These are the 10 national parks travellers just can’t get enough of.
NSW’s national parks just had their biggest year on record. In the 2024–25 financial year, 65.5 million visits were made to the state’s network of around 900 parks and reserves – smashing the previous record of 60 million set back in 2018.
The numbers behind the numbers are equally striking. Of those 65.5 million visits, 37 million happened outside Greater Sydney. And for the first time, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service tracked international visitation – finding that 72 per cent of overseas tourists to NSW visited at least one national park, generating 4.6 million visits on their own.
Before we dive into the list, we want to say upfront that visitors should always be mindful of the impact they have on our national parks. Stick to the marked tracks to avoid erosion, avoid unofficial lookouts, take your rubbish with you, respect closures and cultural sites and visit midweek or early in the day wherever possible.
So, where is everyone actually going? Here are the 10 most visited parks in NSW, and what keeps drawing people back.
1. Blue Mountains National Park – 7.8 million visits
The Blue Mountains is NSW’s most visited national park. (Credit: R Brand / DCCEEW)
It’s not even close. The Blue Mountains attracted more visitors than any other national park in the state, and it’s easy to understand why. World Heritage-listed, impossibly scenic and just 90 minutes from Sydney’s CBD, it offers something for everyone – from the Scenic World boardwalk to wilderness treks through the Grand Cliff Top Walk and beyond. The Three Sisters remain one of the most photographed spots in the country. Take time to soak in the magic of these ancient rainforest gullies and the kind of views that make you stop mid-step and just stand there.
2. Royal National Park – 4.9 million visits
Royal National Park is the world’s second-oldest national park. (Credit: J Spencer / DCCEEW)
The world’s second-oldest national park sits just 30 kilometres south of Sydney and feels like a secret the city keeps badly. Royal draws nearly five million visitors a year for its coastal cliff-top walks, sheltered swimming beaches and wildflower displays that explode into colour each spring. The Coast Track – a 26-kilometre multi-day walk from Bundeena to Otford – is one of the finest coastal walks in Australia, full stop.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
3. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park – 4.3 million visits
Ku-ring-gai Chase is a park of two personalities. (Credit: P Ogden / DCCEEW)
Explore Barrenjoey Lighthouse. (Credit: D Parsons / DCCEEW)
On Sydney’s northern fringe, Ku-ring-gai Chase protects one of the largest collections of Aboriginal rock engravings in NSW alongside the stunning waterways of the Hawkesbury River. It’s a park of two personalities: quiet forest trails and sandstone plateau walks on one hand, and popular boating, kayaking and picnicking spots on the other.
4. Lane Cove National Park – 2.4 million visits
Lane Cove River is perfect for kayakers. (Credit: D Parsons / DCCEEW)
A green ribbon running through Sydney’s inner north, Lane Cove punches well above its size. The river walking and cycling trails draw a loyal local crowd year-round, and the calm flatwater is perfect for kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders wanting to escape the harbour chop.
5. Kosciuszko National Park – 2.4 million visits
Kosciuszko National Park isn’t only a winter destination. (Credit: D Parsons / DCCEEW)
The only park in the top five that isn’t on Sydney’s doorstep, Kosciuszko is a two-season destination in the Snowy Mountains, drawing visitors for skiing and snowboarding in winter and alpine wildflower walks, including to Australia’s highest suspension bridge, in summer. At 2.4 million visits, it’s proof that Australians will travel for the right landscape.
6. Sydney Harbour National Park – 2.2 million visits
2.2 million people visited Sydney Harbour National Park. (Credit: J Spencer / DCCEEW)
One of the most unusual parks in NSW, Sydney Harbour National Park is scattered across dozens of separate headlands, bushland reserves and islands around the harbour. It protects historic fortifications, quiet coves and some of the most coveted camping spots in the country – Cockatoo Island and the Quarantine Station among them. Over 2.2 million people found their way in last year, which makes sense: it’s everywhere, and it’s free.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
7. Brisbane Water National Park – 2.1 million visits
Visit Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park. (Credit: J Spencer / DCCEEW)
On the Central Coast, Brisbane Water is best known for two things: its spectacular wildflower season in spring, when the heathland erupts with colour, and its extensive network of Aboriginal rock engravings at Bulgandry and elsewhere. The park’s estuaries and inlets are popular with kayakers and fishing enthusiasts, and the Bouddi Peninsula walking track passes through the southern edge of the park on its way to some very fine coastal views.
8. Morton National Park – 1.9 million visits
If you’ve been to the Blue Mountains but not Morton, this is the one to add to the list. (Credit: J Spencer / DCCEEW)
Morton is one of NSW’s largest and most underrated parks – a vast sandstone wilderness in the Southern Highlands that rewards those willing to go looking. Deep slot canyons, hidden waterfalls and the spectacular Fitzroy Falls are the drawcards, alongside some of the best remote camping in the state. If you’ve been to the Blue Mountains but not Morton, this is the one to add to the list.
9. Bouddi National Park – 1.6 million visits
The Bouddi Coastal Walk is one of the country’s best walks. (Credit: J Spencer / DCCEEW)
A compact coastal gem between Gosford and Broken Bay, Bouddi rewards the effort it takes to get there. The multi-day Bouddi Coastal Walk links a series of beaches and headlands above a protected marine park, offering some of the best snorkelling on the NSW coast. Little Beach – only accessible on foot – is the kind of place that earns its name.
10. Glenrock State Conservation Area – 1.5 million visits
Discover Burwood Beach. (Credit: N Adamson / DCCEEW)
Rounding out the top 10 is a Newcastle favourite that many Sydneysiders haven’t heard of. Glenrock is a rugged coastal conservation area offering world-class mountain biking trails, a surf beach, and one of the few protected coastal areas in NSW where dogs are permitted.
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.
Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.
Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.
Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.
The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.
The Riverina
Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.
The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.
North Coast
Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)
This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.
Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.
Golden West
Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.
Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.
Special event journeys
Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.
For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.
