A Vizsla Around Town: Homebush Olympic Park

Back in May when Henley was nearly four months old I took him to Homebush Olympic park. The olympic precinct is jam packed full of great things to do with your family and many of the places allow you to bring your dog (as long as they are on leash). So as part of his socialisation we (Henley my father and I) headed off to the suburb. Built for the 2000 Sydney olympics the entire site is now used for sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, the Sydney Royal Easter show, conferences, restaurants and a hotel as well as being the home for many businesses. Surrounding all of the buildings are dedicated green pathways, parks, a bird sanctuary (no dogs allowed there) and even a frog sanctuary. Before the olympic precinct was built the entire area was full of industrial factories and subsequently industrial waste had polluted the waters and soil there. Across the site there can be found multiple man made hills that you can walk up or ride your bike to the top of. These hills are intact landfill and rubbish, but you wouldn’t know just from seeing or walking on them. It’s great that they changed the whole area into a family friendly and native fauna and flora friendly zone.

One of the many hills/mounds scattered across the site.

The main park where you can hire and ride your bikes, have picnics, eat at the cafe, let the kids play in the multiple sandpits, climbing frames, swings and slides and have a great day with your family is Bicentennial Park. A 40 hectare parkland one of the best areas within the park (in my opinion) is the two water play areas. First we went to the spraying water fountain up near all of the main arenas. Large jets of water are sprayed in an arc and the water runs down the steps into a large manmade pond/ lake. Henley loves water, especially when he can splash his paws in it so there was no stopping him from getting into the water and chasing it down the stairs.

Hmm what's going on here, where's the water going?

Quick lets follow!

My shadows in the splashing water.

Oh don't breath in when you have your nose in the water, eugh!

I kept him on the leash because I know that if he was off it he would have followed the water all the way down and into the pond and its not a dog friendly place to swim.

Ok Mum what are we doing here?

Water spurts up out of the ground in different patterns and at different speeds. On hot summer days this area is always packed with families and there's always kids running in and out of the water trying to keep cool and play games.