No matter where in the world you are, alfresco eating is an enjoyable way to dine. Whether you choose to prepare a fancy feast or just take some simple food to share, it’s fun to pack a picnic and head outside… provided you know the perfect spot, of course!
As macadamias are a star ingredient in many favourite picnic foods, we compiled this list of the most ideal picnic-places across the globe where you can enjoy Australia’s native nut alfresco-style.
Australia
There’s no place like the home of Australia’s delicious macadamia to enjoy a picnic lunch. Although there are many favourite spots across the country among locals, visitors enjoy these three unique picnic places:
1 – Bondi Beach, Sydney
Sydney has no shortage of spectacular beaches, but the world famous Bondi Beach is the jewel in the city’s crown. It’s also the perfect place to picnic. Enjoy fish and chips on the sand or take your basket with you as you walk along the headland and pick out a scenic spot overlooking the pristine ocean.
2 – Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane
If you love panoramic city views while you picnic, throw down your picnic blanket at Mt Coot-tha. Stunning by daylight and romantic at night, this prime picnic position is only 7km from Brisbane’s CBD. You’ll be able to enjoy the nearby walking tracks after your meal, as well as understand more about the history of Brisbane through displays that outline the timeline of this favourite location.
3 – Kings Park, Perth
Kings Park is a favourite picnic location for Australian macadamia fans. It was the runaway winner in a recent poll where we asked our Aussie fans for their most spectacular food-with-a-view locations. The park has sweeping views of the Swan and Canning Rivers, the city skyline and the Darling Ranges. It is also home to the Western Australian Botanic Gardens which feature a diverse array of flora and fauna as well as an international reputation for scientific research, leading horticulture and conservation.
China
A vast and diverse country like China also boasts many places to enjoy outdoor dining. These are the most ideal spots across the country as voted by locals in the know.
4 – Mount Mogan, Huzhou City
This is a picnic spot for people who love the outdoor life. Located in Zhejiang Province, Mount Morgan is known as ‘China’s Four Summer Resort’. There is a bamboo forest and flowing streams as well as organic farms nearby that allow for outdoor camping and picnics. Visitors can also pick a variety of natural and pollution-free vegetables and catch fresh fish and prawns from river.
5 – Wuying National Forest Park, Yichun City
This park in Heilongjiang Province gets busy on the weekends with families enjoying the lake, flying kites in the green space and even riding roller coasters! After lunch, tour on the sightseeing train that races around the park, rent a boat to pedal for a few hours or play hide and seek in a jungle.
6 – Gucun Forest Park, Shanghai City
Gucun Forest Park in Baoshan District is famous for its Sakura (cherry blossom) Festival held at the start of spring every year. This large suburban park has rivers, wetlands and idyllic scenery for picnicking. It has been designed in a way that is sensitive to culture and traditions, which makes it a beautiful spot for alfresco eating.
Japan
The variety of beautiful landscapes in Japan means that there is a range of unique picnic spots to enjoy. Here are some of the favourites nominated by locals.
7 – Nara Park, Nara Prefecture
Take your picnic blanket to Nara Park and you’ll see why this expansive and beautiful park is popular with visitors from across Japan. Home to beautiful sightseeing locations like the Todaiji Temple, the Kofukuji Temple and the Kasuga Shrine, the park is famed for its free-roaming deer population. These are sacred deer that for millennia have been thought to be the messengers of the Shinto gods. But be careful with your picnic: these doe-eyed inhabitants are used to being fed by humans and might decide to take off with your lunch!
8 – Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hitachi Seaside Park is a spacious park that features a variety of green spaces and seasonal flowers spread out across 350 hectares. After you eat, you can stretch your legs on the paths that provide clear views over the Pacific Ocean and the rest of the park. In early to mid October, the hill is covered by green kokia bushes which slowly turn red as the weather turns cooler. If these natural wonders sound too slow for you, Hitachi is also home to an amusement park and several cycling and walking trails.
9 – Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo’s largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. Home to approximately 700 cherry trees, this is the ideal place for a spring picnic when the famous cherry trees are blossoming. Or bring your picnic basket to the park in autumn when the green of the forest turns intensely golden. With its central location, this park is the ideal place to enjoy the benefits of being in nature.
Taiwan
These next places were nominated by Taiwanese locals as their favourite spots for food with a view.
