Embrace the great outdoors

No matter where you live in NSW,  whether in a beautiful regional town or a bustling urban area, you’re never far from great public spaces.

These are the places to exercise, play, relax or socialise for free, from a playground or sportsfields, to beaches, riverbanks or expansive national parks. They make our neighbourhoods great places to live and can help us to feel happier and healthier.

Imagine making even more of your time outdoors.

What can you see?

Take a walk, cycle along local streets, or visit public spaces to see how the many trees and shrubs, such as those we recognise like Bottlebrush or Jacaranda, change across the seasons.

Bring along a paintbrush or sketchbook to capture what you see right at that moment; it could be the setting sun from a high viewpoint or the early morning activity of joggers and walkers or rowers and swimmers as the sun starts to rise.

What can you hear?

You might hear the sounds of birds and animals that flourish in a variety of trees, shrubs and grasses, or you could be enjoying a free festival, hearing the background sound of music, people and community.

Listen out for the less obvious sounds, the wind through the leaves or the gentle movement of water if you’re near the coastline.

What can you feel?

Remove your shoes and enjoy the soft grass or sand between your toes, or seek shelter under the dappled sunlight of a tree.

Visit the places that tell stories of both Aboriginal or colonial history and touch the ancient sandstone or dip your toe in the waterways to try to get under the skin of those who lived off this land for centuries.

What can you smell?

Compare the smells and how they make you feel when visiting bushland, relaxing in an urban park or the ocean.

Learn more about how Aboriginal people have harvested native plants for medicinal reasons, using these lovely scents to treat illness or to disrupt disease. Some trees, like the Lemon Myrtle, look beautiful and smell amazing.

"The Lemon Myrtle has a beautiful, citrus-like scent and is a medicinal plant to many Aboriginal people, perfect for headaches, colds, sore throats or breathing difficulties. Put 5 to 10 Lemon Myrtle leaves in boiling water, hover your face just above with a towel over your head and breath in the steam – this will clear your airways, help you relax and reduce headaches. For a more immediate solution, crush the leaves with your hands and inhale the scent. You can even chew fresh leaves to aid gum and throat issues."

- The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney

What can you taste?

Public spaces are perfect for picnics, so you can savour the taste of the great outdoors with family or friends. Find BBQ facilities, tables or shelters and cook up a feast.

Plan a trip outdoors on the Walks Near Me map to celebrate your senses.

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