Discover the best national parks in Sydney, featuring stunning walking tracks, waterfalls, lookouts, and thriving wildlife.
One of the great perks of living in Sydney is its proximity to numerous national parks, providing the perfect escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Sydney and New South Wales boast over 200 registered national parks, ranging from smaller reserves to expansive areas as large as some countries, each offering its own unique appeal.
In this article, we’ll take you through eight of the most popular national parks in the Greater Sydney area, featuring guides to walking tracks, waterfalls, and lookouts.
1. Sydney Harbour National Park

Sydney Harbour National Park is one of the city’s most stunning natural gems, right in Sydney’s own backyard.
Surprisingly, many Sydneysiders and visitors to Australia’s most iconic city are unaware that the spectacular Sydney Harbour, with its islands, bays, and foreshore, is officially classified as a national park.
Established in 1975, Sydney Harbour National Park is managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect the Harbour’s unique islands, landforms, and foreshore areas, primarily located to the east of the Harbour Bridge.
Discover Sydney Harbour National Park:
2. Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is arguably one of the most popular destinations for tourists and weekend getaways in Sydney and New South Wales.
Located just over an hour west of Sydney, this World Heritage-listed region boasts an array of bushwalking tracks, waterfalls, deep valleys, canyons, and numerous lookouts offering stunning views.
What makes the Blue Mountains so appealing is not just its natural beauty but also its accessibility. It’s an easy 90-minute drive from Sydney to Katoomba or less than two hours by train.
With hundreds of walking tracks to explore, the Blue Mountains is a haven for bushwalkers. Some trails have been around for over a century, while others are more recent additions for outdoor enthusiasts.
Discover the Blue Mountains:
3. Royal National Park

Located just 30 km south of Sydney’s CBD, the Royal National Park is a favourite weekend getaway for many Sydneysiders.
Established in 1879, it holds the title of Australia’s oldest national park and is the second-oldest in the world. Originally named simply “National Park”, it was renamed in 1955 after Queen Elizabeth II passed through on her way to Wollongong during her iconic 1954 Australian tour.
In December 2006, the park was added to the Australian National Heritage List in recognition of its rich diversity of plant species, which provide vital habitats for birds, reptiles, and butterflies.
Spanning 15,000 hectares, the Royal National Park offers something for everyone, from coastal heathlands, sweeping lookouts, and secluded waterfalls to bushland trails, pristine beaches, and natural swimming pools.
Discover Royal National Park:
4. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Established in 1894, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is Australia’s second-oldest national park, 15 years younger than the Royal National Park.
Located just 25 km north of Sydney’s CBD, Ku-ring-gai Chase is a popular recreational destination for both locals and visitors.
Spanning an impressive 15,000 hectares, the park features lush rainforests, ancient Aboriginal sites, rugged cliffs, scenic lookouts, mangroves, picnic spots, secluded beaches, mountain biking trails, and a variety of walking tracks to explore.
Discover Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park:
5. Lane Cove National Park

Located just 20 minutes northwest of Sydney’s CBD, Lane Cove National Park is a scenic pocket of bushland nestled along the banks of the Lane Cove River.
The heart of the park is home to the Riverside Walking Track and the Lane Cove Valley Walk, which together create a moderately challenging but enjoyable 10 km circuit trail.
This section of the park also features several picnic areas, camping sites, and cycling paths, making it a versatile destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Discover Lane Cove National Park:
6. Dharawal National Park

Located about 50 km south of Sydney and not far from the Royal National Park, Dharawal National Park remains a relatively unspoiled and lesser-known natural gem.
The park features a diverse landscape of creeks, swamp areas, and heath vegetation, along with a variety of trails, waterfalls, and waterholes to explore.
One of its standout attractions is Maddens Falls, a stunning cascade waterfall that also earns a spot on our list of Sydney’s prettiest waterfalls.
Discover Dharawal National Park:
7. Bouddi National Park

Situated on the southern tip of the New South Wales Central Coast near Gosford and Woy Woy, Bouddi National Park is a fantastic weekend getaway, offering plenty of opportunities for hiking, swimming, fishing, camping, and cycling.
Covering 15 square kilometres, this park boasts a variety of stunning bush and coastal walks, many of which lead to some of the most beautiful secluded beaches in New South Wales.
Bouddi National Park features a distinctive landscape of thriving bushland, sandstone cliffs, scenic coastal paths, and remote beaches. What makes it even more special is that some of these beaches are accessible only via walking tracks.
Discover Bouddi National Park:
8. Morton National Park

Morton National Park, located in the Southern Highlands, offers something for everyone with its remote wilderness, stunning waterfalls, steep gorges, scenic walking tracks, and breathtaking lookout points.
Situated about 170 km south of Sydney, the park is easily accessible from Wollongong, Nowra, Canberra, and Moss Vale, making it a convenient escape for nature lovers.
As a vast sanctuary for diverse wildlife, Morton National Park is also a favourite destination for birdwatchers and photographers seeking to capture its natural beauty.
Discover Morton National Park: