasoned skaters who love everything about the subculture.

Although the curtain has come down on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the excitement of watching Arisa Trew and Keegan Palmer win skateboarding gold at the Paris Olympics was surely enough to inspire a new generation of Australians to take up the sport. Here are 10 of the best skate parks around Australia to get your bearings.

1. Cairns Skate Park, Tropical North Queensland

Even the most curmudgeonly members of the anti-skateboarding fraternity would have frothed on the commentary delivered by Nine’s Mitch Tomlinson and Nick Boserio while cheering on the Aussies. Cairns Skate Park, the biggest in Australia, has been echoing with the clatter of skateboards hitting concrete ever since. One of the best things to do in Cairns, the park features a four-foot (1.2-metre) clover bowl with rounded hips and pockets and a big bowl with a vert wall ranging from eight to 10 feet (2.4 to three metres).

Address: 171 Esplanade, Cairns

2. Belconnen Skate Park, Canberra, ACT

Adjust the tracks on your 1981 Santa Cruz Steve Olson Checker using the old ‘Tighty Righty’ formula and pull on your vintage Vans. It’s time to show the young ‘uns how to drop in and carve up a bowl. The Belco Bowl hosts some of Australia’s largest skate comps, like the beloved Belco Bowl Jam. There are also mini ramps and snaking bowls to suit skateboarders of all levels. Smash out your last run and then head to Belco for brunch.

Address: 77 Emu Bank, Belconnen

Belconnen Skate Park in Canberra
The Belco Bowl hosts some of Australia’s largest skate comps. (Image: Manteena)

3. Pizzey Park Skate Park, Gold Coast, Qld

Arisa Trew honed her skills at the Level Up Skate Academy on the Gold Coast. But those who don’t want to attend the elite skateboarding school with the hope of going pro can still have a lot of fun on the Goldie. Pizzey Park Skate Park has 4800 square metres of skateable area and sets the standard for competition-level facilities ahead of the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. Expect street-style obstacles with rails, hubbas, kickers and granite ledges.

Address: Sonia St, Miami

4. Bondi Skate Park, Sydney, NSW

Have skateboard, will travel? Road-trippers doing a hot lap of Australia should factor in a visit to Bondi Skate Park even if they don’t know how to nail a nosegrind. The fact it’s just metres away from the iconic golden sands of Bondi Beach makes the vibe here one worth bottling. The park has a sick 10-foot-deep (three-metre) skate bowl that attracts some of the best skaters from around the world. Don’t forget to check out the wall of street art nearby.

Address: 102 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

5. Prahran Skate Park, Melbourne, Vic

On a holiday to Melbourne? Carve out a big chunk of time to cruise on down to Prahran Skate Park. This epic park reopened in June 2024 after a massive refurb. Beginners who favour a more street style of skating will appreciate the mellow features of this park which has rails, ledgers, quarters, stairs and banks catering to all comers. There’s also a classic steel half pipe and a mellow plaza area for younger skaters with seating for parents.

Address: 276 Malvern Rd, Prahran

6. West Beach Skate Park, Adelaide, SA

Tony Hawk’s influence as the pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding can be felt at the West Beach Skate Park in Adelaide, home to a 13-foot (four metres) vert vamp that is said to be Australia’s largest. The South Australian park is one of the best skate parks in Australia: it’s well-maintained and considered somewhat of a standout for its enclosed concrete bowl, street section and bowl designed for snake runs. It’s Radelaide for a reason.

Address: Africaine Rd, Adelaide Airport

7. Alex Skate Park, Alexandra Headlands, Sunshine Coast, Qld

No matter how you identify, the dress code at Alex Skate Park seems to be: flanno and beanie. The jury is out as to whether the addition of a nose ring helps perfect your kickflips and ollies, but we’re here for it and want to join this Sunny Coast tribe. This beachfront park with two enclosed skate bowls attracts shredders. But its well-thought-out open-flow design makes it friendly for beginners, too.

Address: Buhk Family Park, Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland

Alex Skate Park
This beachfront park is friendly for beginners. (Image: Sunshine Coast Council)

8. Scarborough Beach Skate Park, Perth, WA

Expect a crew of salty-haired surfers at Scarborough Beach Skate Park when there is no swell forecast in this laid-back surfie city.  The skate park is on the Scarborough Esplanade and attracts van lifers on their way to elsewhere after stopping off in Perth. There’s a monster bowl with concrete coping, ledges and more.

Address: 150 The Esplanade, Scarborough

Scarborough Beach Skate Park
Expect a crew of salty-haired surfers at Scarborough Beach Skate Park. (Image: DG Imagery)

9. Rosny Skate Park, Hobart, Tas

Rosney Skate Park is near to some of the best cafes in Hobart for coffee. Down a quick three-quarter latte and then carve along the path that slices through Charles Hand Park to the skate park. It is one of the best in Tassie: it has a kidney-shaped bowl with pool tiles and coping and a large open-flow concrete section where BMXers and skaters all go with the flow. Channel the main character energy of Keegan Palmer and try and land that kickflip you’ve been practising since 2014.

Address: 15 Rosny Hill Rd, Rosny Park

Rosny Skate Park
Land that kickflip you’ve been practising since 2014 at Rosny Skate Park.

10. Ltyentye Apurte Skate Park, Red Centre, NT

Close your eyes and conjure up that meme of skating commentators Mitch Tomlinson and Nick Boserio throwing wild Rocky-like punches into the air. Can you hear the crowd roar? The Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) Skate Park in the Red Centre, about an hour’s drive from Alice Springs, opened in August 2023 and is the first remote Aboriginal community-funded skate park in the Northern Territory. The skate park was the vision of eastern Arrernte man Nicky Hayes, who is the Spinifex Skateboards founder and one of only a few Aboriginal professional skateboarders.

You’ll find less is more at this skate park with a mini ramp, ledge and flat banks. But the gnarliest element is the Indigenous flag hipped bank. Usually with a flat platform, this one has one side red, one side black and then the sun in the middle.

Address: 29 Church St, Santa Teresa

Ltyentye Apurte Skate Park
Ltyentye Apurte Skate Park is the first remote Aboriginal community-funded skate park in the Northern Territory. (Image: Wade Trevean + Nicky Hayes)
If you’re Sydney-based and looking for private skate lessons for your kids, book in with Little Rippers Skate Coaching .
Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Your guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of  Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

a show at Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.