Lane Cove: Bushland Trails, Art and History

Lane Cove combines active experiences in the bush with art and a specific historic site. More than 14 kilometres of walking trails, the offerings of Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios, and Carisbrook Historic House provide different ways to spend your days. To plan your trip, you can first consider whether to focus on nature, creative activities or history. The trails also vary in length and route—helpful information to compare when planning your stay in Lane Cove and looking for a suitable holiday rental.

Bushland Trails and Routes of Different Lengths

Lane Cove has more than 14 kilometres of bushland walking trails. Many run alongside local creeks or the banks of the Lane Cove River. The shorter loop trails are 2, 3 and 4 kilometres long, offering options for different fitness levels. The larger trail network and the clearly specified loop distances provide different ways to plan: you can choose a specific distance or consider a walk along waterways and riverbanks.

Three named trails can be compared by their length and route. The 1-kilometre Plaza Tree Trail starts and ends at Lane Cove Plaza, is mostly flat, and is accessible to wheelchairs and prams. The Stringybark Tree Trail is 2 kilometres long and passes through tree-lined streets in Lane Cove North to Stringybark Reserve. At 3 kilometres, the Riverview Tree Trail is longer; it is suitable for walking and cycling, starts at Lane Cove Plaza, and passes through Tambourine Bay Reserve. The options therefore include a short, mostly flat trail and longer routes with different descriptions.

Art, Classes and Culture

Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios presents contemporary and modern art by emerging and established artists from the local area, Australia and overseas. Its offerings range from local to international perspectives, and the content of individual exhibitions changes over time. During school terms, the organisation runs classes, workshops and masterclasses in painting, drawing, life drawing, textile art, printmaking and ceramics. Specific class offerings may vary from term to term.

Lane Cove Library also adds to the town’s cultural attractions. It offers fiction and non-fiction books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and magazines for adults, young adults and children. Its broad range of media appeals to different interests and age groups, adding a different dimension to the trails and art offerings.

Carisbrook Historic House and Its History

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.

Charles and Marian Brooks built Carisbrook House as a sandstone home on land that had been owned by the family since the 1850s. For travellers interested in history, a visit adds a look at a particular house and its construction history to the nature and art experiences.

The schedules for art and history differ: art classes are held during school terms, while Carisbrook opens to the public on the third weekend of each month. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Lane Cove, you can match these dates to the focus of your stay. If you mainly want to go walking, you can use the trail lengths provided as a guide when choosing a route.

Discover more destinations: Mount Kuring-Gai, Pennant Hills, North Sydney, Brookvale, Chatswood, Camden, Clovelly, Windsor.

For the broader travel overview: Sydney.