First-timer friendly national parks

Australia’s oldest national park — coastal tracks, beaches and day trips one hour south of Sydney

• Coast Track
• Wattamolla & Garie
• Bonnie Vale camping
• Figure Eight Pools

Sydney & surrounds

World Heritage escarpment country — lookouts, cliff walks and honest day-trip planning west of Sydney

• Echo Point & Three Sisters
• Wentworth Falls
• Govetts Leap
• Printable itineraries

Sydney & surrounds

Harbour headlands, island access and city-edge bushwalks — high reward, busy access and timing

• North & South Head
• Island visits
• Coastal lookouts
• Ferry-linked days

Sydney & surrounds

Sandstone ridges, Aboriginal engravings and Pittwater edges — classic northern Sydney day country

• West Head lookouts
• Bobbin Head
• Engraving sites
• Waterway access

Sydney & surrounds

Metro Sydney river bushland — Lane Cove River corridor, Heritage Walk, picnic areas, Great North Walk sections, fees and park gates

• Lane Cove River
• Heritage Walk
• Picnic areas
• Great North Walk sections

Sydney & surrounds

Gondwana rainforest, waterfall circuits and plateau weather inland from the Gold Coast

• Purling Brook
• Best of All Lookout
• Twin Falls circuit
• Plateau conditions

Gold Coast hinterland

Rainforest, waterfalls and Great Ocean Road inland options — pair well with the coast parks

• Rainforest walks
• Waterfalls
• Great Ocean Road logistics
• Cool-climate days

Great Ocean Road

Stack and cliff coastline of the Great Ocean Road — iconic lookouts — wind, timing and safety matter

• Twelve Apostles context
• Cliff lookouts
• Short walks
• Weather windows

Great Ocean Road

Ranges, lookouts and rock country west of Melbourne — overnight-friendly with cultural respect front of mind

• Lookout circuits
• Overnight options
• Gariwerd cultural context
• Hiking grades

Western Victoria

Alpine Tasmania icons — Dove Lake logistics, honest weather notes and Overland expectations

• Dove Lake circuit
• Shuttle logistics
• Alpine weather
• World Heritage context

Central Highlands Tasmania

Red Centre icons with cultural protocols first — base walks, timing, heat and honest logistics

• Base walk planning
• Kata Tjuta
• Cultural protocols
• Heat and seasons

Red Centre

Victoria’s southern wild peninsula — Mount Oberon, Squeaky Beach, Tidal River camping — realistic Melbourne day or overnight

• Mount Oberon
• Squeaky Beach
• Tidal River camping
• Southern Circuit

South Gippsland

Australia’s highest peak — Thredbo vs Charlotte Pass, Main Range, Yarrangobilly, four-season alpine planning

• Summit walks
• Main Range
• Yarrangobilly
• Winter & summer

Snowy Mountains

Sunshine Coast headland classic — Coastal Walk, Hell’s Gates, Tea Tree Bay, Alexandria Bay, Palm Grove — classic day trip

• Coastal Walk
• Hell’s Gates
• Tea Tree Bay
• Laguna Lookout

Sunshine Coast

Coastal cliffs and Murchison gorges — Nature’s Window, Skywalk context, wildflowers and day walks

• Nature’s Window
• Skywalk
• Coastal cliffs
• Wildflowers season

Mid West WA

Katherine Gorge country — boat cruises, walks, cultural country and seasonal Top End access

• Gorge boats & walks
• Seasonal access
• Cultural country
• Day & overnight

Katherine region

Waterfalls and swimming holes near Darwin — Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole and wet/dry season access

• Florence Falls
• Swimming spots
• Day trips from Darwin
• Wet / dry season

Top End

Vast Top End landscapes and cultural country — Ubirr, wetlands, escarpment and seasonal access first

• Ubirr
• Seasonal access
• Cultural sites
• Wetland & escarpment

Top End

Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula — granite Hazards, coastal walks and east-coast overnight options

• Wineglass Bay
• Coastal walks
• Day & overnight
• East coast Tasmania

East coast Tasmania

Tropical rainforest and coast north of Cairns — Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge and wet-tropics access

• Cape Tribulation
• Mossman Gorge
• Rainforest & coast
• Cultural country

Far North Queensland

Wilpena Pound and outback ranges country — gorges, lookouts, cultural country and overnight logistics

• Wilpena Pound
• Gorges & lookouts
• Cultural country
• Overnight logistics

Flinders Ranges

Kangaroo Island west end — Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, wildlife and coastal access logistics

• Remarkable Rocks
• Admirals Arch
• Wildlife
• Coastal logistics

Kangaroo Island

Yorke Peninsula tip — coastal walks, Pondalowie, Cape Spencer and overnight camping logistics

• Cape Spencer
• Pondalowie Bay
• Coastal walks
• Camping

Yorke Peninsula

Wetlands and coastal lagoons south-east of Adelaide — birds, dunes and cultural landscape

• Wetlands & birds
• Coast access
• Day trips
• Cultural landscape

South East SA

Margaret River cape country — Cape to Cape Track, Sugarloaf Rock, Canal Rocks, Boranup forest, caves and coastal day planning

• Cape to Cape
• Sugarloaf Rock
• Canal Rocks
• Boranup forest

Margaret River / South West WA

West MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs — gorges, waterholes, Ormiston and heat-aware day or overnight plans

• Ormiston Gorge
• Simpsons Gap
• Standley Chasm context
• Day & overnight

West MacDonnell Ranges

Alpine plateau and granite country in north-east Victoria — The Horn, lookouts and seasonal weather

