Places to visit in and around Penrith NSW

The Box Kite and Phoenix are public artworks that represent the incredible history of Thornton, an exciting new precinct near Penrith.

The Box Kite, on Aviators Way, is a sculpture representing the site’s history as an aerodrome where W. E. Hart undertook the first biplane flight in the early 1900s. This 12 metre sculpture has an overall wingspan of 14 metre formed from stainless steel tubular sections, curved aluminium plates and an array of tensioned stainless steel cables.

You can then take a short stroll north of Ron Mulock Oval along the waterway to the Phoenix sculpture. Constructed from sequins and aluminium, it emerges from the waterway, reflecting the sunlight during the day and illuminating at night.

Nearby Thornton cricket oval hosted the first Lord Sheffield Shield cricket tour in 1892. It is also home to a range of multi-age play equipment and outdoor gym equipment.

The Thornton oval precinct is a family and dog-friendly public space with places to picnic and accessible amenities open during the day.

Opened in 2018, this 258 metre crossing includes a 200 metre space over the bridge itself.

The name Yandhai means ‘walking in the path of past and present’ and reflects the use of the river by the Darug people.

This unique and iconic footbridge includes viewing platforms and balconies where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Blue Mountains National Park and the Nepean River.

You can access the Yandhai Nepean Crossing from River Road on the western side or from Memorial Avenue on the eastern side of the Nepean River.

Feeling adventurous? You can go even further afield, with the footbridge part of the 7 kilometre bridge to bridge loop on the Great River Walk between Penrith Valley Bridge and Yandhai.

The loop offers lookout points and sculptural seating areas where you can take in the breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains and watch boats, birds and other wildlife. There are great picnic spots to choose from along the banks of Nepean River at Tench Reserve and Regatta Park, including BBQs and accessible amenities.

The Great River Walk offers stunning scenery along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, also known as Dyarubbin in Dharug language.

Take your bike, pack a picnic or put on your walking shoes and get to know another side of Penrith, one of NSW’s oldest cities at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

You can start just near Victoria Bridge, one of the oldest and finest railway bridges in the State, built in the 1860s for rail and horse-drawn traffic. View this from the spectacular Yandhai Nepean Crossing pedestrian bridge.

Continue towards Penrith Valley Bridge and discover lookout points and sculptural seating areas where you can take in the breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains and watch boats, birds and other wildlife.

There are great picnic spots to choose from along the banks of river at Tench Reserve and Regatta Park, including BBQs and accessible amenities.

Public transport and car parking are nearby and both bridges are close to amenities, shops and cafes.

Visit Werrington Lakes Reserve on Burton Street in Werrington to experience a lovely, large open space, set within a series of lakes.

There’s many places for you to set up for the day - multiple seating areas, BBQ, toilet facilities, play equipment, outdoor gym equipment and a splash pad mean there is something for everyone.

You can explore any number of walking and cycle paths, including the Werrington Lake Environment Trail. This easy 2 kilometre loop takes you around Werrington Lake, along Werrington Creek and through remnant endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland.

You might be lucky to spot Eastern Rosellas and the owl-like Tawny Frogmouth. Also look out for trail markers - beautiful metal sculptures set into sandstone blocks. These 13 sculptures represent the beautiful animals that call the reserve home.

The Great River Walk offers stunning scenery along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.

As you’re enjoying your adventure on the walk – whether on foot, by bike, or while taking time out for a picnic – take note of the lovely sculptural benches that line the walk.

These were commissioned in 2013 and 2015 and they’re a lot more than a place for respite. These imaginative benches, developed by artist Paul Johnson from Art Venture, represent the community today and the history of Penrith.

Paul designed the benches in partnership with the community, holding workshops with local schools and the Nepean District Historical society.

Representing the sister city relationship between Penrith and Fujieda in Japan, the peaceful Japanese garden within the beautiful Weir Reserve overlooks the Nepean River.

The gardens feature a lovely Japanese pavilion, a popular place for weddings and a spot where you can relax and contemplate nature.

Beyond the gardens, there’s many places to relax around Weir Reserve, with grassy areas and large trees providing welcome shade for picnics. A newly refurbished amenities block is nearby. Weir Reserve also links up with the Bridge to Bridge Loop, a 7 kilometre track that winds along the Nepean River.

Parking is available close to the river.

The Mondo is a renewed outdoor community space at the Penrith Civic Arts Precinct, where the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and Penrith City Council’s Civic Centre meet. It’s more than just a thoroughfare – it’s a place where people want to stop for a while and enjoy their surroundings.

Right at its heart is a giant chessboard – why not catch up with a friend, or make a new one and start a game? This is place for the community, bringing people from all walks of life together, lingering to chat and watch the game of strategy play out.

The chessboard is free to use, and is obviously best enjoyed in clear weather, when the giant pieces are more likely to be available. You can view the games from under the shade of umbrellas and trees, surrounded by gardens beds designed to cool the area.

You’ll find the Mondo in the heart of Penrith, and accessible amenities and public transport options are nearby.

Penrith Weir is a beautiful place to sit and relax on the banks of the Nepean River and listen to the sound of water trickling over the weir.

Constructed in 1909 to provide a permanent water supply for this growing settlement, the weir is located at the northern end of Weir Reserve. You can access it from the walking track that winds along the banks of the river. Keep your eye out for water dragons, a water loving, tree-dwelling native lizard, and listen for the distinctive call of the bell miner or bellbirds from the nearby native woodland.

Along the weir is a fish ladder, a structure to help fish move up and down the river. The fish ladder gives fish a way of swimming upstream.

There are accessible amenities at Weir Reserve and parking via Bruce Neale Drive.

Mulberry Tree Lane at Tench Reserve has been a favourite place with locals for years. The unique plantings of 2 types of Mulberry trees – the White Mulberrry and the Black Mulberry – in the 1990s was inspired by a council staff member who was originally from California. Creating the feeling of a shaded avenue, the staff member also planted a Californian Redwood, one of the oldest and tallest species of trees in the world.

The Mulberry trees fruit in spring, drawing locals and visitors alike to Tench Reserve, a lovely large space reserve along the banks of the Nepean River. You can access a boat ramp, toilet facilities, undercover seating areas and two playgrounds.

Mountain View Walk is an easy 1.8 kilometre loop within the bushland and wetlands of Mountain View Reserve, Cranebrook.

This area has been protected given the significance of the area’s woodlands and natural wetlands for local animals and birds – listen out for frogs and birds and if you’re lucky, you might spot a sugar glider. You can also stop in the bird hide to observe and photograph the wildlife!

The lookout offers views over Penrith Lakes, framed by the escarpment of the Blue Mountains in the distance.