Booking a park or open space

You will need to create an account and apply for an annual permit before operating in participating parks and reserves. Once your permit is approved, you will need to make a booking if you wish to operate in the listed parks.

This includes luxury picnics, styled picnics and similar paid services.

You will need:

• Public liability insurance
• To create an account
• To apply for an annual permit
• To make a booking

Apply Now

Please click here for terms and conditions for operating in our parks and open spaces.

You need to make a booking if you are running paid fitness or training sessions in participating parks and reserves.

You will need to create an account and apply for an annual permit before operating in participating parks and reserves. Once your permit is approved, you will need to make a booking (based on group sizes) if you wish to operate in the listed parks.

You will need:

• Public liability insurance
• To create an account
• To apply for an annual permit
• To make a booking

Apply Now

Please click here for terms and conditions for operating in our parks and open spaces.

You will need to create an account and apply for an annual permit before operating in participating parks and reserves. You will not need to make a booking.

You will need:

• Public liability insurance
• To create an account
• To apply for an annual permit
• To make a booking

Apply Now

Please click here for terms and conditions for operating in our parks and open spaces.

This includes:

• Weddings
• Commitment ceremonies
• Proposals
• Gender reveals
• Similar gatherings

Booking requirements depend on your group size, location and whether service providers are involved. 

You will need:

• Public liability insurance
• To create an account
• To make a booking if there will be more than 15 people
• Provide Public Liability Insurance of any external service providers for your booking

Apply Now

Please click here for terms and conditions for operating in our parks and open spaces.

This includes:

• Birthday parties
• Family celebrations
• Community gatherings
• Other private organised group activities

Booking requirements depend on group size and details. 

You will need:

• Public liability insurance
• To create an account
• To make a booking if there will be more than 15 people
• Provide Public Liability Insurance of any external service providers for your booking

You will need to create an account and apply for an annual permit before using in participating parks and reserves. Once your permit is approved, you will need to make a booking.

You will need:

• Public liability insurance
• To create an account
• To apply for an annual permit
• To make a booking

For some of our most popular parks and open spaces, you'll need to book if you're:

– A commercial picnic operator
– A fitness trainer or group fitness provider
– A professional dog walker
– A non-government school, college or other educational institution

You'll also need to make a booking if you're planning:
– A wedding, commitment ceremony or gender reveal event for more than 15 people
– A gathering of more than 21 people

Bookings help us make sure everyone can enjoy North Sydney's parks and open spaces safely and fairly. As these spaces become busier, the booking system helps us coordinate activities, avoid booking conflicts, manage site capacity, and protect parks and reserves from overcrowding. It also ensures organised activities, private events and commercial use are managed consistently, so everyone can enjoy these shared community spaces.

No, you do not need to make a booking for a casual picnic of 1 to 21 people, unless you intend to use a paid service provider, such as a caterer, entertainer, picnic operator or similar. If a paid service provider is used, a booking is required (no fees payable) and the service provider must provide a current Certificate of Currency covering $20 Million at the time of booking.
If your picnic is for 22 or more people, it will be considered a Large Private Gathering, so a booking is required and applicable fees will apply.

• Small ceremonies, including weddings, commitments, gender reveals and similar activities, do not require a booking where the gathering is limited to a maximum of 15 people and no paid service provider is used and no set up is required.
• Private gatherings of 1 to 21 people do not require a booking, provided there is no exclusive use of the space, and no paid service provider is used.

Booking fees help us look after our parks and open spaces and provide the services needed to manage bookings. They also help ensure that people using these spaces for organised activities contribute to their ongoing care and administration.

A service provider is a business, organisation, coach, instructor, contractor, or individual who provides a service, activity, or program.

Examples of service providers include:

• Celebrant
• Photographer
• Musician
• Videographer
• Stylist
• Caterer
• Entertainer

If your booking or private event will have an external service provider, you will need to provide their details within the booking system. 

Yes, hiring fees do not apply to activities held between 1 October 2026 and 31 December 2026. However, customers must still make bookings in accordance with the new group size limits and pay any applicable compulsory items, such as public liability insurance, litter bins and bonds where required. Hiring fees will apply to activities held on or after 1 January 2027.

To make a booking, visit the online booking portal and create an account as either an individual or an organisation. You can then search for a park or open space, select your activity and enter the expected number of participants.

The system will guide you through the application process and let you know what information, documents or approvals may be required for your booking. Once you've completed the required steps, simply submit your application for assessment.