Lane Cove: Trails, Art and History

Lane Cove offers several specific themes to consider when planning a trip: bushland trails, art, Lane Cove Library and Carisbrook Historic House. The trails differ in length, route and stated accessibility. Art, collections and the history of the house appeal to different interests. This can help you decide whether you are most interested in walking trails, art and classes, or the historic house.

Bushland trails and Tree Trails

Lane Cove has more than 14 km of bushland walking trails. Many run alongside local creeks or the banks of the Lane Cove River. Shorter loop trails are 2 km, 3 km and 4 km long, offering options for different fitness levels. These two sets of figures answer different questions: the length of the trail network gives an idea of its overall extent, while the loop-trail lengths indicate shorter options to choose from.

The named Tree Trails have more detailed descriptions of their lengths and routes. The mostly flat Plaza Tree Trail is 1 km long, starts and ends at Lane Cove Plaza, and is accessible to wheelchairs and prams. The Stringybark Tree Trail runs for 2 km through Lane Cove North, along tree-lined streets to Stringybark Reserve. It therefore differs from the Plaza Tree Trail both in length and in its described route.

The Riverview Tree Trail is 3 km long, starts at Lane Cove Plaza and passes through Tambourine Bay Reserve. It is suitable for walking and cycling. When comparing the three Tree Trails, different details are relevant: the accessibility and loop route of the Plaza Tree Trail, the tree-lined streets on the way to Stringybark Reserve, and the option to walk or cycle along the Riverview Tree Trail. The names and lengths help distinguish between these trail descriptions.

Art and library offerings

Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios presents contemporary and modern art. It features work by emerging and established artists from the local area, Australia and overseas. As exhibition content changes over time, you can check what is currently on offer before visiting. These changing exhibitions make the gallery a distinct cultural theme alongside the trails and local history described here.

During school terms, Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios runs classes, workshops and masterclasses. Topics range from painting, drawing and life drawing to textile art, printmaking and ceramics. The program may vary from term to term. If you are interested in a particular art form, the relevant program is therefore the best guide; the range of formats and disciplines offers a broad overview of the centre’s artistic themes.

Lane Cove Library has fiction and non-fiction books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and magazines for adults, young adults and children. Its collection therefore includes different media and caters to several age groups. Individual holdings may change. The library complements the artistic offerings with a different cultural focus: reading and a range of media are at the heart of the library, while Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios presents exhibitions and art classes.

Carisbrook Historic House

Carisbrook Historic House combines specific visiting arrangements with a history that goes back to the Brooks family. Charles and Marian Brooks built the sandstone house on land that had been owned by the family since the 1850s. The date refers to ownership of the land; it is not the year the house was built.

Carisbrook Historic House is open to the public on the third weekend of each month. Group tours are held on weekdays by prior appointment. As opening arrangements may change, check the house’s current information before visiting. The conditional option for group visits differs from the monthly public opening. This makes it possible to plan a visit and explore the history of the sandstone house according to the relevant arrangements.

Discover more destinations: St Leonards, North Narrabeen, Parramatta City, Chatswood, Bass Hill, Liverpool, Maroubra, Engadine

For the broader travel overview: Sydney.