Hyde Park, Sydney

Hyde Park is where Sydney takes a deep breath. Stretching from St James Station down to Liverpool Street, it’s the city’s oldest public park—and the moment you step under its canopy of towering fig trees, you understand why generations have treated it as downtown’s unofficial living room. Back in 1810, this was grazing land and a makeshift parade ground, until someone decided Sydney deserved a dash of London and named it Hyde Park. The formal landscaping arrived in the 1920s, bringing neat avenues, sweeping lawns, and fountains that still cool the midday rush.

At the park’s northern end, the Archibald Fountain steals the show. Unveiled in 1932 and sculpted by French artist François-Léon Sicard, it throws Greek mythology into the Australian sunlight with surprising confidence—bronze figures, sparkling water, and just enough drama to stop even the most hurried commuter. Nearby statues of Captain Cook and James Martin serve as reminders that Sydney has never been shy about putting its history on a pedestal.

Down at the southern end, the mood shifts. Here stand the ANZAC War Memorial and the Pool of Reflection, a calm, solemn space framed by quiet pathways and still water. From this point, paths fan out toward lawns filled with office workers on lunch break, tourists plotting their next stop, and locals doing their best to make “a quick sit-down” last far longer than planned.

Between concerts, festivals, ceremonies, and the constant hum of people moving through, Hyde Park works double duty: part city shortcut, part sanctuary. It’s the rare place where you can admire cathedral spires, sip a takeaway coffee, and listen to the trees all at once—proof that even in the middle of Sydney’s urban bustle, a little calm is never far away...