Concord Hiking: Historic Sites + Summer’s Best Water Play Spot!

🌈🌸💁 Sydney Hiking Journal – Entry 49 💧 About Concord Foreshore Trail Tucked within Canada Bay Council, the Concord Foreshore Trail is a relatively under-the-radar hiking path with stunning water views! 🌊 It stretches all the way from McIlwaine Park (Brays Bay Reserve – check out my earlier Xiaohongshu post for more on that!) to Concord’s Majors Bay Reserve, totaling around 9.8 kilometers. Today, I’m focusing on a 2-kilometer round-trip section of the Foreshore Trail: from 5 Senses Garden (Rhodes Park) to Revendell School (formerly Thomas Walker Hospital) – perfect for a casual summer hike! 🅿️ Parking Tips Park at 5 Senses Garden (see Photo 2)! Look for the yellow sign that says “Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway” to enter Rhodes Park’s parking lot – it’s 2 hours free! ⏰ If you’d rather avoid time limits, park on Killoola Street outside the lot – no restrictions there, yay! ❤️ ❤️💁 Starting Point: 5 Senses Garden This tiny community garden is such a gem! 🌼 Run by volunteers, it’s filled with well-tended flowers and plants, plus a small sandpit, a sensory play area, and other fun features for kids. It’s a unique little playground-garden hybrid – great for letting little ones burn off energy before or after the hike 🚻 Bathrooms There’s a bathroom right next to 5 Senses Garden – important note: there are no other bathrooms along the trail, so plan ahead! 🚽 🍴 Restaurants/Cafés Nearby Kokoda Cafe: Just beside 5 Senses Garden! They sell light meals, ice cream, and drinks – perfect for a post-hike snack or cool-down treat 🍦☕. 📍 Hike Details Total Distance: 2 kilometers (round-trip) Difficulty Level: Easy ❤️ – great for beginners or families! Stroller-Friendly: Yes! ✔ Pushchairs can handle this path easily. 🗺️ Hiking Route: 5 Senses Garden → Revendell School Start at 5 Senses Garden and follow the trail toward Revendell School. Once you reach the school, you can spread out a picnic blanket on the big grassy area outside – it’s a lovely spot for a meal! 🧺 At low tide, the shallow water near the boat shed is perfect for kids to splash around in! ⚠️ Pro tip: Have them wear water shoes – there might be broken glass. ⚠️ Important Note About Revendell School This school (for teens with emotional needs) is a heritage-listed building – please do not go inside or take photos of the school itself! It could disrupt classes and the students’ routine. Let’s be respectful! 💁 ❤️ Nearby Attractions Yaralla Estate: One of Sydney’s oldest estates (built in 1797)! 🕰️ It was owned by Thomas Walker, who donated the land for Revendell School. Today, it operates as a psychiatric care facility – a fascinating piece of local history! #SydneyWeekendHiking #BostonFoodAndFun #BostonRestaurantHopping #Brunch #RestaurantRecommendations #BostonSuburbs #BostonArea #FarmToTable #BostonLife #BostonFood #InternationalStudentEats