What are the best skateparks to learn at? To progress at? Where can I find certain obstacles or ramps and where will be quiet?

These are the questions I ask myself when planning my own skate sessions as well as skate lessons for beginners, intermedates, and even the Olympic pathway athletes I coach through ESM.

The good news is there are loads of parks all around Sydney, the Northern Beaches and surrounding suburbs. Too many for me to go through here, but I wanted to share my favourite parks and which ones I find the best for learning and progressing. Considering things like obstacles, sizes, ground, shade, lights, and crowds. You want to be choosing a skatepark that can match your needs and the outcome of the session you want to have. Finding a suitable park will make your skating more enjoyable, and help you progress faster. So let’s look at some of the best options for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skaters when it comes to skateparks in and around Sydney and the northern beaches.

As I’m based on the northern beaches, there’s definitely a focus there, but coaching and skating at parks all around Sydney, this is a rundown of my current favourites.

Note: This is a blog post I’ll update overtime, get some fresh images, and also add more thoughts for each park as I go.

Mona Vale Skatepark
The biggest and most versatile skatepark on the northern beaches with a large street section, small bowl, and vert ramp. There are so many different sections of this park, there’s always a way to find something new to skate or a quiet spot on busier days.
Mona Vale also has lights, so it’s perfect for those evening sessions or after work windows during the winter.

Here is Mona Vale Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Terry Hills Skatepark
One of my absolute favourites for beginners and intermediate skaters, most of the obstacles here are quite small, but it’s often quiet, the ground is good, and the small obstacles allow people to build confidence.

Here is Terry Hills Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Cromer Skatepark (St Matthews Farm Reserve)
A slightly unique park, can be quite busy with kids especially on weekends with the sports field next to it, but some great obstacles and an awesome one for progression. Added bonus, it also has lights for those evening sessions.

Here is Cromer Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

North Curl Curl Skatepark
Pretty small, and not a huge amount of space, so with a couple of people here it very quickly feels busy. It has a really nice low ledge/manual block with a higher ledge to the side. Nice below bank with a ledge on top and a cool low curved curb which is great for learning boardslides. Curl Curl, I come to if I want to skate something specific, due to it’s small size it doesn’t leave much room for flat ground or learning.

Here is North Curl Curl Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Manly Skatepark
Great for learners due to the small 2ft quarter pipes and the design means they all have lots of space and link up nicely. There’s also the higher 4ft sections, the steep banks and the high ledge as well as a 6ft half pipe off to the side. When I looking to work on transition tricks, and beginner skills in ramps, this is a great option.

Here is Manly Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Frenchs Forest Vert Ramp
Not much of a beginner ramp unless that beginning is for vert, but it’s a great ramp, nice and quiet, and small for a vert so a brilliant ramp to learn basics or just build that confidence.

Here is Frenchs Forest Vert Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Avalon Beach Skatepark - Nice flow park with some good quarter pipes and banks, nice low manual ledge and rail. Just getting a little bit rough and worn these days, but a great option if you’re up the top end of the northern beaches and want somewhere to learn.

Here is Avalon Beach Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Chatswood Skatepark

Here is Chatswood Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Lionel Watts Skatepark Belrose

Here is Belrose Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Glebe Skatepark, Federal Park - Amazing street style plaza park. Lots of ledges, banks, manuals and rails here. I also love the space and flat ground here, so it’s perfect for beginners as well as more advanced skating.

Here is Glebe Federal Park Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.

Waterloo Fernside Skatepark - One of my favourite parks as a ledge skater. The way all the ledges step up and down is really cool and allows for lots of creativity, but also options when learning. The small quarter and half pipe make this a a great park to learn at alongside all the flat ground, small drops, and banks.

Here is Fernside Waterloo Skatepark Location on Google Maps and how to get there.