Monster Skatepark
(http://www.monsterpark.com.au/), if your into skateboarding and looking at killing time while your at sydney olympic park, here is your place. a great street and vertical set-up suiting just about every novice and pro.
barbecue
Have a barbecue in Bicentennial Park (http://www.sydneyolympicp...) Australia Avenue, Olympic Park. While you're there walk, cycle or fly a kite. Bicentennial Park is a 100 hectare park created to celebrate Australia's bicentenary in 1988. Although older than Sydney Olympic Park, it is now part of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. Facilities include electric barbecues, extensive gentle paths suitable for children cycling and for wheelchairs, and enormous amounts of grass on which to picnic or play sports. It is popular with families. Admisson and parking is free but hard to find around lunchtime on some weekends, and it may be simpler to walk from the train stations.
Cycle
Sydney olympic park offers possibly the most extensive and pleasant recreational cycling opportunities in sydney, with water and park views, and some interesting historical sites to explore. bike hire is available from the visitors centre. (http://www.sydneyolympicp...). get a copy of the bike circuits map from the visitors centre or online. (http://www.sydneyolympicp...). there are currently three planned routes that are marked by coloured discs on the edge of the path. paths tend to be quieter away from the picnic areas of bicentennial park.
Swim'
Slide or play at the sydney olympic park aquatic centre (http://www.sydneyaquaticc...), olympic boulevard, sydney olympic park. tel +61 2 9752 3666. fax +61 2 9752 3699. email [email protected]. this complex was built for the olympics and houses the main competition pool. many state and national swimming events are still held here. it contains a 50m competition pool, a 50m training pool, children's pools, a waterslide and a spa, sauna and gym. admission is $6.20 adults, $5 children and $3.10 for spectators. discounts available for students, pensioners, families and large groups. weekday opening hours are 5am - 9pm monday - friday. weekend and holiday hours are 6am - 8pm october through to april; and 6am - 7pm the rest of the year. worth checking that no major events are on if you plan to visit just to use the pools.
Get wet
Under the olympic cauldron. the centerpiece of the water themed opening ceremony is now a large fountain that the kids or adults can run under. free. there are fountains at the southern and northern ends of olympic boulevard.
Annual events
The Royal Easter Show
(http://www.eastershow.com.au/), sydney showground, 1 showground road, sydney olympic park. tel +61 2 9704 1111. fax +61 2 9704 1122. email [email protected]. the show is held every year in olympic park in the fortnight around easter. the show is the most prestigous agricultural show in new south wales. competitive exhibits of livestock and produce are theoretically the point of the show, but for many visitors the main attractions are the fairground food and rides and the showbag pavilion in which large bags of themed merchandise are sold, with themes ranging from superheros to chocolate. ticket prices were $29 for adults, $19.50 for children and $23.50 for concession holders. all tickets include free travel on public transport to the show; as using private transport is discouraged there are no cheaper tickets exclusive of transport.
The Big Day Out
(http://www.bigdayout.com/), sydney showground, 1 showground road, sydney olympic park. the big day out is an annual rock festival touring australia and new zealand. the sydney show is usually held in late january, most usually on the australia day public holiday on january 26, running from 11am until midnight. a second show is sometimes held in sydney if demand is high. the festival is usually headlined by a major international act: previous headlining acts have included beastie boys 2005, the prodigy 2002, marilyn manson 1999 and nirvana 1992. about half the line-up is comprised of australian and new zealander acts. the big day out is an ma15+ event, meaning that attendees under 15 must be accompanied by an adult over 18. it is typically a hot and crowded event with up to 60 000 tickets sold, and attendees should take appropriate precautions for their health and safety. in 2006 the ticket price was $110, and tickets usually sell out some weeks before the show.