Just a short drive from Newcastle is Hunter Wetlands National Park, a wildlife sanctuary with family-friendly walking, cycling, fishing and birdwatching. You can also meander to the old World War II radar station.

Scheyville National Park unites the best of the outdoors – birdwatching, easy walks, cycling and horse riding – with a diverse cultural setting. This gem of a park also has a rich and surprising cultural history.

Discover paradise just minutes from The Entrance on the Central Coast. Go whale watching, fishing, surfing, bushwalking and birdwatching. Wyrrabalong National Park conserves the last patch of coastal rainforest on the Central Coast.

Watagans National Park, one hour from Newcastle, offers stunning wilderness right on your doorstep whether you like long walks, hiking trails, biking, lookouts, and quiet campgrounds for longer escapes.

Werakata National Park is great for birdwatching, home to native animals and has exceptional spring wildflowers. The riding trails and scenic picnic ground are real highlights and is a great park for walks.

Strickland State Forest is the ecotourism gem of the Central Coast. Entry is at the top of Mangrove Road, Somersby. For a small day-use forest (5 square kilometres), Strickland contains an impressive diversity of flora and fauna.

Explore World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. Discover iconic lookouts and waterfalls, historic walking tracks, mountain biking, Aboriginal culture, adventure sports, and camping – right on Sydney’s doorstep.

World Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park offers a dramatic setting for scenic walks, drives, wildlife spotting, canoeing and camping. Nothing but stunning views and natuaral beauty 2 hrs north of Sydney.

Yengo National Park is a rugged landscape of steep gorges and rocky ridges, just waiting to be explored by 4WD, car, mountain bike or foot. The Park also has unique Aboriginal cultural heritage, and less than two hours drive from Sydney or Newcastle.

Popran National Park lines 4km of Hawkesbury river foreshore, you can paddle through the mangroves, enjoy a spot of fishing and smell the coastal banksia. The park is also steeped in Aboriginal heritage & history.

Located in Sydney’s north, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park combines important history with scenic beauty, making it perfect for school excursions. Bobbin Head is a great place for a family picnic, cycling, fishing and bushwalking.

Bouddi National Park is located on the Central Coast near Gosford, north of Sydney, the beautiful Bouddi National Park offers spectacular diverse landscapes – from beaches and steep cliffs through to rainforest and heathland.

Marramarra National Park is a one of the Hawkesbury’s best-kept secrets. With breathtaking views, it’s great for canoeing, kayaking, swimming, cycling, camping, bushwalking, picnicking and birdwatching.

Berowa Valley National Park occupies the beautiful bushland valley between the suburbs of Hornsby Heights, Thornleigh, Galston, Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook, reaching up to the quiet waters of Berowra Creek.

Cattai National Park is a fantastic place for a family daytrip or a weekend getaway. There are two parts to the park: the popular Cattai Farm area, flanked by the mighty Hawkesbury River, and the quieter Mitchell Park area.

Brisbane Water National Park, near Gosford on the central coast offers great walks, cycling and fishing spots. The park protects ancient Aboriginal rock engraving sites & preserves the historical significance on this area.

Dharug National Park covers rugged bushland just north of the Hawkesbury river, with dramatic sandstone cliffs and a variety of natural habitats. It’s the perfect place to escape to on a daytrip or a weekend getaway.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve is an extraordinary place to view wildflowers in spring, just north of Sydney. It opens just 6 weekends a year, preserving the fragile ecosystems and Aboriginal cultural heritage.