Outdoor sights in New South Wales
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Sydney Harbour
Sydney's stunning harbour has melded and shaped the local psyche since the first days of settlement, and today it's both a major working port and the city's sparkling playground. Its waters, beaches, islands and shorefront parks offer all the swimming, sailing, picnicking, walking and real-estate fantasies you could wish for.
The best way to view the harbour is by private yacht (yeah, right). Lacking this, just take a harbour cruise or catch any one of the many ferries that ply its waters. You can also fly above it via a scenic flight. The Manly ferry offers vistas of the harbour east of the bridge, while the Parramatta RiverCats cover the west. You can also visit some of…
reviewed
-
B
Marramarra National Park
The 118-sq-km Marramarra National Park, south of the Hawkesbury, has vehicle access south of Wisemans Ferry. There’s free bush camping on the river at Gentlemans Halt and Marramarra Creek.
reviewed
-
Royal National Park
The traditional lands of the Dharawal people, the 165-sq-km Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the second-oldest national park in the world (the oldest is the USA’s Yellowstone). The park features vertiginous cliffs, secluded beaches, coastal scrub, heathlands, lush rainforest, isolated seaside communities and raucous flocks of yellow-tailed black cockatoos. Other local residents include echidnas, swamp wallabies, lyrebirds and kookaburras (and a few snakes – watch your step). The park begins at Port Hacking, 30km south of Sydney, and stretches 20km further south. The park’s main road detours to Bundeena, a small town on Port Hacking – a world away fro…
reviewed
-
C
Sydney Harbour National Park
Sydney Harbour National Park protects large swaths of bushland around the harbour shoreline, plus several harbour islands. In among the greenery you’ll find walking tracks, scenic lookouts, Aboriginal carvings, beaches and a handful of historic sites. The park incorporates South Head and Nielsen Park south of the harbour, but most of it is on the North Shore – including Bradleys Head, Middle Head, Dobroyd Head and North Head. Free brochures, including self-guided tours, are available from the park office in Cadman’s Cottage in The Rocks, which itself is part of the park.
reviewed
-
Wollemi National Park
Reaching from north of Bells Line of Road to the Hunter Valley, Wollemi National Park is the state’s largest forested wilderness area (nearly 5000 sq km). Access is limited and the park’s centre is so isolated that a particular species of tree, the utterly rare Wollemi pine wasn’t discovered until 1994. But don’t expect to find any yourself – their location remains strictly under wraps. An equally secret site is a huge gallery of ancient Aboriginal rock art, uncovered in 2003.
reviewed
-
D
Lane Cove National Park
This 601-hectare park, 11km northwest of the city centre, is a great place to stretch out on some middle-sized bushwalks. It’s home to dozens of critters, including some endangered owls and toads. If you visit in spring, the water dragons will be getting horny and the native orchids and lilies will be flowering. There’s a boat shed on Lane Cove River that rents out row boats and kayaks, but swimming isn’t a good idea. You can also cycle and camp, and some sections are wheelchair accessible.
reviewed
-
E
Illawarra Escarpment
Southwest of Wollongong, the Illawarra Escarpment is a state recreation area. There is no vehicle access but the spot is good for bushwalking. The park is a number of separate sections from Bulli Pass to Bong Bong; it isn't very large but the country is spectacular. Contact the Wollongong NPWS office for information on bush camping.
reviewed
-
F
Argyle Place
A quiet, English-style village green in a district of early colonial homes, Argyle Place offers the sacred appeal of the Garrison Church and the more secular delights of the Lord Nelson Brewery hotel. Both the Lord Nelson and the Hero of Waterloo hotel, a block north, lay claim to being Sydney's oldest pub.
reviewed
-
Brisbane Water National Park
On the north side of the Hawkesbury River, 9km southwest of Gosford, Brisbane Water National Park extends eastwards from the Pacific Hwy to Brisbane Water itself. Despite its name, the park is mostly sandstone outcrops and forest with only a short Brisbane Water frontage. This park is famed for its explosions of spring wildflowers and its Guringai stone engravings, the most impressive gallery of which is the Bulgandry Aboriginal Engraving Site, 3km south of the Pacific Hwy on Woy Woy Rd. The park also has mangroves that are home to swamp wallabies, platypuses and the rare yellow-bellied gliding possum.
reviewed
