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National parks

Cottage Point Inn at Ku-Ring-Gai National Park. Image Sydney Seaplanes

Must do

Sunset picnic at Store Beach, Manly. Image James Pipino

Highlights

Out and about in national parks

The best way to make the most of Sydney's beautiful national parks is to explore them on foot. Bushwalking trails criss-cross the biggest national parks close to Sydney - the Royal National Park to the south, Sydney Harbour National Park and Ku-ring -gai National Park to the north.

Visit Sydney’s National Parks

Hiking at Barranjoey Headland, part of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. Image Hamilton Lund

Surrounded by national parks, many within easy reach, Sydney offers a diverse landscape of rainforests, rugged bush and marine reserves. Set your sights on some of Sydney’s popular natural  attractions including the Royal National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Thirlmere Lakes National Park, only 90 minutes drive from the Sydney city centre. There are walks suited to every level, and the chance to hike, cycle, canoe and cohabit with the wildlife at campsites.

Get a dose of Sydney’s genuinely wild nightlife with the Royal National Park’s Bungoona Moonlight Experience, a walk that takes in the sounds of owls, frogs and other creatures of the night.

Head to Thirlmere Lakes National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains Heritage Area, for abundant wildlife, quiet forest retreats and five tranquil freshwater lakes which provide ample opportunities to swim, walk and picnic.

Within the heart of the city, Sydney Harbour National Park encompasses plentiful foreshore areas and islands. Explore and immerse yourself in its natural beauty with magnificent beaches, inlets and cliffs, or learn about the area’s historical significance, which includes 70 Aboriginal sites and 200 historic buildings.

Guided national park walks

Exploring Royal National Park with Royal Coast Walks. Image James Pipino

Guided tours will enrich your experience of Sydney’s national parks. Royal Coast Walks in The Royal National Park are available as day trips or overnight excursions with food and equipment included. See Aboriginal carvings, go bird watching and swim at waterfalls. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park’s tours range from gentle walks to tours on Aboriginal history. And with more than 140 kilometres of walking trails in the Blue Mountains, take your pick of walks from eco-outings to ghost tours.

Discover local flora and fauna

Discovery walks and tours are led by National Park and Wildlife Service rangers and provide an amazing insight into the secrets of the natural world. Learn about nocturnal wildlife, native plants and Aboriginal history. Most activities run during school holidays.

Discovery Tours with National Parks and Wildlife Services. Image You Shoot for OEH

Water sports

With lakes, rivers and beaches galore, Sydney’s National Parks are the perfect place to enjoy water sports. Explore the harbour by kayak, go canoeing in the Royal National Park south of Sydney or go boating with friends from The Basin in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

Snorkeling at Royal National Park in Bundeena. Image James Pipino

Camping by Sydney Harbour

Camp overnight at Cockatoo Island for spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, head to Lane Cove National Park just 10km from the heart of Sydney, or get back to nature at the Royal National Park with its range of campsites.

Camping at Cockatoo Island. Image Pierre Toussaint

National Parks in Sydney

Sydney is completely surrounded by National Parks so there are plenty of things to see and do close to the city. Sydney Harbour is a national park and there are five more national parks around the city, the most famous ones being Royal National Park to the south, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to the north and the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains just 90 minutes drive west of the city. That means plenty of space for bushwalks, coastal hikes, camping and seeing animals in their habitat.  

At Sydney’s heart, Sydney Harbour National Park includes bushland remnants of Sydney’s original ecosystem, more than 70 Aboriginal sites, 200 historic buildings, beaches galore and the towering cliffs of North and South Head at the harbour entrance. You can even camp out on Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour, the largest of the harbour islands. There are comfortable tents and a regular ferry service to and from the city centre.

In the Royal National Park rangers lead discovery programs in the Royal National Park including early morning bird watching tours, the Bungoona Moonlight Experience (listen for owls, possums, frogs and other night creatures on a two-hour walk), and an Aboriginal Cultural Morning and a Twilight Adventure. 

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Don't miss these natural experiences in Sydney

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