Sydney and New South Wales are blessed with numerous beautiful national parks, home to great walks, waterfalls, lookouts, and more.
On this page, you will find a selection of the best things to see and do in the most popular national parks in our beautiful city and state.
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Opened in 2025, the 3 km walking trail between Georges Head and Middle Head (Gubbuh Gubbuh) is a scenic coastal walk that highlights Sydney’s rich military history.
Featuring fortifications, gun emplacements, and other remnants from the past, along with sweeping Sydney Harbour views, this walk offers a fascinating mix of history and scenery.
The Gibberagong Track near Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is an energising bushwalk that follows Cockle Creek and leads to a scenic waterhole.
Starting from the Bobbin Head picnic area, the walk first explores the mangroves via a boardwalk before continuing into the bush, with several creek crossings and peaceful forest scenery to enjoy.
The Mangrove Boardwalk across Cockle Creek is a short, family-friendly walking trail located in Bobbin Head, in the heart of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Starting from the southwestern end of the picnic area, the boardwalk offers scenic views of the creek and features several signs that share interesting facts about the surrounding mangroves.
The Topham Walking Track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is an easy bushwalk that takes you to two scenic lookouts and a hidden cave.
This 4 km return walk follows a fire trail for most of the way, before finishing with a short bush section that leads to the cave and lookouts.
Looking for the best places to stay in the Blue Mountains? Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a longer visit, booking a night or two can make all the difference.
Instead of squeezing everything into a single day, an overnight stay lets you explore the region’s walks, lookouts, and waterfalls at your own pace.
The Bairne Walking Track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a relatively easy bushwalk that takes you to two scenic lookouts.
This 9.5 km return track follows a fire trail for most of the way, but the surrounding bushland and the rewarding views at the lookouts make it a pleasant and worthwhile walk.
The West Head Army Track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a short but steep trail that leads to a historic World War II army battery.
At the base, you can explore old gun emplacements, observation posts, and ammunition bunkers while enjoying views over Broken Bay.
The short walking track from Taronga Zoo Wharf to Sirius Cove Beach is a scenic, family-friendly trail with lovely views of Sydney Harbour along the way.
While most people walk to Bradleys Head from the ferry wharf, the trail in the other direction to Sirius Cove Reserve is just as picturesque, with short side paths to Whiting Beach and Curlew Camp.
Discover the best views in the Wentworth Falls area of the Blue Mountains by visiting these seven beautiful lookouts.
The Wentworth Falls area is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Blue Mountains. Best known for its impressive waterfall, the area offers a mix of short and long bushwalking tracks, along with a great number of stunning lookouts.
The historic Dardanelles Pass Circuit Walk is a scenic bushwalk that winds through Leura Forest and along the cliff edge overlooking the Jamison Valley.
This adventurous track has plenty to offer, from waterfalls and lush rainforests to stunning valley views and some steep climbs.
Goat Island, part of Sydney Harbour National Park, is a fascinating sandstone island located just west of the Harbour Bridge, spanning 300 metres in width.
Over the years, Goat Island has served many purposes, including as a gunpowder store, a water police station, and a source of sandstone for Sydney’s construction industry, among others.
Sydney Harbour and its islands hold a wealth of history, and we can learn so much about the evolution and growth of Sydney by visiting or reading about these islands.
While some of these islands are accessible to visitors, others remain off-limits. Some of them aren’t even islands anymore, as they have been reclaimed and are now part of the mainland.
Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook is a popular natural swimming spot on Glenbrook Creek, offering easy access and plenty of space to swim or relax for the day.
While this picturesque waterhole is undeniably appealing, it tends to get a bit crowded on warm, sunny weekends and during school holidays.
The 6.5 km return walk from Garawarra Farm to Thelma Head showcases some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the Royal National Park.
This moderately challenging track passes two beaches and features multiple vantage points along the way, offering sweeping views of the coastline.
Each year, millions of people head west from Sydney to visit the Blue Mountains. A favourite among both tourists and locals, this beautiful region is one of the top weekend getaways in New South Wales.
In this guide, we explore 25 of the most popular attractions and activities in the Blue Mountains. Starting in Glenbrook in the Lower Blue Mountains, we’ll take you on a clockwise journey all the way to Bilpin:
The Curra Moors Loop Track is a 10 km circuit in Royal National Park, offering a perfect blend of scenic bushland and stunning coastal views.
This moderately challenging hike is ideal for a weekend adventure, giving you a great workout while enjoying the natural surroundings.
Belmore Falls in Morton National Park is a stunning plunge waterfall with two drops on Barrengarry Creek.
A short walking track takes in several lookout points from where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of this waterfall and Kangaroo Valley.
The Cremorne Point Walk is an easy 3 km foreshore circuit on Sydney’s lower north shore, with stunning views of Mosman Bay, Sydney Harbour, and the city skyline.
Along the way, you’ll discover hidden gems like Robertsons Point Lighthouse, Cremorne Reserve, and the MacCallum Pool, all surrounded by lush gardens and elegant mansions, just a quick ferry ride from Circular Quay.
The scenic Pool of Siloam and Lyrebird Dell Circuit Walk in Leura takes in two small waterfalls in beautiful natural surroundings.
This quiet and unpretentious walking trail is located in the Leura area of the Blue Mountains, close to the Gordon Falls Lookout and picnic area.
The walking trail from the Reids Plateau to Echo Point in the Katoomba area of the Blue Mountains is a family-friendly track with many highlights.
This is a shorter section of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and the Grand Cliff Top Walk and takes in various beautiful lookouts with waterfall and valley views.
