Lookouts in Sydney: 12 of the Most Mesmerising Views

Whether you're showing off your home turf to out-of-towners or just appreciating our stunning harbour city with your family, these amazing lookouts in Sydney will take your breath away time and time again.

Venturing to a Sydney lookout is the perfect way to connect with nature and appreciate our glorious harbourside home, so grab your walking shoes, pack a picnic and get a fresh perspective at one of the top lookouts in Sydney.

Lookouts in Sydney: 12 of the Most Mesmerising Views

1. Mrs Macquarie's Chair

An exposed sandstone rock bench, hand-carved by convicts in 1810, is now one of Sydney’s most visited landmarks and top of our list of lookouts in Sydney.

Built especially for Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, to take in the city’s spectacular harbour views, the prime seating teeters just above the water. From here, you can get an unparalleled view of Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge and Fort Denison, Part of The Domain, getting to Mrs Macquarie's Chair is a beautiful walk through Royal Botanic Gardens, and the surrounds make a lovely picnic spot.

Catch a stunning sunset against the city skyline and watch the ferries and sailboats float by on your Sydney lookout adventure.

Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney

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2. West Head Lookout

This lookout in Sydney is a sensory feast with incredible coastal views across a broad vista including Broken Bay, Pittwater and Barrenjoey Headland and Lighthouse, and the Hawkesbury River and Central Coast, with ambient sounds of the waves below and the birds overhead.

The generous sandstone viewing area at West Head Lookout is a wealth of information, with the Resolute picnic area and Aboriginal Heritage Walk close by. Plus, the drive-through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a joyful experience in itself. 

Location: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

3. Blues Point Reserve

This spectacular national reserve right on the foreshore at McMahons Point boasts panoramic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House views, making it one of the most prized lookouts in Sydney.

Jutting right into the harbour, Blues Point Reserve has an aptly-themed nautical playground for kids and an abundance of open green space and sprawling fig trees. Perfect for a play and a picnic with a sensational backdrop. 

Location: Blues Point Rd, North Sydney

4. Barrenjoey Lighthouse

Perched on Sydney’s northernmost point, the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk will take you 91 metres above sea level to behold expansive ocean views that span from Broken Bay to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Central Coast.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse is an easy walk along the picturesque Barrenjoey track, and pods of whales can often be seen frolicking from the lookout during migration season.

Despite the Palm Beach beacon’s noteworthy cultural heritage, Barrenjoey Lighthouse is perhaps most famous due to its Home & Away heyday!

Barrenjoey Lighthouse is one of the most iconic sights on Sydney's northern beaches and makes a lovely day trip from Sydney, and the hilltop parkland is perfect for a picnic with million-dollar views.

Location: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

5. Manns Point

Another sensational lookout in Sydney that awards stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the CBD, Manns Point is a relatively secret lookout in Greenwich Point, so perhaps keep this one on the DL!

Location: Prospect St, Greenwich

6. Dudley Page Reserve

This is one of our favourite lookouts in Sydney!

Tucked away in the backstreets of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Dudley Page Reserve is an elevated parkland that's popular with families and tourist buses alike! The striking sunset views across the city skyline, with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at its centre, are hard to beat.

There is a playground for little ones, plus a fantastic bike track, a cricket pitch and a fitness station (which also serves as a playground most of the time!).

The huge open space is ideal for frisbee and ball games, with one of Sydney’s most breathtaking views.

Location: Military Road, Dover Heights

7. Wendy's Secret Garden

This magical little hideaway is one of the city's hidden treasures and one of the most spectacular lookouts in Sydney.

Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden is a quirky, quiet oasis full of tree ferns, herbs, flowers, and palm and fig trees. It also occupies a prime position in the Lavender Bay Parklands right on Sydney Harbour with incredible views.

The peaceful nook has picnic tables and artistic objects dotted throughout the park, and is one of the best places for a family picnic while taking in the majestic seaside surroundings from the lookout. 

Location: Lavender St, Lavender Bay

8. Long Reef Headland

Long Reef Headland is one of the most spectacular lookouts on the Northern Beaches, so, naturally, we're going to pop it on our list of the best lookouts in Sydney!

The three-kilometre walk to get to Long Reef Headland is a pleasant one to do with the family and takes you past the striking landscape of the Long Reef Golf Course. Once you reach the top of the headland, you can soak in the stunning views north to the Central Coast or south to North Head. 

Visiting during whale-watching season is a must!

Location: Collaroy

9. The Gap Sydney

The stunning coastal walk along The Gap on Sydney’s South Head has breathtaking views of the ocean and the dramatic rocky cliffs.

There are several lookout points along The Gap Sydney's old tram track with views that extend from North Head across Sydney Harbour to the city, including the historic Hornby Lighthouse on the furthermost point, which is surrounded by the expansive Pacific Ocean and magnificent views across Sydney.

While you're visiting The Gap Sydney, make the most of nearby Watsons Bay village, which boasts its own magnificent seaside lookout, plus beautiful parklands and beaches.

Location: Military Road, Watsons Bay

10. Observatory Hill

Located right in the centre of the city, Observatory Hill is at the end of the Harbour Bridge in The Rocks and offers a unique close-up view of our city’s most iconic landmarks.

Set on one of the city’s highest points, the generous parkland creates a relaxed lookout location surrounded by lush Moreton Bay fig trees and stunning scenery in all directions. Sunsets from the hill are breathtaking!

You can also venture along the scenic walking paths to Milsons Point across the Harbour Bridge or along the Cahill Walk. 

Location: Upper Fort Street, Millers Point

11. Echo Point Lookout

Another one of the best lookouts in Sydney, this iconic vantage point is the best place to capture the legendary Three Sisters rock formation and the surrounding blue-hued mountains and bushland.

Located in Katoomba, the breathtaking Echo Point Lookout panorama also includes Orphan Rock, Kings Tableland, Mt Solitary and Narrow Neck so it’s no surprise the elevated platform is the most popular lookout in the Blue Mountains. From here, you can follow the picturesque Three Sisters Walk or Prince Henry Cliff Walk, or walking trails along to Scenic World and Katoomba Falls. 

Location: Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Katoomba

12. Saddleback Mountain

If you feel like getting out of town for the weekend or for a weekend drive, Saddleback Mountain offers truly breathtaking views across pristine green pastures and even a glimpse of Cronulla to the north.

Saddleback Mountain Lookout is located in Kiama (roughly two hours south of Sydney), just 10 minutes from the Kiama Blowhole and is a great Sunday drive with the family. The drive up the escarpment to Saddleback Mountain will transport you to another world of glistening rolling hills, ancient dry-stone walls, and the most incredible scenery even before you reach the Saddleback Mountain Lookout! You won't want to forget your cameras for this one! 

Location: Saddleback Mountain Road, Kiama

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