Lane Cove Holiday Park: For Staycations + Families Visiting Sydney

Lane Cove National Park: amazing to have such natural beauty so close to the city

Right in the bush, but so close to the city centre, Lane Cove Holiday Park makes a top spot both for Sydney families looking for a really easy Sydney staycation and for families coming to visit Sydney who prefer to be surrounded by natural beauty than right in amongst the Sydney skyscrapers.

You can walk into Lane Cove National Park from the holiday park

In school holidays Lane Cove Holiday Park is one of those places that families can go camping, with one parent staying with the kids by day whilst the other keeps on going to work then returning to the campsite, or cabin, after work. A holiday whilst still at work!

When I went to stay there, I was really surprised as our family had been to Lane Cove National Park many times, but we didn’t really know that the holiday park was there. It’s quite a large one too, but we’d missed it all those years.

So where is Lane Cove Holiday Park? Well, it’s on the western part of Lane Cove National Park, with the entrance really in the suburb of North Ryde rather than Lane Cove, on Plassey Road. The holiday park is on the top of the western ridge above Lane Cove River, with sweeping views across the National Park.

It is just a 10 – 15 minute walk from the park entrance to North Ryde train station and its easy access to the Sydney city centre.

This is a family cabin at Lane Cove Holiday Park Easy to have dinner inside or outside the cabins The holiday park runs as sustainably as it can, there are lots of solar panels around One of the tens sites which looks out to the National Park.

Well, you can camp, of course, there are some gorgeous spots for camping right in front of the National Park. Then there are powered and unpowered sites for caravans and campervans too.

There are cabins as well, not right in front of the bush, but with nice bushy views from the decks. The Family Cabins have two bedrooms and sleep up to five people. They have full kitchens, TV and DVD player, fans and AC, and linen and towels are provided.

There’s also Tandara, a glamping tent in its own little compound, but that’s for adults seeking to escape the family! Read our article about Tandara here.

One of several campsite kitchens The swimming pool has plenty shade

Walks into Lane Cove National Park, pick your distance from short to very long (ask for info at reception about bush walks)
Playground for the kids (being upgraded this summer, new pix to follow when it is done)
Swimming pool, shaded and big large toddler splash pool
Two new handball courts will be installed over the summer
Space to play games, cricket etc
Guided spotlight tours to see birds and animals, every Saturday at dusk, read all about that tour here.
Kayak or canoe from the Lane Cove National Park Boatshed
Picnics within the National Park
Cycle through the National Park

The toddler splash pool There’s a playground within the holiday park Kids enjoying the weekly free Spotlight Tour The naturalist guide points out animals and interesting features, like this huge ants’ nest The walk into Lane Cove National Park has a steep but short initial section The gorgeous Scribbly Gums picnic area is just a few minutes walk away Stopping to enjoy the beauty of the bush!

A kids’ activity program usually runs during the summer school holidays with fun things like kids yoga, face painting, outdoor movie nights, boardwalk art and kids discos available.

Gorgeous bush views from the holiday park

Manager Garry Sullivan also let me know about a breeding box plan:

We are looking to install 40 breeding boxes ( for different marsupial, birds and microbats ) with the aim of creating some awareness around the importance of saving wildlife habitats. These breeding boxes will all be on a map that we will give to kids and they can go and find them as part of a learning experience. Each breeding box will tell a story about the critters that call it home.

In essence, our aim is to create a nature-based learning experience in the heart of Sydney and help showcase the delights of the Lane Cove National Park, a place where people of all walks of life can come and absorb nature without having to travel to far away from home.

When I visited, I stayed at beautiful Tandara, Sydney’s only glamping tent, which will be written up separately. It’s a beaut parents’ escape.

I really enjoyed walking through the holiday park and taking in the views. A walk into Lane Cove National Park was also lovely, though the walk back up is not too long, it is steep!

Is it noisy, I hear you ask, being fairly close to the M2? In the evening, I didn’t hear the traffic much, but when I woke up in the morning and the air was very still, I could hear the hum of traffic as the commuters pour into the city. I remember camping in the garden with the kids when we lived at Frenchs Forest and hearing the same hum from Warringah Road. The noise wasn’t too disturbing though and I’m sure that if there had been any wind it wouldn’t be so noticeable.

Book Lane Cove Holiday Park direct on the website here.

Address: 13 Plassey Road, North Ryde NSW 2113

Phone: 02 9888 9133

Parking: Each cabin or site has its own parking. Visitors and guests need to park on Plassey Road.

Lane Cove Holiday Park, like the NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park at Narrabeen is one of those places that is very close to many Sydneysiders’ homes, but really does feel a million miles away. So the next time you need a staycation, something simple and easy and cheap and cheerful, then take a look at Lane Cove. It’s always fun to explore our own city, and so easy.

And, for visitors coming from elsewhere, you’ll find Lane Cove Holiday Park an economical and easy place to stay, well out of the busy city and within a very beautiful National Park. If you love walking and the outdoors, this is a good spot to stay, and cabins here are lower cost than city or beachside hotels, and there’s heaps of space for the kids to run, play, cycle and swim too.

Hope you’ve enjoyed your look around Lane Cove Holiday Park!

PS I stayed as a guest of Lane Cove Holiday Park, many thanks for your hospitality.

Looking across Lane Cove National Park towards the high buildings of Chatswood, far off in the distance