New South Wales
Snowy Mountains
Mountain air doesn’t come any purer than this.
Lord Howe Island is the last island paradise, music for the soul.
Outback Awe-inspiring landscapes and memorable characters under blue skies.
North Coast Classic Aussie surf culture meets World Heritage-listed national parks.
South Coast The unspoilt beauty of the South Coast unfolds in a series of bays and coves.
Sydney Surrounds A grand spectrum of delights, all within two and a half hours' drive of Sydney.
Heart of Country - Classic Australian towns founded by gold miners, graziers and farmers.
Sydney The laid-back outdoor lifestyle and natural beauty make Sydney a great city to visit.
Sydney Harbour National Park
Fast facts
- A national park since 1975, Sydney Harbour National Park (which includes harbour islands and surrounds) has grown steadily since its birth, taking in historic Fort Denison and little Goat Island in 1995. North and South Head, with their great cliffs, stand like giant sentinels at the entrance to the harbour.
- Sydney Harbour’s islands are Shark Island, Clark Island, Goat Island, Rodd Island and Fort Denison.
- Sydney Harbour beaches include Washaway Beach, Reef Beach, Obelisk Beach and Cobblers Beach. The latter two, around Middle Head, are both nude-bathing areas. Other notable beaches include Chowder Bay (just north of Bradleys Head), Nielsen Park near Vaucluse and Balmoral Beach near Mosman.
Why go there
The glorious harbour at Sydney’s heart, with its dark green sea, iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House, is so well known that many visitors (and Sydneysiders) don’t realise that it’s also a National Park. Sheltered beaches within Sydney Harbour National Park include Nielsen Park, where you can laze on the beach or relax under a shady tree, Washaway Beach, Reef Beach and further beaches stretching north of Dobroyd Head not far from Manly.
Dolphins are frequent visitors to the park and whales drop in too, delighting city residents and visitors. Harbour surroundings include heathlands, woodlands and eucalypt forests, with walkways between for easy exploration.
Walks include Fairfax Walk at North Head, just one kilometre; Bradleys Head and Chowder Head Walk, starting at Taronga Zoo wharf; and the more ambitious Manly to Spit Walk (covering 9.5 kilometres).
Don’t miss
- Catching the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay, one of Sydney’s greatest and most affordable harbour experiences.
- Taking a ferry tour to Fort Denison and the other harbour islands, with their intriguing stories and great views.
- Visiting Cadmans Cottage in The Rocks. Built in 1816, it’s one of Sydney’s oldest surviving buildings, now a historic site and the home of the park information centre. Keep walking to take in the rest of the historic Rocks area.
- Learning about Sydney’s Aboriginal history on a bush food tour around Bradleys Head – and about its convict past on a night-time ghost walk in the Quarantine Station.
- Visiting some of the islands in Sydney Harbour. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service conducts tours, as does Matilda Cruises.
