Badu Mangroves Are Sydney’s Best Kept Wetland Secret

It feels a million miles away – yet the ancient mangroves of Badu are hidden in plain sight, smack bang in Sydney’s Inner West Bicentennial Park.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Wann-gal people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Badu Mangroves is located in the heart of Bicentennial Park, nestled between Homebush Bay and Olympic Park, just 16km from Sydney’s CBD. A short elevated boardwalk winds through the ancient natural wonderland. Combine this ten-minute jaunt with a walk around the nearby bird refuge – and the rest of Bicentennial Park – and you’ve got a decent hour-long walk through a varied landscape.

Grab a guide book: Compact Field Guide to Australian Birds (Enter ‘WAE15’ at checkout for 15% off if you want a copy!)

In some places it feels like the trees are reaching out to give you a hug

Quick Facts Badu Mangroves

Distance: 750m – 5km
Duration: 10 minutes – 1 hour
Nearest Town: Homebush Bay

About Badu Mangroves

The Badu Mangroves are the largest intertidal wetlands left on the Parramatta River. The 65-hectare estuarine habitat plays an important role in the health of the river, and the elevated boardwalk allows visitors to get up close to the incredible ancient vegetation without harming it.

Mangroves have always been key to the health of our rivers. While it’s sad that only a tiny fraction of the original mangroves along Parramatta River remain, it’s promising that these mangroves are protected so that we can enjoy and appreciate them.

Further along the park you’ll also find the wetlands and waterbird refuge, home to some 200-plus bird species. It’s a naturally formed theme park for bird nerds. Two nesting islands have been created to ensure a predator-free environment for shorebirds, and the population is thriving.

Hello fairy wren!

Badu Mangroves History

Sydney Olympic Park is on the traditional lands of the Wann-gal people. The ecosystem of the river and mangroves provided a means of transport through the area via the water.

Despite their significance, the mangroves weren’t always recognised as vital ecosystems, and much of the land in this region was sadly destroyed after European settlement. 

The more recent history of Homebush (and indeed, Sydney’s Inner West) is a tale of industrial factories and chemical waste. The surrounding area is poorer for it – so much so that you can’t fish in Homebush Bay thanks to the harmful chemicals found in the fish. 

In the 90s, research began to show the benefits of these marine ecosystems, and plans were made for their restoration – hooray!

Along the boardwalk you’ll find the Dreaming Track Muru nanga mai, by Wiradjuri poet Lorna Munro with a Dharwal interpretation by D’harawal Elder Shannon Foster, honouring the 29 First Nations clans that descend from the area.

How to Get to Badu Mangroves

By car

Bicentennial Park is about a 20-minute drive from Sydney’s CBD. Hop on the M4 until you’re in Homebush, and fang a right onto Homebush Bay Dr. (A3). Turn left onto Australia Ave, right onto Bicentennial Dr, where you’ll find plenty of car spots.

By train

The easiest way to get to Badu Mangroves by train is to catch the T9 service towards Hornsby via Strathfield and get off at Concord West Station. From there, it’s a five-minute walk along Victoria Ave to get into the park.

By bus

From Strathfield Station, you can catch the 525 or 526 bus which’ll take you right into Olympic Park on Australia Ave. From there it’s a 15-minute walk to the mangroves.

Where to Eat Near Badu Mangroves

If you’re catching public transport and alighting at Concord West Station, pop into Mattina Cafe for the best bite to eat and a coffee. It’s got the usual suspects like french toast, croissants, scrambled eggs, and honestly, the best avocado toast I’ve ever eaten. Hotel Concord is a great choice for a post-walk beverage.

If you’d prefer a bite to eat in the park itself, there’s a cafe at Waterview in Bicentennial Park, overlooking the bird pond. It doubles as a function centre, so you might spot a wedding reception if you’re there on a weekend. Better still, pack a picnic and find a table or spot of grass south of the mangrove boardwalk.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Don’t stop on the boardwalk – aside from blocking the path we don’t want any crumbs landing where they shouldn’t

Skill Level

Beginner

Badu Mangroves pram and wheelchair-friendly boardwalk is suitable for beginners, as is the walk there. Overall it’s relatively short and flat with no scrambling or steep hills. I’ve taken my baby there many times for his morning nap in the pram and had zero issues.

