Young families in Oyster Bay and neighbouring suburbs are enjoying a welcome diversion from lockdown by hunting for painted rocks.
Oyster Bay resident Maree Staples started painting rocks and dropping them around the area for children to find.
Excitement has spread and now other families are also contributing to the treasure trove.
Ms Staples said her sister-in-law told her the idea had taken off in other parts of Sydney and thought she might be interested.
"I have had a bit of a tough year and I like artistic things, so I decided to give it a go," she said.
"I painted a few rocks and dropped them around the neighbourhood and then put a post on the Oyster Bay community Facebook page to let people know they were out there," she said.
I painted a few rocks and dropped them around the neighbourhood and then put a post on the Oyster Bay community Facebook page to let people know they were out there
- Artist and mother Maree Staples
"The response was tremendous.
"We are all doing it tough in lockdown, but I think it is probably hardest on the kids.
"This is bringing a smile to the faces of many of them.
"I think it's a fantastic way to give them an artistic experience and fun at the same time."
Ms Staples said she included her initials and the date on her rocks so that they could be kept as a memento of "a crazy time".
"I put a fair amount of time into each one, and apply a base coat as well as a sealer," she said.
"I choose nice vibrant colours, which I think makes them particularly attractive to the kids."
Kirsten Shardlow, of Jannali, said her seven-year-old twins Logan and Jasmine were very excited to find some of the rocks in Como Pleasure Gardens.
"It's a really great idea," she said.
"We have put some of the rocks we found back so other kids get a chance to find them and have added some which we painted ourselves."
Ms Shardlow said the Oyster Bay community had really taken up the idea and there were now "lots of people doing it".