10 – Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei
Qingtiangang Grassland is one area to picnic in Yangmingshan National Park where you can enjoy fresh air and an endless grassland view while you eat. Several flower festivals are held throughout the year so you can enjoy a different beautiful scene every month. For after your meal, the hot springs in Yangmingshan are a popular place to enjoy a soak amid beautiful natural scenery.
11 – Wuling Farm, Taichung
With the continual change of scenery throughout the year, it is always a good time to have a picnic at Wuling Farm. In spring, Wuling is filled with peach, plum and apple blossoms. In summer, ripening fruits hang high on the branches to tempt your taste buds. In Autumn, fiery maple leaves dance, framing the mountain views. And as winter steps in, crystal white snow covers the peaks of the mountains.
12 – The Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung
Once an abandoned and forgotten warehouse, a group of persistent artists have recently injected waves of creativity and inspiration into the area. The Pier-2 area is now a space where tourists and locals can come together to enjoy fine art. The large grassland outside the warehouse is perfect for family and friends to enjoy a picnic and relax together under the warm sun.
Germany
Where do Germans go when they want the perfect picnic? These are three of the top spots as nominated by German picnickers.
13 – The English Garden, Munich
Germany’s largest park is even bigger than New York’s famous Central Park and has something for everyone. You can find a peaceful spot for a picnic, then hire a boat to explore Lake Kleinhesseloher or swim (or even river-surf!) in the crystal clear “ice creek”. For those who want to grab a beer and enjoy the full Munich experience, the park hosts traditional Bavarian beer gardens.
14 – Planten un’ Blomen, Hamburg
This large park at the centre of Hamburg is known for all kinds of picnics, especially after-work ones. It’s the only park in Germany to stage colourful water light shows. Classical music accompanies the lighting effects at 10pm every evening in the summer months. Entry is free and it is a great place to meet up with friends.
15 – St. Peter Ording, Nordfriesland
Picnic at this seaside spa destination in a traditional beach chair while listening to the sound of the ocean and taking in a unique view of the Northern Sea. You are sheltered from the wind, so you can enjoy a picnic here even on cooler days. For those who like to combine a picnic with sports, it’s a great spot for swimming, beach volleyball or kitesurfing. The German kitesurf championship takes place here in August each year.
South Korea
The city of Seoul is home to two of South Korea’s favourite picnic destinations.
16 – Hangang Park, Seoul
Hangang Park has many different locations that are perfect for picnics with friends, including Jamsil, Yeouido, and Banpo. All of them allow you eat, drink, and relax with a view of the Han River. Sometimes you can catch performances and mini concerts while you eat.
17 – Seoul Forest, Seoul
The Seoul Forest consists of four parts: the Culture & Art Park, the Educational Experience Park, the Eco-forest Park and the Riverside Park along Hangang River. So no matter when you choose to visit for your picnic, there is always something new to see and enjoy.
USA
In the USA, enjoy a picnic in one of the world’s biggest metropolises or in a spot famous for inspiring reconnection with nature.
18 – Central Park, New York City
A picnic in Central Park is a quintessential experience for visitors to New York in the Summer. Grab your picnic blanket and buy yourself a hamper full of treats at one of New York’s high end grocery stores or gourmet delis. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the most visited urban park in the world. You might even end up in a movie, as this is also one of the world’s most filmed locations!
19 – Walden Pond, Massachusetts
If you are really looking to connect with nature, try picnicking on Walden Pond in Concord Massachusetts. It’s where Henry David Thoreau holed up in a cabin for two years to write his book Walden. For a literary lunch, grab a copy of the book and read aloud the passages where he waxes lyrical about simple living in natural surroundings. This part of New England is particularly beautiful in the Autumn as the trees begin to change their colour.
UK
Picnicking in the countryside is an important summertime activity in the United Kingdom, but if you can’t get escape the city, you can still enjoy alfresco eating.
20 – Regents Park, London
Any one of London’s famous parks is a beautiful setting for a picnic. However, we vote for Regent’s Park as our favourite outdoor eating venue. Not only can you assemble a delicious picnic lunch for yourself from the shops on Baker Street or Marylebone High Street before you head to the park, you can also visit the London Zoo while you are there as it is located in the centre of the park.
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