Burnum Burnum Sanctuary

There can never be enough summertime barbecues, but why not make your next one something a little special? Sure, there are heaps of spots to fire up the barbie around Sydney, but — in the interest of making the most of it — trade in your usual go-to for someplace new. Our pick is down in the Sutherland Shire at Woronora's Burnum Burnum Sanctuary. The reserve is pristine and remote, so you and a date (or some mates or your family) can enjoy an exclusive getaway here. Its barbecue facilities and sheltered eating areas boast gorgeous riverside views — and you can soak it all in with snag in one hand and a local craft brew in the other. There are plenty of nearby bushwalking tracks to explore before or after you eat — check out Eagle Rock, which is also frequented by blue tongue lizards, miniature wrens and black cockatoos. There's playground equipment for the little ones, too.