Spring Picnic Platters in Sydney: What to Pack for the Park

A good spring picnic platter has two to three cheeses, a cured meat or two, something fresh like fruit or crudite, crackers or bread, and a little something sweet. If the platter is the main event, plan on about 75 to 110g of cheese per person. If you’d rather skip the shopping and slicing, our platters arrive ready to eat straight from the box, and you can order them with Sydney delivery or collect them from our Rozelle shop.

Why spring is the best time for a Sydney picnic

Spring is the sweet spot for eating outdoors. The days are mild, the parks are green, and you’re not fighting summer heat to keep the cheese cool. Daylight saving starts on the first Sunday in October, so after-work picnics suddenly work too. The weather can turn quickly, so pack a light layer, check the forecast and have a back-up plan.

What to pack: the picnic platter checklist

•         Cheese. Aim for variety: something soft or fresh, a blue vein and a semi-hard cheese. That’s the mix in our Entertaining Grazing Platter: French brie or fresh goat’s milk cheese, a blue vein, and a semi-hard cow’s or sheep’s milk cheese. Firmer cheeses cope better with time outdoors, while soft cheeses should stay in the cooler until you’re ready to eat.

•         Cured meats. Prosciutto and salami are easy to share, and our Entertaining platter adds mortadella to the mix.

•         Dips and crudite. Hummus, avocado and beetroot dips travel well in sealed containers. Add crisp vegetable sticks for dipping.

•         Fruit. Pick what’s in season, such as grapes, strawberries or citrus, and pack it in its own container so the juices stay off the cheese.

•         Crackers and bread. Sourdough, crispbread or artisan crackers stay crunchy if you pack them separately until serving.

•         Something sweet. A honeycomb, jam or quince paste goes beautifully with cheese, and dried fruit, nuts, macarons or brownies finish things off.

•         Don’t forget: cheese knives, napkins, a board or tray, a cooler bag with ice packs, a blanket and a bag for rubbish.

How much to bring per person

Our Entertaining Grazing Platter includes three cheeses at about 150g each. Across four to six guests, that works out to roughly 75 to 110g of cheese per person. For bigger groups, order two platters or add fruit and nuts.

How to keep cheese fresh at a picnic

The NSW Food Authority says refrigerated food should be kept at 5°C or below, and the time food spends out of the fridge adds up, including time in transport. Under 2 hours in total, food can be eaten or returned to the fridge. Between 2 and 4 hours, it can still be eaten but shouldn’t go back in the fridge. At 4 hours or more, it should be thrown out. That guidance is written for food businesses, but it’s a sensible rule for any picnic.

In practice, keep the platter in a cooler bag with ice packs, serve it in the shade, and put out small portions at a time rather than everything at once.

Where to picnic in Sydney

•         Rozelle Parklands (Lilyfield Road): An open space with picnic areas, barbecues, playgrounds, wetlands and bush trails, plus toilets, a canteen, picnic tables and a drinking fountain. Dogs must be on a lead.

•         Bridgewater Park (Margaret Street, Rozelle): Built on the old Balmain Power Station site, with views over Iron Cove to Birkenhead Point, a playground, BBQs and picnic tables.

•         Callan Park (Balmain Road, Lilyfield): A spacious heritage parkland with playing fields, walking paths and shaded picnic areas. It’s open every day, and you can picnic on the lawns anywhere you like.

•         Blackwattle Bay Park (Glebe): A foreshore park with picnic areas, barbecue facilities and a shared walking and cycling track. It’s a lovely spot to watch the city skyline light up at sunset.

•         Bicentennial Park (Glebe): Stretching along Rozelle Bay, it has plenty of grass areas to sit and have a picnic, with views across to ANZAC Bridge.

Rules differ between parks. At Bridgewater Park, Inner West Council says groups of fewer than 30 people usually don’t need a booking, unless you bring entertainment devices, hire external providers or use an undercover area. Callan Park is managed by the NSW Government, so check with Greater Sydney Parklands. Check each council’s rules on alcohol and group gatherings before you go.

Picnic platters from Cheese Celebration

•         The Summer Picnic Cheese Platter : Three artisan cheeses of the day, one soft, one semi-hard and one blue vein, each cut at about 100g to 125g. It also includes Italian prosciutto and spicy salami, a packet of fig and pumpkin seed artisan crackers, one condiment (honeycomb, jam or quince paste) and fresh seasonal fruit. It’s cut and prepared on the day of delivery and is ready to eat straight out of the eco-friendly catering box, with cheese tasting notes and a hand-written card.

•         The Mediterranean Platter : A 150g fresh Italian-style burrata, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, 200g of local olives marinated in extra virgin olive oil or brine, and a 150g packet of Vecchio Mulino Italian breadsticks, all in an environmentally friendly catering box.

•         Crudite Platter : A mixed seasonal selection of freshly picked raw vegetables with three dips (hummus, avocado and beetroot), packed in a recyclable catering box. It’s a lighter, fresher option.

•         The ‘Dinner for Two’ Cheese Platter : A smaller platter, ideal for a picnic for two.

•         The Entertaining Grazing Platter : Serves 4 to 6, with three cheeses, three cured meats, three dips, olives and cornichons, seasonal fruit, nuts and dried fruit, and sourdough or crispbread, packed in an environmentally friendly catering box.

•         Add-ons: Seasonal Fruit, Healthy Nuts & Nibble and Macaroons and Chocolate Brownie.

We deliver across Sydney, with fees starting at $9.50 within 5km of Rozelle and free delivery on orders over $250. We aim to deliver by 7pm on your chosen day but can’t guarantee a time slot, so for a daytime picnic, collecting from our Rozelle shop is the easiest option. We’re open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 2pm, and closed on Mondays. See our delivery and care page for full details.

FAQs

How much cheese do I need per person for a picnic?

About 75 to 110g each if the platter is the main event, and less if it’s a starter.

How long can a cheese platter stay out in the park?

Under NSW Food Authority guidance, the total time out of the fridge counts, including transport. Under 2 hours is fine, 2 to 4 hours means eat it but don’t return it to the fridge, and 4 hours or more means throw it out.

What goes on a picnic platter?

A mix of cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit or crudite, dips, crackers or bread, and something sweet.

Can I order a picnic platter for delivery or pickup in Sydney?

Yes. We deliver across Sydney and offer pickup from our Rozelle shop. Delivery is aimed for by 7pm with no set time slot, so pickup suits a daytime picnic.

Ready to pack the basket? Browse our hampers and platters and order for your next spring picnic.