7 Best places to Elope on Sydney Harbour (North Shore, Kirribilli And Surrounds)

Sydney’s Lower North Shore (Blues Point to Cremorne Point)

For couples seeking an intimate elopement style wedding to tie the knot, Sydney’s iconic skyline and enchanting harbour offer the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable, romantic wedding elopement.

As a celebrant, when I first meet overseas couples on Zoom to discuss their Sydney Elopement, it’s often a great moment when I tell them they can get married on the waterfront with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge behind them, at a spot which won’t cost a cent.

There are so many stunning wedding locations in Sydney’s Lower North Shore.  Below I share the best of those locations for couples eloping to Sydney who want to celebrate their love somewhere romantic with spectacular views.

This whole area also has some really lovely restaurants where you can go after your wedding for a celebratory meal.

I recommend these ones:

1. Bather Pavilion in Mosman is a high end restaurant right on the ocean at Balmoral Beach.

2. Sails on Lavender Bay in McMahons Point is a high end restaurant with great views.

3 Aqua Dining offers a quintessential Sydney dining experience with stunning waterfront views from Luna Park to Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

4. Ripples in Chowder Bay. Ripples Chowder Bay brings the essence of the Mediterranean coast to Sydney Harbour.

5. ARIA, fine dining in Circular Quay. A classy spacious setting with maximum views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

How to book your North Shore elopement location

All these locations are public parks managed by North Sydney council.

And the really great news for couples having an elopement or micro wedding… all of these locations, except for one, are FREE!

Thats right – totally free!  Providing you have fewer that 60 guests at your wedding, the council will let you use these locations free of charge.

The exception to this list is Wendy’s Secret Garden, which you have to pay to book regardless of the size of your wedding.  Weddings with over 60 people in attendance at the other locations also require a paid booking.

The council’s booking policy does not entitle you to exclusive use of the area or the right to demand someone else move for you.

If you need to reserve an area, the council recommends you do that by putting picnic blankets on the ground or by placing the tables and chairs accordingly. Someone must remain at the location until your other guests arrive. You cannot cordon off an area with ropes or signs etc.

Even if you have a small wedding party and don’t need to book, I suggest you contact the council to see if the area you want has been booked already.

Considerations for your wedding location booking

Before we take a closer look at wedding venue options and locations, here are a few things to consider for your Sydney elopement…

Choose a weekday for your wedding elopement.

The area will not be as busy and you’ll also have your pick of best wedding vendors.

Better still if you can avoid the school holidays.  (Just google “NSW school holidays” to get dates).

Consider the season. 

In Sydney the most popular months to get married in are September until April. In high summer (December – February) the temperature is usually over 30° and a few days may top 40°.

If you prefer to get married in a cooler season, May to August are the months to choose from.

Think about the starting time of your wedding ceremony. 

If you’re choosing summer months, I recommend avoiding the hottest part of the day (between 11am – 2pm), especially if you’re having an outdoor wedding.

Your photographer may well suggest the ‘golden hour’ later in the day, giving you the best light for your photos, so speak to them about what time the sun will be setting if you’re wanting some really romantic shots.

1. Blues Point Reserve – McMahons Point

Location:  Blues Point Reserve is a waterfront park located at the end of Blues Point Road in McMahons Point, Sydney, NSW.

Vibe:  Romanic, elegant, grassy area, waterfront, with stunning views.

Cost:  Free of charge.  Contact North Sydney Council to check availabilty.

Size:  Suitable for any size wedding, small or large.

Features: Blues Point Reserve has incredible views across Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

There is a children’t playgroud nearby, so I suggest a weekday wedding to avoid potential noise of busy weekends.

Getting there:  Blues Point Reserve is a 3 minutes walk fromMcMahons Point Ferry Terminal, making it easy to arrive by boat or water taxi. 

Parking is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, due to this being a really popular location with the locals, parking is limited.

Facilities:  There is a Public Toilet is Blues Point Reserve.

Restaurants:  There are a few cafes and restaurants a few minutes walk up Blues Point Road.

Wedding Photographs:  Blues Point Reserve itself is a stunning location for your wedding photos, but is also close to Luna Park, Kirribilli, Clark Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden, and Balmoral Beach, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.

2. Wendy’s Secret Garden – Lavender Bay 

Location:  Wendy’s Secret Garden is located at the bottom of Clark Park in Lavender St, Lavender Bay, Sydney, NSW 2060. It is just 3km north of Sydney CBD.

