Explore Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk: Western Sydney’s Most Spectacular River Walk
You don’t need to drive hours out of the city to find yourself surrounded by bushland, wildlife and wide open space. It’s already here, right in the heart of Western Sydney!
The Escarpment Boardwalk connects Parramatta Park to Melrose Park through a completely off-road walking and cycling path along the Parramatta River. Nearly 2 million pedestrians and cyclists currently enjoy the CBD foreshore every year, and with the opening of this crucial link, there is even more reason to use the Parramatta Valley Cycleway for your daily commute, to exercise or just for fun!
Boardwalk Features
The boardwalk is 500m long and 3m wide and includes a 220m elevated section over the Parramatta River. It runs along the northern foreshore from the Charles Street Weir (directly opposite Parramatta Ferry Wharf) to the Gasworks Bridge on Macarthur Street. In some sections the path runs through a tree canopy six metres off the ground. The design curves and winds with the natural shape of the riverbank, giving you changing views of the water, the escarpment and the Parramatta city skyline the whole way along.
With this connection, the community can now experience over 20km of off-road paths on both sides of the Parramatta River. The boardwalk extends east under the Macarthur Street Bridge to join the Parramatta River Cycleway, providing access to more than 100km of walking and cycling paths extending all the way to Sydney Olympic Park. You can walk or ride the whole thing, or simply use the boardwalk as a short scenic connector between Parramatta Park and the CBD.
Purpose-designed lighting runs the full length of the boardwalk with low-level inset lights and pathway poles that illuminate the structure without overwhelming the natural environment. It’s a genuinely beautiful walk after dark, making it one of the best night walks in Western Sydney.
Fun fact: The boardwalk has won multiple awards including the 2023 Good Design Award Gold Winner and the 2023 AIA NSW Architecture Award in Urban Design — recognition that reflects just how well it integrates into the natural landscape while completely transforming access to the Parramatta riverfront.
Getting There
Access Points:
Charles Street Weir, opposite Parramatta Ferry Wharf
Stewart Street stairs (direct street access)
Macarthur Street / Gasworks Bridge end
Queens Avenue stairs from Parramatta Park
By ferry: The most scenic way to arrive. Parramatta Wharf is an 8-minute walk to the boardwalk entrance along the river. Catch the Rivercat from Circular Quay direct to Parramatta Wharf.
By train: Parramatta Station is approximately a 10-minute walk to the Charles Street Weir entry point. Exit via Parramatta Square and follow the river signs.
By bus: Buses on Phillip Street and Victoria Road are the closest stops to the boardwalk entry.
By car: Limited metered street parking is available in surrounding streets in the Parramatta CBD. The boardwalk is best accessed by public transport or as part of a walk from Parramatta Park where paid parking is available — first 2 hours free, then $3 per hour, free all day on weekends and public holidays!
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