• The Horn
• Plateau walks
• Lookouts
• Day & overnight

Victorian Alps

Waterfalls, tall forest and alpine plateau near Hobart — Russell Falls and day-trip highland walks

• Russell Falls
• Tall trees
• Alpine plateau
• Day trips from Hobart

Southern Tasmania

NSW South Coast beaches, bush and kangaroos between Batemans Bay and Ulladulla — coastal walks and camping

• Depot & Pebbly Beach
• Coastal walks
• Camping
• Wildlife

NSW South Coast

Southern Highlands escarpment — Fitzroy Falls, lookouts and longer walks; day-trip or overnight from Sydney

• Fitzroy Falls
• Escarpment lookouts
• Pigeon House / Budawangs context
• Day & overnight

Southern Highlands / South Coast hinterland

Granite belt peaks and wildflowers on the QLD–NSW border — The Pyramid, walks and camping

• The Pyramid
• Granite peaks
• Wildflowers season
• Camping

Granite Belt

Lakes, beaches and coastal camping north of Port Stephens — boat access, walks and overnight options

• Lakes & beaches
• Camping
• Coastal walks
• Boat access

Mid North Coast NSW

Central Coast headlands — Maitland Bay, coastal walks and lookouts; solid day trip north of Sydney

• Maitland Bay
• Coastal tracks
• Headland lookouts
• Day trip from Sydney

Central Coast NSW

Volcanic spires and dark-sky country in central west NSW — Grand High Tops, camping and Siding Spring context

• Grand High Tops
• Volcanic peaks
• Camping
• Dark sky / observatory

Central West NSW

Far South Coast light-to-light country (formerly Ben Boyd) — coastal walks, Boyd’s Tower and camping

• Light to Light
• Boyd’s Tower
• Coastal walks
• Camping

NSW Far South Coast

NSW North Coast beaches and coastal track country — day walks, multi-day sections and camping

• Coastal track
• Angourie & beaches
• Camping
• Day & multi-day

NSW North Coast

Bunya pine forest plateau inland from the Sunshine Coast hinterland — cooler walks and camping

• Bunya forest
• Plateau walks
• Camping
• Cooler climate

Darling Downs / South Burnett

Pinnacles Desert and Cervantes coast country — limestone spires, dunes, heat and honest day-trip timing from Perth

• Pinnacles Desert
• Coastal dunes
• Cervantes gateway
• Heat & season

Cervantes / Mid West WA

White beaches and granite peaks near Esperance — Lucky Bay, Frenchman Peak and coastal camps; not a Perth day trip

• Lucky Bay
• Frenchman Peak
• Le Grand Beach
• Coastal camping

Esperance / Goldfields-Esperance

Volcanic plugs inland from the Sunshine Coast — Ngungun, Tibrogargan and lookouts; trailheads, heat and restricted peaks first

• Ngungun & Tibrogargan
• Lookouts
• Day walks
• Restricted peaks

Sunshine Coast hinterland

Central Coast sandstone and waterway edges near Gosford — Somersby Falls, Girrakool and lookouts; gates, rain and picnic hours first

• Somersby Falls
• Girrakool
• Lookouts
• Central Coast access

Central Coast NSW

Port Stephens headland and coastal walks — Tomaree Head, Zenith Beach and a long coastal walk; car parks and grade first

• Tomaree Head
• Zenith Beach
• Coastal walk
• Fort Tomaree

Port Stephens / Hunter

Southern Flinders Ranges hiking and gorges — Alligator Gorge, Mambray Creek and summit country; heat, distance and camping first

• Alligator Gorge
• Mambray Creek
• Summit walks
• Camping

Southern Flinders Ranges

Gondwana rainforest on the Queensland–NSW border — Binna Burra, O’Reilly’s and waterfall circuits; pick a section first

• Rainforest walks
• Waterfalls
• Binna Burra & Green Mountains
• Day & overnight

Scenic Rim / Gold Coast hinterland

Tasman Peninsula cliffs, Cape Hauy and Port Arthur country — dolerite stacks, day walks and Three Capes context

• Cape Hauy
• Dolerite cliffs
• Fortescue Bay
• Three Capes context

Tasman Peninsula

Dramatic peaks and wildflowers inland from Albany — Bluff Knoll, dieback hygiene and summit weather; not a Perth day trip

• Bluff Knoll
• Wildflowers season
• Day & overnight
• Heat & weather

Great Southern WA

Island national park off Tasmania’s east coast — ferry to Darlington, wildlife and Painted Cliffs; miss the last ferry and the day ends

• Ferry access
• Painted Cliffs
• Wildlife
• Overnight options

East coast Tasmania

Caves, koalas and bushland north of Perth — Crystal Cave tours, Loch McNess and heat-aware day plans

• Crystal Cave
• Koala boardwalk
• Loch McNess
• Day trips from Perth

Perth north / Swan Coastal Plain

Eyre Peninsula coastal park near Port Lincoln — Memory Cove keys, Sleaford and camping; not an Adelaide day trip

• Coastal walks
• Memory Cove
• Camping
• Peninsula access

Eyre Peninsula

ACT alpine and subalpine country south of Canberra — Yankee Hat, Booroomba and Gingera; seasonal roads and fire recovery first

• Alpine & subalpine
• Yankee Hat
• Booroomba Rocks
• Canberra gateway

ACT / Brindabella

Forest, lookouts and day walks in the hills east of Melbourne — 1000 Steps, Sherbrooke and tall ash country

• 1000 Steps
• Tall forest
• Lookouts
• Melbourne day trip

Dandenong Ranges / Melbourne east