Vibe:  Enchanting, romanic, secluded, intimate, full of character, lush green garden with quirky artistic features.  A gem loved by locals, this spot is largely unknown by tourists.

Cost:  Wendy’s Secret Garden is the only paid elopement location in this list.  Contact North Sydney Council to check availabilty and book.

Size:  Perfect for small, intimate elopement weddings.

Features: Wendy’s Secret Garden has incredible views across Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge and is just at the bottom of Clark Park (another popular wedding location).

Getting there:  The gardens are a 5 to 10-minute walk from North Sydney or Milsons Point railway stations or a 10 to 15-minute harbourside walk from Milsons Point or McMahons Point ferry wharves.

Once you get there, access is easiest from the foreshore path, but the winding descent from Clark Park is gorgeous if you want a more immersive experience and don’t mind a bit more walking over uneven ground.

Parking is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, due to this being a really popular picnic location with the locals, parking is limited.

Closest street parking is on Lavender Crescent.

Facilities:  There is a Public Toilet nearby just down the stairs, on the waterfront in Quibaree Park.  I min walk.

Restaurants:  There are lots of cafes and restaurants nearby in Kirribilli, McMahons Point and Lavender Bay.

Sails on Lavender Bay in McMahons Point is a high end restaurant with great views.

Wedding Photographs:  Wendy’s Secret Garden itself is a beautiful, secluded location for your wedding photos, but is also close to Luna Park, Kirribilli, Clark Park and just 15 minutes drive from Balmoral beach, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.

3. Quibaree Park – Lavender Bay

Location:  Quibaree Park is a waterfront park located at the end of Blues Point Road in McMahons Point, Sydney, NSW.

Vibe:  Romanic, waterfront, small grass area and boat ramp, tiny beach area, with stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Cost:  Free of charge.  But I do suggest you contact North Sydney Council to check availabilty.

Size:  Perfect for any size wedding, either with just the 2 of you or up to 60.

Features: Incredible views across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Getting there: Quibaree Park is 5 to 10-minute walk from North Sydney or Milsons Point railway stations or a 10 to 15-minute harbourside walk from Milsons Point or McMahons Point ferry wharves. 

Parking is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, due to this being a really popular location with the locals, parking is limited.  

Closest street parking is on Lavender Crescent. 

A great choice if you are looking to arrive or depart by water taxi.

Facilities:   Public toilets are located in Quibaree Park.

Restaurants:  There are a few cafes and restaurants nearby in McMahons Point, Kirribilli and Lavendar Bay.

Wedding Photographs:  Quibaree Park itself is a lovely location for your wedding photos, and the boat ramp and nearby wharf are popular spots for wedding photographs. 

It is a couple of minutes walk from Sydney’s Luna Park, Kirribilli, Clark Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.

4. Clark Park – Lavender Bay

Location:  Clark Park is very close to the waterfront, located on Harbourview Cres in Milsons Point, Sydney, NSW, 2061.

Vibe:  Romanic, close to the waterfront, large grass area just a few metres up from Quirabee Park which has stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Cost:  Free of charge.  Contact North Sydney Co

uncil to check availabilty.

Size:  Perfect for any size wedding, either with just the 2 of you or up to 100.

Features: From it’s elevated position above Quibaree Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden, Clark Park is a larger grassy area, with views across Sydney Harbour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and CBD.

Getting there: Clark Park is 5 to 10-minute walk from North Sydney or Milsons Point railway stations or a 10 to 15-minute harbourside walk from Milsons Point or McMahons Point ferry wharves.

Parking is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, due to this being a really popular picnic location with the locals, parking is limited.

Closest street parking is on Lavender Crescent.

A great choice if you are looking to arrive or depart by water taxi.

Facilities:   Public toilets are located less than 1 minute walk away, in Quibaree Park.

Restaurants:  There are a few cafes and restaurants nearby in Lavendar Bay, McMahons Point and Kirribilli.

Wedding Photographs:  Clark Park itself is a lovely location for your wedding photos as is Wendy’s Secret Garden, which is literally a few steps down the hill from Clark Park.

It is just 1 minute walk away from a boat ramp in Quirabee Park – a lovely spot for wedding photographs.

