© Copyright Mike Fernandes 2013
"Enjoy Time" in Camperdown Memorial Rest
Park: CNR Federation Road and Church
Street Newtown NSW Australia
The Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is found in Newtown
at the corner of Federation Road and Church Street. There
are a lot of things that you can do with your downtime
throughout this park and many locals go to share a bottle
of wine or sit and chat about the week.
Throughout the year, there are various festivities, including
the annual Newtown Festival. This is an event that is
attended by a number of people in town – and people
come from all over Australia to attend. There are food
vendors, rides, and games.
The Newtown Festival takes place in November and
celebrates the city’s birthday. In past years, over 40,000
people are known to show up. There is a creative
programme in place that includes three stages for music as
well as a Writers’ Tent, Bike Boulevard, and an area
dedicated entirely to kids. There are also various sponsors
for booths where various foods and crafts are sold by
locals.
Drum circles are found periodically in Camperdown
Memorial Rest Park, which goes with the “alternative”
lifestyle that is found throughout Newtown. You can find
the circles in the mornings and go to listen to the music or
join in. Many times, someone has an extra drum, so there
is no worry if you did not bring your own.
Footie and frisbee games are almost always going on, so
it’s a great recreational outlet for you, your friends, and
the entire family. There’s no reason why you have to sit at
home when you have access to a park like this at all times.
You can bring your own football or frisbee or ask to join in
where a group is already in play. People are friendly and
always eager to add another person to the game.
There’s a huge open space at the rest park, so you can
bring as many people as you want. It’s also a dog-friendly
park, so you can bring your dog for a game of fetch or
simply walk them around the park to check out all of the
sights. The chances of you running into someone else that
has a dog is high, so be sure your dog is friendly and on a
leash. Off leash romping takes place from 5 pm to 9 am on
a daily basis.
You can indulge in picnics throughout the park as well.
Before you cross into the park, you will find various
restaurants and cafes along Federation Road. Order
something to go, bring a blanket, and have yourself a
picnic. There are plenty of manicured lawns for you to
stretch out on and enjoy a meal while being outside.
If you go at night, you never know what you may see!
Many of the artists come down to the Camperdown
Memorial Rest Park and do some entertaining for the
crowds. Fire twirling, interpretive dance, and various other
performances have been known to occur at the park. It’s a
great way to relax and catch some entertainment without
spending any money.
Music is big in the Newtown area of New South Wales and
there is no reason for you to wait until the Newtown
Festival each year, either. There is a stage and various
events have taken place here. You may be in a band or
want a band to perform. Either way, there is the option of
seeing them at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park where
large crowds can gather.
The park is open seven days a week at all times of the day
or night. There are no liquor laws within the park, so you
are welcome to bring a bottle of wine, a bottle of cider, or
anything else that you want in the form of liquid libations.
While there is always a crowd of people partaking in one
event or another at the park, the one thing that everyone
can agree on is the fact that you will see dogs. People bring
their dogs here more than anywhere else in Newtown. If
you don’t have one with you, there may be times when
you feel left out so just borrow one!
The park is worth visiting whether youre a local or a
tourist. The park is actually a must if you are a tourist
because it will give you an opportunity to see the
heartbeat of Newtown. You can gain an appreciation for
the arts and meet new people that aren’t afraid to talk to
strangers.
When you want to visit the Camperdown Memorial Rest
Park, be sure to enter from the Federation Road side as
that is where the bulk of the park is found. If you enter
from the other side, you will see the cemetery. While the
cemetery is a draw for some people and is open to the
public, it’s not really the most ideal landscape for a picnic.
You can ask anyone in Newtown where the park is and
they will point you in the right direction. Otherwise, you
can just travel down Federation Road, stop in to a café to
grab a bite of lunch and then when you see the Church
Street intersection, the park will be off to the side. It’s a
huge park that you simply cannot miss.
Be sure to visit the park often because each visit is likely
going to reveal new facets to what takes place within – and
new people, dogs, and events will likely be there as well.
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park,
Sydney, Australia