Essential Gear for Badu Mangroves

• Aeroguard – the mozzies are often out in full force, and I’ve been caught out on more than one occasion
• Hat
• Water bottle
• First aid kit
• Sunscreen – especially if the UV is high
• Camera and/or binoculars – there are Superb fairy wrens, Black swans, Royal spoonbills, White-faced herons, Great egrets, Mangrove herons, Pied stilts, White-bellied sea eagles, and Sacred kingfishers to spy on your walk

And don’t forget to look out for fungi!

What it’s Like to Visit Badu Mangroves

I get off the train at Concord West station and fuel up on an iced latte at Mattina cafe. From there it’s a 5-10 minute walk through suburbia until I find the Victoria Bridge – the gateway into Bicentennial Park from this side. 

I follow the shared footpath – there’s a real mix of walkers, cyclists, and those like me who are pushing a pram – and make my way onto Bicentennial Park Pathway, heading north towards the bird refuge. I take a left turn at the sign for Badu Mangroves and instantly feel like I’ve been transported to another world.  

There’s a quiet, almost eeriness to the still water. The only noise I hear is the resident herons stalking the water for fish and chirping cicadas. Fungi grows on the tree trunks and I feel a million miles away from anywhere. If it weren’t for the sounds of nearby construction I catch at the other end of the boardwalk I could have forgotten that I was in the middle of Sydney.

When I reach the Olympic Park side of the boardwalk, I turn around and read about the Dreaming Track – Muru nanga mai – stories about how freshwater meets saltwater.

It’s great to be able to learn more about the significance of a place while you’re physically experiencing it

Returning to the path I continue north and reach the bird refuge – there are Black swans and loads of Black-winged stilts. If I keep going right to the end of the path there’s a bird hide, but I skip it today and make my way back to the Victoria Park Bridge. There are a bunch of picnic tables, BBQs, and a kid’s playground here. It’s the perfect stop for a muesli bar and to give the tiny human a snack too. 

Read more: Why Birdwatching Will Improve Your Next Adventure & How To Get Started

Tips For Visiting Badu Mangroves

• Look out for Sliz (not his real name), the local Blue-tongue lizard that frequents the area
• Aim for early morning or early evening, when the birds are at their most active
• If you want to explore the mangroves, you’ll need to leave your four-legged friends at home as dogs aren’t permitted on the boardwalk

Remember to take it slow. It’s easy to race along the boardwalk but if you take it slow you’ll be amazed at what you can see

FAQs Badu Mangroves

Why do we need mangroves?

Mangroves are really important parts of our natural ecosystem. They reduce erosion and improve soil stability. They’re also pivotal in reducing the impacts of storms by absorbing the impact of surges of large amounts of water, like during floods.

Does Sydney have mangrove forests?

Yep! The Badu Mangroves in Sydney are also home to a mangrove forest. Collectively they’re part of the largest intertidal wetland on the Parramatta River.

Are mangroves protected in Australia?

Most of the mangroves in Australia are protected by various means of formal conservation zones. Depending on their location and which body is responsible for that region, they may be designated as national or state parks, marine parks, game reserves or flora/fauna reserves.

Which state in Australia has the most mangrove forest?

Queensland has the biggest area of mangrove forest out of all the states in Australia.

What’s the best place to go birdwatching in Sydney?

The best place for birdwatching in Sydney is around Badu Mangroves in Bicentennial Park.

What’s the best time of day for birding?

Birds are least active in the middle of the day and most active at dawn.

More Reading For Bird Nerds

• Spot Endangered Birds on Tiritiri Matangi – An Island Near Auckland
• Spot Tropical Birds in Lamington National Park’s Gondwana Rainforest
• Best Birdwatching Binoculars for Spotting Your Feathered Friends
• Why Birdwatching Will Improve Your Next Adventure & How To Get Started