And is just a couple of minutes walk from Sydney’s Luna Park, Kirribilli, and 15 minutes drive from Balmoral Beach and Taronga Zoo, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.

5. Copes Lookout – Kirribilli

Location:  Copes lookout is at the bottom of Jeffery Street, Kirribilli, 2061, NSW.  The Fig Tree is just next to it.

Vibe:  Romanic, elegant, majestic, stunning views.

Cost:  Free of charge.  Contact North Sydney Council to reserve it.

Size:  Perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies up to 60 people and equally lovely and cosy if there’s just the 2 of you.

Features: Copes Lookout has incredible views across Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The downside of Copes Lookout is that there is no shade, so this is not a great spot to get married in mid Summer in the middle of the day. 

If you are getting married here in Summer I suggest a sunset wedding.  

Getting there:  These amazing locations are just a few minutes walk downhill from Milsons Point Train Station.  They are also situated close to Jeffery Street Wharf, making it easy to arrive by boat or water taxi. 

Driving is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, due to this being a really popular location with boh tourists and locals, parking is limited.

Facilities:  Bradfield Park South Public Toilet is just 1 minute walk from Copes Look Out.

Restaurants:  There are a variety of cafes and restaurants a few minutes walk up the hill towards Milsons Point Station.

5 minutes walk from here, Aqua Dining offers a quintessential Sydney dining experience with stunning waterfront views from Luna Park to Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Wedding Photographs:  Copes Point itself is a stunning location for your wedding photos, but is also a short walk to Luna Park, Clark Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden, or a short drive to Balmoral Beach, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.

6. Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve – Kirribilli

Location:  Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve is at the bottom of Jeffery Street, Kirribilli, 2061, NSW.  It’s just a little furher along the shore from Copes Lookout.

Vibe:  Romanic, elegant, majestic, stunning views.

Cost:  Free of charge.  Contact North Sydney Council to reserve it.

Size:  Perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies up to 60 people and equally lovely and cosy if there’s just the 2 of you.

Features: Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve has incredible views across Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge and is shady due to the lovely fig tree, so great for a hot day.

Getting there:  This amazing location is just a few minutes walk downhill from Milsons Point Train Station. 

Situated close to Jeffery Street Wharf, makes it easy to arrive by boat or water taxi. 

Driving is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, due to this being a really popular location with both tourists and locals, parking is limited.

Facilities:  Bradfield Park South Public Toilet is just 2 minutes walk from here.

Restaurants:  There are a variety of cafes and restaurants a few minutes walk up the hill towards Milsons Point Station.

7 minutes walk from here, Aqua Dining offers a quintessential Sydney dining experience with stunning waterfront views from Luna Park to Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Wedding Photographs: Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve itself is a stunning location for your wedding photos, with a beautiful fig tree that hundreds of couples have been photographed next to. 

It is also a short walk to Luna Park, Clark Park and Wendy’s Secret Garden, or a short drive to Balmoral Beach, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.

7. Cremorne Reserve, Cremorne point, Sydney

Location:  Cremorne Point is located on the water’s edge, parallel to Milsons Rd, Cremorne, in the lower north shore of Sydney, close to Sydney CBD.

Vibe:  Romanic, elegant, majestic, garden, stunning harbour views.

Cost:  Free of charge.  Contact North Sydney Council to reserve it.

Size:  Perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies up to 20 people and equally lovely and cosy if there’s just the 2 of you.

Features: Cremorne Point has incredible views across Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Cremorne Point is also one of the most popular spots in Sydney for an afternoon walk or a picnic or a swim in MacMaccallum Seawater Pool – very popular with the locals.

Getting there: Cremorne Point is not near a train station, but is just 6 minutes walk from Cremorne Point Wharf, making it easy to arrive by boat or water taxi from the CBD. 

Parking is fairly easy to find here on weekdays, but on weekends, especially in the warmer months (Sept-April) due to this being a really popular picnic and walking location with the locals, parking is limited.

Facilities:  Public Toilets are located near the Cremorne Point Wharf.

Restaurants:  There are no cafes, shops or restaurants in Cremorne Point, just a small shop where you can grab a coffee or a snack at the wharf nearby.

Wedding Photographs:  Cremorne Point itself is a stunning location for your wedding photos, but is also a short drive to Balmoral Beach, Bradley’s Head, and Kirribilli, giving you lots of options for various stunning wedding photograph locations.