A leafy Upper North Shore gem where tranquil bushland, scenic trails and outdoor adventures meet welcoming cafés, boutique shopping and a relaxed village atmosphere with plenty of things to do!
From a family-friendly playground and vibrant markets to abundant sporting facilities and peaceful nature escapes, St Ives offers a perfect blend of suburban comfort, community spirit and outdoor discovery! So if you’re wondering what to do in St Ives or looking for fun ways to enjoy the weekend, we have that covered!
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is one of the Upper North Shore’s most rewarding outdoor attractions.
This beautiful location offers an excellent mix of easy to challenging bushwalks, seasonal wildflowers and family-friendly picnic spots.
All without an entry fee!
The signature attraction is its collection of Australian native plants growing across both the landscaped gardens and the natural bushland. Especially rewarding in late winter and spring!
Part of the garden’s appeal is that the scenery changes as you explore. You can move from open banksia heathland into tall eucalyptus forest, shaded fern gullies and wetlands in the same visit.
With bushwalking trails all throughout, there are many options for those looking to stretch their legs, ranging from easy nature strolls to challenging hikes.
Perfect for a family-friendly outing with wildlife spotting, picnic areas and its small playground.
Plenty of facilities available, including toilets, barbecues, a visitor centre and a native plant nursery, making it one of the best things to do in St Ives.
St Ives Showground
A spacious, family-friendly recreation and events precinct.
A favourite weekend activity, it combines a large inclusive playground, picnic spots, outdoor adventure and community event in a gorgeous leafy setting.
If you’re wondering what else there is to do in St Ives, the standout attraction is Ku-ring-gai’s largest inclusive playground - the St Ives Showground Regional Playground - with climbing, swinging, balancing and sensory play opportunities for different ages and abilities.
For a more adventurous visit, head to the Treetops Adventure ropes course where climbing and ziplines through the trees offer an exciting experience!
The showground hosts markets, festivals, sports and special events throughout the year.
The St Ives Organic Food Market is hosted here from 8am to 1pm on most Saturdays, and is a lovely event for browsing fresh produce, artisan foods and local stalls over a coffee. If you want to see more local markets in the North Shore, we also have cover our favourites, in our local North Shore markets guide.
Make use of the picnic areas, shaded seating and barbecue facilities for a lunch or family get together, and the open spaces of recreation.
The showground also has plentiful community events scheduled consistently all throughout the year such as equestrian events, dog shows, sport games and festivals worth checking out!
Bushwalking
St Ives offers far more than the walking trails within the Wildflower Garden.
Its surrounding national parks provide a broader bushwalking experience, from the rocky descent to Stepping Stone Crossing to longer forest trails and quieter local reserves.
From the beautiful Pipeline and Bungaroo tracks to Stepping Stone Crossing to the longer and more wilderness-like Warrimoo Track or the creek scenery and the Garigal National Park on the Cascades Track, there is something for every type of walker!
Accessible from residential streets is the Darri Track and connecting bushland trails.
Or for a quieter and less strenuous nature outing, the Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve preserves a precious remnant of Sydney’s Blue Gum High Forest.
In St Ives it’s easy to find a genuine bushland escape!
A friendly warning; most of the walks and trails to be found outside of the Wildflower Garden are more rugged and less developed, so make sure to choose a route that best fits your fitness and experience levels.
And if you love bushwalking and want more, you can read our article on our top North Shore hikes and walks, here.
Cafés & Dining
St Ives has a variety of relaxed places to eat, from independent neighbourhood cafés to the convenience of St Ives Shopping Village and characterful restaurants such as Karoo & Co.
The cafés and restaurants of St Ives are excellent destinations to pause for brunch, refuel after a bush walk or enjoy a meal with friends and family.
Popular options include:
Stanly St Cafe, a neighbourhood café with a welcoming and contemporary atmosphere and a menu with Middle Eastern influences.
Archie’s Café Co, for an elaborate brunch, with colourful dishes drawing on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours.
Brew Crew Specialty Coffee, for the coffee lovers seeking dedicated specialty-coffee.
Karoo & Co, set in the heritage-listed former St Ives Public School with a European-influenced menu, wood-fired pizzas and pasta.
And many more!
Sport
St Ives offers a strong range of sporting opportunities, from traditional clubs and fields to modern indoor courts, fitness studios and recreational activities.
Its sporting scene is particularly well suited to families, children and active locals, with facilities for team sports, racquet sports, gym training and casual exercise.
Options include:
Indoor court sports at St Ives Sports Centre.
Netball and tennis at St Ives Village Green.
Rugby and cricket at Hassal Park.
Outdoor sports at Warrimoo and Acron Ovals.
The St Ives Skate Park.
Plentiful gyms, and golf!
You can also find plenty more events happening in St Ives on the local council website, here.
And if you want to see more things to do in the North Shore, we have plenty of our local guides for surrounding areas.